Tourism boost is on

Pol visits Jamaica with promos in mind

Daily News; August 9, 2002; By Warren Woodberry, Jr.

Jamaica Center was visited yesterday by the head of the Assembly Committee on Tourism, Arts and Sports Development, who was touring cultural and heritage sites as part of a promotional campaign.

Assemblyman Joseph Morelle (D-Rochester) met with economic developers to discuss ideas to attract people to the downtown area for entertainment, shopping and historical tours.

Morelle, former head of the Assembly Small Business Committee, was invited by Assemblywoman Vivian Cook (D-Jamaica). They have collaborated on projects to acquire funding for educational programs at York College and are working to secure advertising dollars for Jamaica.

The developers believe Morelle's visit will help cultural institutions, and existing tourism efforts, receive a more favorable reception in Albany during banquet deliberations.

"Anything we can do in our committee capacity to promote the culture and heritage of Jamaica, we're going to work at it so we can help promote this wonderful community," he said.

Morelle visited the former First Dutch Reformed Church at 153rd St. and Jamaica Ave., which is being converted into a performing arts and business center. Then he stopped at the King Manor Museum, once the home of Rufus King, an outspoken opponent of slavery.

"I was thrilled that he was here," said Mary Anne Mrozinski, executive director of the museum. "The potential for cultural tourism is so great. With all the improvements and the AirTrain coming, everything here is rising. Cultural tourism is not that far away."

Downtown draws visitors

Tyra Emerson, executive director of Cultural Collaborative Jamaica, said several walking and bus tours have gone through downtown this summer.

She said that with government funding for promotions, shops and restaurants could benefit.

"We want Jamaica to be a destination for the tour operators," Emerson said.

Morelle also visited the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning and met with the David Taylor, vice president of York College.

He ended his tour with a briefing on tourism programs and cultural activities at the Jamaica Market.

"I think it's a community with a great future," Morelle said. "So far, I'm very impressed."

Carlisle Towery, president of the Greater Jamaica Development Corp., gave Morelle proposals on local promotions to look over back in Rochester.

Morelle said the state budget for tourism, the arts and sports development is very tight but that he will work with Cook to identify programs they could lobby for funding.