Jamaica’s tourism minister Edmund Bartlett has said the island nation must focus on increasing the number of world-class attractions available to visitors as the country targets five million tourists a year, making US$5bn (€4.6bn, £4bn) in annual tourism earnings by 2021.

Bartlett announced last week (25 January) plans to invest US$250m (€232.4m, £200.5m) into Jamaica’s tourism sector, with the funds to cover three major tourism development projects under its ‘Spruce Up Jamaica’ programme.

With the projects creating four major hotels – two in Oyster Bay, one in Kingston and another in Portland – the continued investment in Jamaica’s tourism infrastructure means its government is anticipating a rise in tourism, which will need to be accommodated for if those numbers are to be maintained.

“I have been preaching religiously that we have to get ourselves ready to meet the inevitable demands, as it relates to our tourism offerings over the next five years,” said Bartlett, who added that developing a more diverse portfolio of attractions in Jamaica would be a winning proposition “by any stretch of the imagination”.

One of Jamaica’s largest tourism draws is its Appleton Rum facility, which is currently undergoing a US$7.2m (€6.8m, £6m) upgrade overseen by Jack Rouse Associates (JRA), who are taking charge of completely redeveloping the historic brand’s visitor experience.

In addition to this work, Attractions Management understands that estate owners J. Wray & Nephew Ltd, are in talks with the government to revive a rail service for the tour, which could potentially triple visitor numbers to the attraction.

The Port Authority of Jamaica’s (PAJ) redevelopment of the fisherman’s beach in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, will also be a major tourist attraction, according to Bartlett.

The US$20m (€18.6m, £16m) upgrade, which will primarily develop the port for both industrial and cruise ship purposes, will also include development of a waterfront promenade, and redevelopment of the adjacent fishing village and fisherman’s beach, with new tourist facilities. The port’s Reynolds Pier will also act as an attraction, with its redevelopment making it “comparable to the Historic Falmouth Port in Trelawny”.

“We need a lot more initiatives like these and there is still time,” said Bartlett. “There is no doubt that the visitors will be coming. So it’s just a matter for us to put our shoulders to the wheel and get going.”