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PS in the Ministry of Tourism, Jennifer Griffith (2nd right) engages in a lively discussion with Bishop Everton Lawrence of Faith Temple Assemblies of God (left), Junior Minister of Tourism and Montego Bay High School student, ThaeJadore Kerr (2nd left) and member of the Board of Directors for Jamaica Vacations (JAMVAC), Tricia-Ann Bicarie, following yesterday’s (September 27) Thanksgiving Church Service to mark World Tourism Day and kickstart Tourism Awareness Week 2026, which runs from Sept 27 – Oct 3.

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AI and Other Digital Technology Being Used to Transform Tourism Sector - Bartlett

Thanksgiving Church Service Kickstarts Tourism Awareness Week 2026 MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Monday, September 28, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has stressed that artificial intelligence and other digital technology are being used to strategically transform Jamaica’s tourism sector. This as the Ministry of Tourism, its public bodies and industry stakeholders, joined global partners in marking the annual UN-Tourism backed World Tourism Day (WTD), with a thanksgiving church service yesterday (September 27). The service also officially kick-started Tourism Awareness Week (TAW) 2026, being observed from September 27 to October 3, under the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” in keeping with the theme selected by UN Tourism for WTD. In a message read by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Jennifer Griffith, Minister Bartlett said the ministry was “actively leveraging AI and digital technology to modernise the sector through key initiatives such as real-time concierges, deploying multilingual digital concierges, and structured content to optimise visitor bookings, as well as predictive analytics.”

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AI and Other Digital Technology Being Used to Transform Tourism Sector - Bartlett

Thanksgiving Church Service Kickstarts Tourism Awareness Week 2026 MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Monday, September 28, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has stressed that artificial intelligence and other digital technology are being used to strategically transform Jamaica’s tourism sector. This as the Ministry of Tourism, its public bodies and industry stakeholders, joined global partners in marking the annual UN-Tourism backed World Tourism Day (WTD), with a thanksgiving church service yesterday (September 27). The service also officially kick-started Tourism Awareness Week (TAW) 2026, being observed from September 27 to October 3, under the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” in keeping with the theme selected by UN Tourism for WTD. In a message read by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Jennifer Griffith, Minister Bartlett said the ministry was “actively leveraging AI and digital technology to modernise the sector through key initiatives such as real-time concierges, deploying multilingual digital concierges, and structured content to optimise visitor bookings, as well as predictive analytics.”

Bartlett Takes Jamaica’s Tourism Thought Leadership to World Economic Forum

Tourism Minister Travels to Geneva to Co-Chair Beyond Tourism Forum and Engage Global Leaders KINGSTON, Jamaica; Thursday, September 24, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has departed the island for Geneva, Switzerland, where he will represent Jamaica at the World Economic Forum (WEF) and co-chair the Beyond Tourism Day Forum on September 25. The engagement places Jamaica at the centre of high-level international discussions on the future of tourism, including its role in economic resilience, investment, innovation and inclusive development. The WEF’s Beyond Tourism initiative advocates for a more integrated approach to tourism, recognising the interconnection between people and skills, finance, infrastructure, technology and innovation, and policy and governance. Minister Bartlett said Jamaica’s participation represents an important recognition of the country’s influence in shaping global tourism thinking, particularly in tourism and human capital development.

Jamaica to Showcase AI & Digital Transformation During Tourism Awareness Week 2026

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Tuesday, September 22, 2026: The Ministry of Tourism, its public bodies and tourism industry partners will place artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation and the future of Jamaica’s tourism economy at the centre of Tourism Awareness Week (TAW) 2026, being observed from September 27 to October 3 under the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.” The theme mirrors the UN Tourism’s global theme for World Tourism Day, which will be celebrated on September 27. The week will examine how technology is reshaping the way visitors discover, plan and experience destinations, while highlighting Jamaica’s efforts to responsibly harness AI and digital tools to strengthen destination management, visitor facilitation, workforce development, resilience building and decision-making. Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, said the theme is particularly timely as technology continues to redefine global travel and tourism.

Board Chairman of the Tourism Workers Pension Scheme (TWPS), Mr. Ryan Parkes (left) and Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett engage in a brief discussion ahead of the TWPS annual general meeting on Friday, September 18, 2026 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

Bartlett Sets New Tourism Workers Pension Scheme (TWPS) Growth Targets

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Monday, September 21, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett is pressing for greater participation in the island’s four-year-old Tourism Workers Pension Scheme (TWPS). While pleased with its progress, he has set a bold new target of 50,000 members by 2028, with savings of over J$100 billion. While advocating for the 175,000 workers directly employed in the tourism industry to be enrolled over time in the social safety net that offers them human dignity, Minister Bartlett expressed disappointment at the response by some industry employers to the scheme and hinted that it could be made mandatory. He highlighted that there are currently just under 11,000 registered members with an estimated $6 billion in savings. Speaking at the TWPS annual general meeting at the Montego Bay Convention Centre recently, he told tourism employers: “When you contribute to your workers' pension, you are not losing money, you are gaining loyalty, productivity and retention.”

New Tourism 3.0 Growth Agenda Will Transform Tourism Sector - Bartlett

OCHO RIOS, Jamaica; Thursday, September 17, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has given further insights into transformative developments set to come onstream under his Ministry’s new Tourism 3.0 growth agenda. Speaking online from Dubai earlier this week, Minister Bartlett laid out the government’s plans for the industry to a large gathering of international and local journalists at a media breakfast during the 36th staging of the Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) trade show. The event is being staged at the Moon Palace Jamaica resort in Ocho Rios. With several initiatives in the making, including adding roughly 20,000 new rooms within the next 10 to 15 years, Jamaica is pivoting to the next level of luxury tourism, while maintaining the highest standard of resilient systems. He says 5,000 of those new rooms are currently under construction.

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, (C) shares a moment with (L-R) Salem Al Shahrani, Rua Al Haram Al Malaki, Ibrahim Osta, Moderator, Chemonics International, Anoud, hospitality worker, Salem Al Shahrani, Rua Al Haram Al Malaki, Raed Alghamdi, Red Sea Global and Fahad Mohammed Alhagbani, King Saud University following the panel discussion at WTM Riyadh on Thursday September 10, 2026.

Tourism Minister offers Saudi Arabia “People-First” Blueprint for its One Million Careers Vision

RIYADH; Saudi Arabia; Monday September 14, 2026: Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has offered Saudi Arabia a “people-first” blueprint for achieving its ambitious target of creating One Million Careers through tourism under Vision 2030. Speaking on the panel “Delivering Saudi Vision Beyond 2030” at World Travel Market (WTM) Saudi Arabia on Thursday, Minister Bartlett said the success of Saudi Arabia’s mega tourism investments will ultimately depend on the people delivering the visitor experience. “The strongest destinations are not built on concrete alone. They are built on careers. On people. On dignity.” Describing the One Million Careers target as “a covenant with a generation,” Minister Bartlett positioned Jamaica, as a mature tourism destination, as a partner in helping Saudi Arabia build a sustainable tourism workforce.

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