Minister Bartlett Travels to New York for High-Level UN Forum on Sustainable Development

Kingston, Jamaica; July 13, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett will be travelling to the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York City to attend a High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development. Minister Bartlett departs the island today, Thursday, July 13 and is expected to participate in the HLPF’s official side event on Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability in Tourism on Friday, July 14.

The event is being organised by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in collaboration with Croatia’s Ministry of Tourism and Sport, the Ministry of Tourism for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Ministry of Tourism of India. It is aimed at showcasing how multilateral, public and private sector partnerships are contributing to the fulfilment of tourism’s potential in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Jamaica is currently pioneering some of the most transformational tourism-related strategies and policies internationally. The Destination Assurance Framework and Strategy is almost at the white paper stage and we’ve been partnering with the IDB to develop the Tourism Strategy and Action Plan. So, this forum provides an ideal opportunity to share the approaches we have been taking but more importantly, it gives us a chance to benefit from the knowledge, best practices and expertise in tourism that other member states bring to the table,” asserted Minister Bartlett.

Mr. Bartlett will participate in the forum alongside ministers of tourism from countries such as Croatia and India as well as Spain’s Secretary of State for Tourism. Some of the event’s objectives include enhancing awareness around the need for resilient tourism practices and sustainable recovery strategies, emphasising the role of data in tracking progress and ensuring the alignment of tourism initiatives with broader policy objectives and demonstrating how the private sector can advance towards effective sustainability actions for tourism.

In keeping with this, Minister Bartlett noted that: “A key focus of the forum is to inspire common action between the public and private sectors to achieve social, environmental and governance sustainability within the tourism industry. In Jamaica, our strategic direction aligns perfectly with this mission. We understand that tourism is a confluence of moving parts often led by privately owned entities. Once we work together in a synergistic way, we’ll be able to push forward innovative solutions that strengthen tourism’s role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Minister Bartlett is scheduled to return to the island on Sunday, July 16.