Jamaica to host health and wellness conference
JAMAICA is to host a two-day conference which it says will allow stakeholders to be able to take advantage of the multi-trillion-dollar global health and wellness tourism industry.
“The health and wellness tourism industry is currently valued at four trillion US dollars, and Jamaica has everything it needs to tap into it with our warm tropical climate; beautiful beaches bathed in the cool, relaxing waters of the Caribbean Sea; and enticing scenery complemented by our natural outdoor spas and those built indoors,” said Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett.
The fourth Jamaica Health and Wellness Conference, which begins on Thursday, is being organised by the Tourism Enhancement Fund in collaboration with the Tourism Linkages Network, and is held under the theme ‘A Whole New Era of Health and Wellness’.
The organisers said it aims to strengthen connections between the health and wellness industry and other successful economic sectors, particularly manufacturing and agriculture, while promoting and presenting Jamaica’s distinctive health and wellness tourism products.
“We are elated to host this event, which will allow us to better leverage this industry. I’m looking forward to hearing thought-provoking discussions from local wellness thought leaders and learning more about the opportunities we can seize to expand this lucrative wellness tourist sector,” said Bartlett.
The conference will bring together stakeholders to forge a plan for the new future and facilitate presentations and panel discussions across the following thematic areas: global wellness trends and insights; wellness travel experiences; nutrition; medical tourism; the health and wellness tourism value chain; wellness in the community; spas; wellness music; and investing in wellness.
It will also include presentations from Bartlett; Health and Wellness Minister Christopher Tufton; as well as Professor Lloyd Waller, head of the Department of Government at The University of the West Indies (Mona Campus); and Professor Andrew Spencer, president of the Caribbean Maritime University.
— CMC
