News Releases

NAIROBI; Kenya; February 19, 2026 – Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, on Monday, February 16, delivered a powerful call to action for the global tourism community to move ‘From Crisis to Transformation’ as he addressed the opening of the 4th Global Tourism Resilience Day Conference and Expo in Nairobi, Kenya. Hosted in partnership with the Government of Kenya and anchored by the Kenyatta University, the conference convened global tourism leaders, policymakers, academics, and private sector stakeholders to examine the urgent need for building resilience in an era of constant disruption. Speaking under the conference theme ‘From Crisis to Transformation’, Minister Bartlett outlined the overlapping global challenges reshaping tourism, including climate shocks, health-security threats, geopolitical instability, economic volatility, public safety concerns, cybercrime, and the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Friday, February 13, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, departed the island today for Nairobi, Kenya, where he will participate in the 4th Global Tourism Resilience Day Conference and Expo (GTRDCE), scheduled for February 15–18, 2026, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). The high-level gathering marks a historic milestone, as it represents the first annual international observation of Global Tourism Resilience Day to be hosted outside of Jamaica, and the first to be staged on the African continent. Global Tourism Resilience Day was officially proclaimed by the United Nations in 2023, following sustained advocacy spearheaded by Minister Bartlett, positioning Jamaica as the global thought leader on tourism resilience. “This moment is deeply symbolic for Jamaica and profoundly important for the world,” said Minister Bartlett. “What began as an idea born out of Jamaica’s own vulnerabilities and lived experience has now become a global movement. Hosting this event in Africa, and particularly in Kenya, reflects the shared journey of resilience, transformation and opportunity that connects our nations,” he added.

Excellence Moves to Boost Staff Training and Development MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Monday, February 9, 2026: Spanish investors in the adults-only Excellence Oyster Bay, one of the most luxurious resorts along the north coast corridor, are set to expand their investment in Jamaica’s tourism industry and triple the property’s room count over the next ten years. The expansion will commence immediately with a major increase in its very popular Beach Bungalows by the end of 2026. Concurrently, the Spanish investors have committed to ensuring the property has a team of highly trained and satisfied staff and ultimately to recruit a general manager from Jamaica. An elated Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, shared the news yesterday (February 8) after a tour of the 300-room resort just outside of Falmouth and private discussions with the investors. He then announced that Excellence will be adding another four hotels in the area “to bring some 2,000 rooms all told into the next ten years of our development.”

Sierra Leone to Amplify Youth Leadership on Global Tourism Resilience Day 2026 KINGSTON, Jamaica; Wednesday, February 4, 2026: Jamaica and Sierra Leone have reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing global tourism resilience, youth leadership and Africa-Caribbean tourism cooperation, following a special meeting hosted yesterday (February 3) by Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, alongside Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Hon. Nabeela Tunis. The meeting, held at Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism in New Kingston, examined Sierra Leone’s plans to observe Global Tourism Resilience Day 2026 on February 17 with a youth-focused seminar at the University of Sierra Leone, placing young people at the centre of global conversations on resilience, identity and development. The engagement forms part of Sierra Leone’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of Culture and Creativity.

UN Tourism Names Jamaica Global Resilience Hub MADRID, Spain; Monday, January 26, 2026: Jamaica closed three days of engagements at FITUR 2026 with measurable momentum behind its tourism rebound: stronger alignment with major hotel partners to speed up reopening timelines, deeper coordination with key airlift and marketing partners, and expanding investor interest in aviation and destination development. The week’s most significant outcome came on Day 3 of the international tourism tradeshow held in Madrid, Spain, when UN Tourism named Jamaica as the Tourism Resilience Hub of the world — a global endorsement of the country’s leadership in crisis readiness and recovery. The engagements advanced Jamaica’s strategy to protect livelihoods, restore room stock, strengthen airlift performance, and mobilise investment for resilient infrastructure and destination reimagining, particularly across the eastern and southern parishes.

Tourism Minister to Make Strategic Visits to New York and Spain Kingston, Jamaica; Wednesday, January 14, 2026: Jamaica’s aggressive global marketing drive to rebuild and reposition its tourism sector following the passage of Hurricane Melissa intensified today, as Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, departed the island to lead a high-level marketing blitz which picks up in New York, to be followed by Jamaica’s participation in the prestigious FITUR international tourism tradeshow in Madrid, Spain. The New York mission, which runs from January 15–17, forms part a multi-market campaign aimed at boosting visitor confidence, strengthening trade and media relationships, and accelerating Jamaica’s tourism recovery. Minister Bartlett is accompanied by a team from the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and will return to the island on Saturday, January 17, ahead of his departure for Madrid, Spain on Monday, January 19. He is scheduled to return from FITUR on Sunday, January 25, 2026.