Albert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Senator Delano Seiveright, state minister in the Ministry of Tourism, is encouraging more Jamaicans to embrace the Spanish language, calling it an essential tool for bridging the communication gap created by the increasing presence of Spanish-speaking investors in Jamaica’s tourism sector.
With the growing influence of Spanish and Mexican businesses, whose default language is Spanish, Seiveright emphasised the importance of language fluency in fostering seamless communication and business interactions.
“We must acknowledge and welcome the expanding presence of Spanish and Mexican investments, which have added a unique dimension to our tourism landscape,” Seiveright said while delivering the keynote address at the launch of the 2025 Jill Stewart MoBay City Run 10K/5K road race on Monday.
“Spanish is their primary language, and I’ve encountered my own challenges in engagements with the owners and management of these companies. That’s why I’ve prioritised Spanish education for my own children – it’s crucial,” added Seiveright, whose government role includes responsibility for linkages within the tourism sector, making him a key stakeholder in Jamaica’s tourism development.
He further explained that Dominicans and Mexicans often hold a distinct competitive edge in the Caribbean due to their linguistic fluency, which enhances their ability to navigate business negotiations and networking opportunities.
ADAPTING TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE
While he acknowledged that not every Jamaican needs to become fluent in Spanish, he urged businesses seeking direct engagement with Spanish-speaking entities to integrate language training as a strategic priority.
“This is no longer a luxury – it’s a strategic necessity. More focus must be placed on language learning, especially Spanish. It’s extremely important,” Seiveright stressed, making a direct appeal to Jamaican business leaders to recognise the long-term benefits of multilingualism in the evolving tourism landscape.
According to Seiveright, several Spanish-speaking hotel chains operate in Jamaica and across the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Mexico, giving Spanish-speaking professionals a natural advantage in the English-speaking Caribbean. As these investments continue to grow, he underscored the importance of Jamaicans adapting to remain competitive.
He also called for a national strategy that places greater emphasis on language education, advocating for partnerships between educational institutions and the tourism industry to integrate Spanish language training into Jamaica’s workforce development programmes.
albert.ferguson@gleanerjm.com
https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20250328/jamaicans-urged-learn-spanish-tourism-sector-expands
