Several communities across the island are slated to benefit from grant funding to support community tourism initiatives under the National Best Community Competition and Programme (NBCCP).

Chairperson of the National Steering Committee of the NBCCP, Jacqueline daCosta, told JIS News that the grant to be provided by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) will be used to train persons in areas "pertaining to the business of responsible community tourism".

"JSIF has advised that they will be giving us a grant to train persons in eight of these communities as a pilot," daCosta said, noting that some aspects of training will be done by JSIF.

"We are hoping that the grant will be signed in January here and the work will begin as soon as we can advertise and do the necessary procurement procedures etc.," she continued.

Among the communities to benefit are: Beeston Spring and Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth; Bluefields, Westmoreland and Sturge Town in St Ann.

daCosta told JIS News that several public and private sector organisations have already engaged the communities and have pledged their support, including some members of the NBCCP.

Additionally, the Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo) has offered to assist with 'Team Jamaica' training, which focuses on a whole range of information on Jamaica, such as its history, culture and people.

According to daCosta, some communities have started community tourism initiatives and therefore have some experience in dealing with visitors.

She said one of the objectives of the training is to encourage community tourism as a means of job creation. She noted that communities have a lot that they can showcase, adding that visitors want to experience "how Jamaicans live, what they eat and to buy their products."

"We have a lot of historical churches and sights, scenic views. We have rivers, the sea, cultural activities, a lot of people want to visit schools, they want to take part in games people play, they want to taste the food, the culture, the dances," she added.

The NBCCP is a community-based initiative organised through the Cabinet Office, which seeks to establish partnerships between communities and those who have technical, professional, spiritual, educational and financial capabilities. The objective is to assist communities in achieving sustainable development and encourage community self-help activities.