TEF to introduce alternative pathways to support students

The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) in Jamaica is expanding its support for students by introducing new pathways beyond its existing summer internship program, following an overwhelming response to its paid internship offerings. Executive Director Dr. Carey Wallace noted that the agency received approximately 16,900 applications for just 1,000 available paid positions.

Wallace stated that the immense interest highlighted a significant demand for work-readiness opportunities among young Jamaicans. "We could not simply send 15,000 applicants a ding letter to say sorry," he remarked at the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) Tourism Forum. "I said since they made a forward step to try and get that internship over the summer, let us still use our resources to provide them something of value."

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We could not simply send 15,000 applicants a ding letter to say sorry. I said since they made a forward step to try and get that internship over the summer, let us still use our resources to provide them something of value.

To address the shortfall, the TEF is developing several initiatives. These aim to provide opportunities for personal and professional development to applicants not selected for the paid program. The agency plans to partner with government entities and service providers to help young people obtain crucial credentials like Tax Registration Numbers (TRNs) and open bank accounts.

Furthermore, the TEF is collaborating with institutions like HEART/NSTA Trust to offer training that will strengthen participants' résumés and improve their workplace readiness. Among the new measures being considered are volunteer internships for the summer of 2027, which would allow participants to gain supervised work experience and earn certification, even without paid placements. Wallace emphasized that while students prefer paid experiences, volunteer work can still significantly enhance their résumés for future job hunting.

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If we can partner with the hotels, with corporate Jamaica, to be able to still provide internships at the voluntary level, it will still get more and more having the value of the experience. I think all of us in here probably know how it feels when you are applying for a job and they ask for experience, and it’s not on your résumé.