Tourism Courtesy Corp Programme

 

The Tourism Courtesy Corp Programme (TCCP) began in December 2008 in an effort to treat with the increased number of reports received regarding tourist harassment and other illegal activities that threatened the viability of the tourism industry. Over the seven (7) years of the programme’s life, several revisions have been made to the programme to improve its effectiveness. The programme provides tourism security and courtesy services in the resort towns of Negril, Montego Bay, Falmouth, Runaway Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio and New Kingston. The functions of the Tourism Courtesy Corp officers include patrol services in the designated areas to assist in preventing soliciting and harassment of visitors/tourists. They also provide information and directions to visitors as well as local residents on various subjects including location of licenced attractions, recommended modes of transportation and places of interest.

The TCCP is executed by a contracted private security company, with oversight from the Visitor Safety and Experience unit in TPDCo. All officers are appointed as Special District Constables for the area that they are deployed in; by virtue of that they have powers of arrest. The Courtesy Corp officers are all TEAM Jamaica trained and as such are equipped with the relevant information on the tourism industry and Jamaica’s culture. The TEAM Jamaica programme also provides the officers with customer service training which is a key component of their job function.