After two years on the shelf, a new law to revamp the Tourist Board was passed in Parliament on Tuesday, with reforms to kick in over the next few weeks.
The Tourism Development Bill officially becomes law with one amendment and the signature of the Speaker of Parliament, expected in a few days.
The amendment will include a clause that says when an area is demarcated as a tourism development zone, parties affected will be given a fair hearing.
The new law will get the private sector institutions including the Hotels Association, Travel Agents Association and inbound tour operators involved in spending marketing dollars.
The Act will dismantle the Tourist Board to form a single Marketing Bureau to handle all local and international promotions, a Tourism Development Authority that will handle regulation and development and a Tourism School.
The Tourism Authority will plan, manage and monitor new development projects as well as the new tourism development zones being drawn up.
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