Athaliah Reynolds, Staff Reporter

The Government's plan to construct a 5,000-seating capacity convention centre in 2009, as it works to bring a structured focus on launching Jamaica as a major religious tourism destination, has been welcomed by several religious leaders.

Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, on Monday, said he would be working towards formalising a structure for the faith-based tourism sector to meet the increasing global need for its services.

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Rev Dr Roy Notice, of the New Testament Church, Mandeville, Manchester, said he believed marketing Jamaica as a viable religious tourism destination was the way to go.

"This is the route I believe Jamaica needs to take, especially with its close proximity to the United States. We live on the back steps of the US and so it is much easier for many organisations, including churches, to have their retreats and conventions here than to sometimes go to other states in the US," he said.

Dr Notice said it was also a great opportunity to show a side of Jamaica that is different from what is often presented.

"Jamaica has a lot of negative press and I think inviting people here for things that are of a religious nature will show the world something different. "

Gospel music producer and promoter, Tommy Cowan, said he had been working on a similar initiative for more than six years and welcomes the Government's plan to bring increased structure to the market.

"That has always been the idea for the gospel show, Fun in the Son, which has been held for the past six years," said Cowan. "The time is right for this and Jamaica is set for religious tourism to take off."

Bartlett said that, with some 450,000 churches in the US, 50,000 of which run group travel programmes, Jamaica stands to benefit tremendously.

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com