Donnie Dawson, the retiring deputy director of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), has highlighted the value of travel agents as he reflected on his 40-year career in the sector.
He said travel sellers are still the primary drivers of the island’s tourism industry and dismissed the idea that online travel agencies (OTA) would eliminate the need for traditional advisors.
Noting that even Expedia has a programme for travel agents, he said: “Let nobody fool you, I’ve heard it again and again for 40 years: ‘Oh, the retailers are going to go out of business with the OTAs.’ They’re still here, man.”
Dawson (pictured right) pointed to the success of the 12-year-old Jamaica Travel Specialist programme, an online training course for agents that has grown “beyond expectations” and has tens of thousands of graduates.
“I have convinced people that the retail trade is still here to stay,” said Dawson.
“They’re not going anywhere … and that, to me, is probably one of my crowning achievements that I would reflect on.”
Affectionately known by his colleagues as ‘Mr Airlift’, he has seen increased air connectivity to Jamaica and a tripling of the number of rooms to more than 30,000 during the past four decades.
Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s tourism minister, said: “Jamaica is deeply indebted to Donnie Dawson for his decades of service to develop and promote tourism to the island.
“He has been a steadfast ambassador throughout the years, dedicated to helping Jamaica become one of the world’s leading tourism destinations.
“We are truly grateful to him for everything he has accomplished and wish him a very happy retirement.”
Donovan White, tourism director at the Jamaica Tourist Board, added: ““We are truly saddened to see Donnie go, as he has been a respected colleague and an invaluable leader to the board over the many years he has worked with us and whose passion and drive helped make our tourism industry what it is today.
“However, we wish him only the best as he leaves his storied career to pursue life beyond it and we will absolutely remain in touch.”
From left: Jamaica tourism director Donovan White; Joy Jibrilu, chief executive of the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board; Faye Gill, membership director of the Caribbean Tourism Organization; Rosa Harris, tourism director, Cayman Islands; and Donnie Dawson, deputy director of the Jamaica Tourist Board in Chicago last week at Routes Americas.