Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill has revealed that the world renowned Lover’s Leap attraction in St. Elizabeth, which was closed in 2010, will be reopened in March. The attraction was closed after the previous operator, which leased the property from the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo.), suddenly decided to end the lease arrangement. While addressing tourism partners from the South Coast during a special stakeholder’s meeting organized by the Ministry in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth on the weekend Minister McNeill outlined that “Lover’s Leap is an important attraction and attractions drive tourism. Anything that you have that is of interest is what gets visitors out and I think it is really sad that Lover’s Leap has been closed for as long as it has.”
Minister McNeill added that “over the last year or so I have been bombarded by calls regarding Lover’s Leap, both while I was in opposition and since I became Minister. One of the first things I did when I assumed office last month was to meet with the Executive Directors of TPDCo. and the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and I indicated that I wanted Lover’s Leap to be reopened as quickly as possible. Following that meeting we initiated steps to have this done.”
Dr. McNeill announced that “refurbishing work will begin on the Lover’s Leap attraction on Monday, February 27 and the attraction should be reopened in two weeks. Moving forward we are going to develop a long term plan as the facility will require significant work. However there is no reason for it to remain closed while we determine what we are going to do with it.”
The Minister added that “I have instructed the team at TPDCo. to give me a business plan outlining what exactly will happen and they have indicated to me that the cost of running the facility in the interim is something that can easily be taken from their budget. But the fact of the matter is that TPDCo. will manage Lover’s Leap over the short-term while we have discussions with stakeholders on how we go forward and develop the attraction.”
As stakeholders expressed joy at the announcement, Minister McNeill emphasized that “Jamaica is a lovely place that is made up of a lot of lovely places. We are a blessed country because of what we have but we have to keep refreshing our tourism product. We have to take what we have and make it better in order to make our resorts better and grow tourism in Jamaica. With this in mind I really look forward to returning in March to reopen the Lover’s Leap attraction.”
