With the excitement of the London Olympics and Jamaica 50 fading, its back to business for the Jamaica Tourist Board. Wykeham McNeill, tourism minister, here sits down with Breaking Travel News to discuss new developments on the island as well as his priorities for the next few months.

Jamaican prime minister Portia Simpson Miller has argued tourism is delivering jobs, income and well-being around the world and deserves increased support from political leaders in these challenging economic times. Miller delivered the message during a meeting with United Nations World Tourism Organisation secretary-general Taleb Rifai and World Travel & Tourism Council president David Scowsill in Montego Bay, Jamaica, earlier.

Jamaica’s newly appointed minister of tourism and entertainment, Kenneth Wykeham McNeill, has visited the UK to spend time with key operators in the market. Events in the UK included a meet and great with travel industry heads during a lunch hosted by the minister and the Jamaica Tourist Board at the Corinthia Hotel.

Breaking Travel News sits down with newly appointed Jamaican tourism minister Wykeham McNeill to discuss plans to celebrate the Caribbean island’s 50 anniversary of independence, the upcoming London Olympics and policies he is putting in place to make sure the destination continues to shine amid difficult circumstances.

Wykeham McNeill, a physician and long-standing parliamentarian, has been appointed as the new minister of tourism and entertainment in Jamaica. The move follows the election of prime minister Portia Simpson-Miller, leader of the People’s National Party on December 29th.

Jamaican tourism minister Edmund Bartlett has revealed the cabinet has approved an easing of travel restrictions for Colombians visiting the Caribbean destination. The move is designed to boost tourist arrivals from South America as part of a wider campaign to attract visitors from the region.