Small Planet Consulting has applied the Market Ready approach in the Rural Economic Development Initiative of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF-REDI) between 2011 and 2017. This joint World Bank-Government of Jamaica project enters phase II in 2021. Phase I has included:

• The development of a National Policy and Strategy for Community Tourism based on the Market Ready approach. The first phase of the project included the development of a definition of “community tourism”, research of international good practices, community consultations, gap analysis and situation analysis. The second phase includes the development of the guiding principles that are aligned with the national objectives of improving equity, alleviating poverty, sustainable land use and diversification and growth of tourism, as well as the community tourism strategy and implementation plan.
• A community tourism toolkit, consisting of the “Manual for Community Tourism Businesses” and the “Guide to Obtaining a License from the Jamaica Tourism Office”. Together, the guides provide detailed information on best practices for sustaining a Community Tourism Enterprise (CTE) and the process for obtaining a business license. The toolkit was a collaborative project between the Ministry of Tourism, the Jamaica Social Investment Fund, the Tourism Product Development Company, and the Jamaica Tourism Board.
• Two multi-day projects to teach stakeholders how to use the Community Tourism Toolkit. Complementary resources were prepared each time to help CTEs apply the toolkit, and to help TPDCO facilitators train and educate CTEs. Materials were also prepared to assist future workshop facilitators to effectively prepare and deliver the Tourism Toolkit, including Power Point slide presentations and Facilitator Guides. Two three-day workshops were held for FTEs and facilitators to introduce them to the content of the toolkit and determine the optimal approaches for its delivery. Each of them was followed by a facilitator training workshop.
• The business mentoring, sales, marketing and compliance services project for rural tourism micro-businesses was carried out in collaboration with Solimar. The overall goal of the consultancy is to increase revenue for selected community tourism businesses on a 10% and improve business management, operations, and e-commerce capabilities to increase their sustainability. Activities include: developing product packages, implementing a social media strategy, conducting an experience-focused marketing and product development boot camp, establishing an online reservation system, helping CTEs start selling through online OTAs and peer-to-peer travel sales channels, and negotiating contracts with travel business partners.