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2.20 Deputy S. Pitman of the Minister for Economic Development regarding funding allocated to the tourism industry as part of the Economic Stimulus Package:
Would the Minister inform Members whether any funding has been allocated to the tourism industry as part of the Economic Stimulus Package and, if so, how much and what specific projects?
Senator A.J.H. Maclean (The Minister for Economic Development):
To date no direct stimulus funding has been allocated to the tourism industry. However, from Jersey Enterprise stimulus funding the Jersey Hospitality Association, in conjunction with Careers Jersey, has a service level agreement to train local unemployed young people with the intention of providing employment opportunities for them within the local hospitality and tourism sector. A further pilot project designed to increase the conversion of inquiries into bookings using a combination of hospitality sector sales training and testing of a call centre solution to make outbound telephone contacts to recent advertising respondents is currently also being developed. In total, these projects have a value of £50,000.
- Deputy S. Pitman:
Could the Minister tell us if he knows how many applicants there have been from the industry for money from this package?
Senator A.J.H. Maclean:
I am not sure of the question. Is the Deputy asking how many companies have applied for stimulus funding or was she referring ...
The Deputy Bailiff :
I understood that to be the question.
Deputy S. Pitman:
I am asking how many applicants from the tourism industry have applied for money from the economic stimulus package?
Senator A.J.H. Maclean:
I am not aware of the exact numbers. I am aware, though, that representatives from the tourism industry did have meetings, for example, with the F.P.P. (Fiscal Policy Panel) and others to discuss ways in which stimulus funding could be applicable to tourism. In many cases the advice was that the type of funding being sought was not applicable.
- Deputy A.E. Jeune :
In respect of the example outlined by the Minister, does he consider ... as I understand it, 65 businesses have been involved and as a result so far 18 trainees who have gone through the programme have been offered a job. I think it has been going on over 6 months. Does he consider that that number of positions offered is acceptable?
Senator A.J.H. Maclean:
I think it is a wonderful initiative. I think we would like to see more people taking it
up. Clearly this has to be a drive. There are young unemployed people in the Island, the young are those that have been most impacted by the current economic downturn. I would like to see more of them having an opportunity to get into tourism, to take advantage of this particular training and reduce the number of people that we need to import into the Island. I think it is a good thing and I welcome it.
The Deputy Bailiff :
We now come to the end of the 2 hours allocated for question time, oral questions with notice and we now come on to questions to Ministers without notice. The first period is for the Minister for Treasury and Resources. Deputy Le Claire.