Government of Jamaica

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Seated, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (C) with Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) (L) and Cynthia Holmes, Dean, Ted Rogers School of Management, TMU. Sharing in the moment are standing L-R, Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Donnette Chin-Loy, Chancellor TMU and Angella Bennett, Regional Director, Canada. The occasion was the tour of the University to discuss tourism opportunities and partnership.

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Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation to Partner with Toronto Metropolitan University to Elevate Tourism Workforce Development

TORONTO, Canada; Thursday October 8, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, has announced that initial discussions have started to have the Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation (JCTI) and Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) collaborate to develop comprehensive training and certification programs for tourism professionals across Jamaica. This groundbreaking partnership will aim to strengthen the capabilities of Jamaica's tourism workforce by providing world-class professional development opportunities that align with international industry standards. The collaboration will leverage TMU's extensive expertise in hospitality and tourism education alongside JCTI's deep understanding of the Caribbean tourism landscape. “This partnership represents a significant milestone in our commitment to building a highly skilled, globally competitive tourism workforce,” said Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett. “By working with Toronto Metropolitan University, we're bringing internationally recognized training standards to Jamaica while ensuring our programs reflect the unique strengths of Caribbean hospitality.”
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Hon. Edmund Bartlett (centre), Minister of Tourism, and Donovan White (right) Director of Tourism paused for a photo-op with Gonzalo Ramirez (left), Airport Director for North America and Caribbean at LATAM Airlines, and the LATAM Airlines crew during Sunday’s ceremony at Sangster International Airport.

LATAM Airlines Resumes Direct Service Between Peru and Jamaica

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA – December 04, 2024 – LATAM Airlines has successfully resumed flights between Lima, Peru and Montego Bay, Jamaica, marking a significant milestone in Caribbean-Latin American air connectivity. The first flight, which arrived at full capacity at Sangster International Airport on Sunday, December 01, 2024, represents a major step in Jamaica's strategic expansion into the Latin American market.
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Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left) and the Secretary of Tourism for the Philippines, Hon. Christina Garcia-Frasco, share lens time after he received his global Gusi Peace Prize on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at the Manila Metropolitan Theatre.

Minister Bartlett Wins Global Gusi Peace Prize

Kingston, Jamaica; Thursday, November 28, 2024: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, was awarded the prestigious Gusi Peace Prize in Manila on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the global tourism industry. This distinguished accolade, often referred to as Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize, celebrates excellence in various fields, including peace, human rights, politics, science, and the arts. Minister Bartlett’s award highlights his leadership in championing tourism resilience and sustainability, particularly in small island developing states, and underscores his commitment to advancing global cooperation in the tourism sector.
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Minister Bartlett Travels to Manila to Receive 2024 Gusi Peace Prize

Kingston, Jamaica; Monday, November 25, 2024: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, yesterday (November 24) departed the island for Manila, the Philippines, to attend the 2024 Gusi Peace Prize International Awards. This prestigious global event honours individuals and organizations for significant contributions to peace, human rights, and global progress.
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Minister Bartlett Travels to Colombia for 122nd UN Tourism Executive Council Meeting

Kingston, Jamaica; Wednesday, November 13, 2024: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, departed the island today for Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, to represent Jamaica at the United Nations (UN) Tourism’s 122nd Executive Council Meeting, which will be held from November 13–15, 2024. Jamaica, which proudly holds the position of Second Vice Chair on the UN Tourism Executive Council, will play an instrumental role in shaping the direction of the global tourism agenda.
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Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (r) and Sierra Leone Tourism Minister, Hon. Nabeela Farida Tunis being interviewed by BBC Travel Presenter Carmen Roberts at the International Tourism and Investment Conference (ITIC) Global Tourism Investment Summit at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London, England, on Monday, November 4.

Tourism Minister Bartlett Advocates for Enhanced Commonwealth Collaboration to Drive Global Tourism Growth

London, England; Monday, November 5, 2024: Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett has underscored the need for a stronger and more cohesive tourism strategy across Commonwealth nations to leverage the immense potential for economic and social development. Speaking at the prestigious International Tourism and Investment Conference (ITIC) Global Tourism Investment Summit at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London, England, Minister Bartlett called on Commonwealth countries to join forces in making tourism a transformative driver of inclusive growth.
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Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (2nd right) engages with the audience at the ITIC Summit in London during a panel discussion on: ‘The responsibility of governments to develop a strategic plan for an investment-focused tourism agenda of the future.’ Other participants included (L-R) Siby Diabira, Senior Manager, Western Europe, IFC; Hon. Vera Kamtukule, Minister of Tourism, Malawi; Hon. Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Kenya, and moderator Carmen Roberts, BBC presenter.

Supply-Side Growth Key to Boosting Tourism Investment, says Bartlett

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Tuesday, November 5, 2024: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has continued to advocate for the importance of tourism-dependent destinations owning the supply side of the industry to increase investments and earnings. Speaking at the International Tourism and Investment Conference (ITIC) Global Tourism Investment Summit in London yesterday, the Minister highlighted that owning the supply side has the potential to create favourable conditions for investors and to retain more of the foreign exchange earned locally from the industry.
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