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<p>Jamaica's Tourism Ministry is moving to mobilise support for recovery of The Bahamas tourism sector, following the passage of Hurricane Dorian.</p>
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<p>Portfolio minister Edmund Bartlett said that the Sandals Foundation is partnering on the effort to assist the sector. Activities to mobilise international support is being channelled through the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, which was launched in January.</p>
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<p>Speaking at a press conference at the ministry in Kingston, where Deputy Chairman of Sandals Resorts International Adam Stewart, also outlined the activities being undertaken by Sandals Foundation, Bartlett said the Government has started the process to reach out to the global tourism community.</p>
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<p>He said efforts are being made to resuscitate the Bahamian tourism resources with the help of stakeholders such as cruise lines, hotels, airlines and tour operators, who are major beneficiaries of tourism in the region. </p>
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<p>The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, will also be working closely with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Bartlett said.</p>
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<p>He said any adverse impact on the tourism industry has grave implications for the growth of the region, and its people.</p>
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<p>According to the tourism minister, “One in five of all workers of the Caribbean are employed in tourism and more than 53 per cent of the trading services in the region is directly from tourism”.</p>
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<p>He said he will be lending support to the Bahamas tourism minister at the World Tourism Organization General Assembly in Russia next week.</p>
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<p>Bartlett stressed that climate change is real, as the proof is being presented by powerful and dangerous hurricanes such as Dorian.</p>
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