MONTEGO BAY, St James — Insisting that the country’s ambitious target of attracting 10 million visitors and earning US$10 billion cannot be achieved through hotel expansion alone, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett wants community tourism to become the driving force behind Jamaica’s long-term expansion strategy.

Addressing the inaugural National Community-based Tourism Resilience Symposium at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on Thursday, Bartlett argued that the future of the industry rests as much in rural districts, heritage communities, and local enterprises as it does in the country’s traditional resort centres.

The minister maintained that community tourism has moved beyond being a complementary feature of the sector and must now occupy a pivotal role in Jamaica’s development agenda.