Understand more about the process…

Under the Jamaica Tourist Board Act, no person shall operate a tourist attraction and tour enterprise unless a licence has been granted. Tourism attraction and tour enterprises operating in Jamaica are therefore required to be licenced as an “Attraction”.

An “attraction” attracts tourist for its inherent or exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, or the opportunities it offers tourists for leisure, adventure or amusement.

The Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo) has the mandate of developing and improving Jamaica’s tourism product.  One of the major roles of the TPDCo is to maintain quality in the industry and ensure destination integrity and assurance. This is done through the establishment, inspection and monitoring of standards of all entities operating in the industry.

Applications for a licence shall be made to the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) through the TPDCo, and if a licence is granted, it will be subject to the following:

• may be granted for an indefinite period or subject to any power of the Board to revoke or suspend such licence; and
• may be granted either unconditionally or subject to such restrictions and on such conditions as may be specified in the license.

Once the requisite documents are in place then the relevant Tourism Product Development Company regional office will make arrangements for a Product Quality Assessment of the facility to be conducted.

For more information on how to apply for your JTB Attractions Licence, continue to the next step of this business process guideline.

Complete the relevant form(s) and provide any supporting information/documents…

You should visit the head office of the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) Limited in Kingston, or any of the regional offices located in Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Negril and Mandeville to collect your application form for licensing your Attraction enterprises. Forms are also available on the TPDCo’s website for download, printing and completion.

Application Requirements:
You are required to complete and submit the application form along with the other required documentation to the TPDCo.  In order to ensure your submissions are processed expeditiously, please verify that all the information is completed fully, and the required supporting documents/information are submitted along with your applications.

Attraction Entities:
The process of licencing a tourism entity operating in Jamaica as an “Attraction” requires the submission of an application form including various legal, regulatory and technical details of the proposed attraction.  The following must be submitted:

Tourism Attraction Licence Application Form to be completed in duplicate: (2 copies)

• Application Form - See form Application for Attraction Licence.

Other Supporting Information to be included in the application for submission.

• Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN) - TRN for your company is required.  Need to get your company’s TRN? Find out more.
• Tax Compliance Certificates (TCC) - TCC for your company should be submitted.  Need to get your TCC?  Find out more.
• List of Company Directors
• Certified Copy of proof of Ownership :Land Title.
• Certified Lease or Rental Agreement - (where applicable)
• Property Tax Certificate - from Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ).
• Project Brief - to capture and define the core project objectives, scope, deliverables, budget and schedule.
• Surveyors ID - to be completed by a Commissioned Land Surveyor.
• Copy of Public Liability Insurance Certificate/Schedule from the Insurance Company  -
• Copy of Certificate of Incorporation - copy of certificate.  The company name on all documents should match exactly the name on the certificate. For more information please learn more about register a business.
• Copy of Company Registration with Business Name - (where applicable i.e. if Business Name is different from the name of the Company).
• Letter of “Good Standing” – Companies Office of Jamaica.
• Letter of “Non-Objection” - for Planning/Building Approvals from the relevant local planning authority (Municipal Corporations).  Find out how to get your Construction Permissions.
• Copy of Fire Certificate - requires an inspection by the Jamaica Fire Brigade.
• Copy of Public Health Food Establishment Certificate -(where applicable)
• Copy of Valid Food Handler’s Permits - required by all persons working in a food handling establishment, regardless of their position - Regional Health Authority.
• Evidence of Proper Security arrangements - Security Contract (certified personnel).
• Security Approval - from the Police Tourism Liaison Section of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).
• Copy of relevant Environmental Approvals - from the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). For new applicants and where activities are added.  Find out how to get your Environmental Approvals. 
• Copy of Beach Licence (where applicable) from NEPA
• Copies of Work Permits (where applicable).  Find out how to obtain your Work Permits.
• Copy of Public Health Swimming Pool Permit
• Permission from River Rafting Authority - to operate on gazetted rivers (where applicable)
• Jamaica National Heritage Trust Approval - as a national heritage site (where applicable)
• Printed Attraction Brochures - which lists activities offered at the attraction
• Management Plans/Procedures - regarding maintenance, disaster preparedness and safety measures in place and to include, health, safety and environmental rules and regulations; training of staff.  (For new applicants and where activities are added).
• Letter or Certificate from Government Veterinarian (where applicable)
• Copy of TPDCo Certification of Tour Guides Fitness Certificate for motorized transportation vehicles - used for the touring of property (where applicable)
• List of Employees (with job titles)
• CPR, First Aid certificates and Lifeguard licences - copies of certificates and licences for employees assigned as Lifeguards.  Ten percent (10%) of all other staff to be trained.

If water-based activities are included, the following documents must also be submitted:

• Copy of Maritime Authority Safety Certificate for each vessel - (where applicable)
• Copy of Fisheries Licence - for vessels and employees (where applicable).
• Swift Water Certification - for all river guides, from the Royal Life Saving Society (where applicable).
• Document for personnel involved in water-sports activities (certificates/licences)
• Copy of First Aid and CPR certificates - copies of certificates from the Royal Life Saving Society          
• Diving Certificates (where applicable)
• Lifeguard Licences from NEPA - for employees assigned as Lifeguards
• Coxwain Licence from Maritime Authority of Jamaica - (where applicable).
• Additional Certificates - may be required based on the activities being offered

Prior to submitting your application, all Government of Jamaica (GOJ) statutory requirements must have been met and adhered to.

For more information contact the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) letusknow@tpdco.org at (876)968-3441 or Visit www.tpdco.org

Submit your completed Request…

 

Submission Requirements:
Once your application form and any relevant supporting documents have been completed, signed, stamped and certified where required; you will need to visit TPDCo to submit your application for Attractions Licence.  All requests should be addressed to the Manager of the Product Quality Unit at the TPDCo.

 

The address and contact information for the TPDCo is indicated below:
Tourism Product Development Company Limited
Head Office - Kingston:
The Tourism Centre, 4th Floor
64-70 Knutsford Boulevard
Kingston 5
Jamaica, W.I.
Tel: 1 (876) 968-3441; 968-1909; 968-3626
Fax: 1 (876) 929-8269; 754-9135; 920-4854
Email: TBD

 

Regional Offices
Montego Bay:
Jamaica Room - Block G,
Montego Bay Convention Centre
Montego Bay, St. James
Jamaica, W.I.
Tel: 1 (876) 979-7987/9
Fax: 1 (876) 971-8812
Email: Sandra.bellinfantie@tpdco.org 

 

Ocho Rios:
Office # 3
Ocean Village Shopping Centre
Ocho Rios, St. Ann
Jamaica, W.I.
Tel: 1 (876) 974-7705
Fax: 1 (876) 974-2586
Email:  anna.reader@tpdco.org 

 

Negril:
The Boardwalk Shopping Village,
Shop #9,
Norman Manley Boulevard,
Negril
Tel: 876-957-3962
Fax: 957-3052

 

Black River:
Chambers Plaza,
1 Logwood Avenue,
Black River
St. Elizabeth
Tel: 1 (876) 962-6316; 961-6182
Fax: 1 (876) 961-6182
Email: amanda.parke@tpdco.org 

Monday – Thursday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Pay the relevant processing fees…

Payment vouchers are available at the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) Limited, head office in Kingston and at any of the Regional Offices island wide. Payments can be made at any branch of Scotiabank Jamaica (BNS) island wide. The TPDCo will not issue your licence without evidence of the payment of your application fee.

 

JTB Licence Fees: Attractions

$10,000 per year
$30,000 for a three (3) year licence (granted to new entities and for renewal thereafter).
Annual Expiry Date for licence - April 30th

 

Attraction Licence Processing Time:

It takes approximately one (1) month to process your Licence as the Board of the Directors of the Jamaica Tourist Board meet once a month to review and approve Licences. Your submission must be made in advance of the meeting (usually by the first Friday of the month) in order to be considered.

Attractions Licence - approximately one (1) month.

 

Additional steps required for approval…

Once your application(s) has been submitted and your fee paid, there are some additional steps that the JTB/TPDCo will need to undertake as a part of their own due diligence processes.  This may include the following:

For Attractions Licence Applications:

• Review and assessment by TPDCo: carried out on the application and supporting documents.
• Site Visit: to be undertaken by TPDCo. Assessments are two (2) fold and look at both the regulatory and standards elements of the development.
• Applications are processed: and recommendation presented to the JTB Board at its monthly meeting for a decision. 
• Licence approved by JTB: Applicant is notified of grant of approval.

If no objections are received the applicant is advised of the grant of the licence; and a licence document is prepared, and your formal Accommodations Licence will then be issued.  The licence granted may be granted on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Board may specify in the licence and shall be for such period as may be specified in the licence.

Collect your approved document(s)…

 

Once the review and assessment process has been completed and if your documents, any applicable tests and site investigations are in order; the JTB/TPDCo will notify you that your application for your Licence has been granted and that you may visit the TPDCo to collect your document. 

 

At the end of the process you would have received the following:

• Your JTB Attractions Licence