Government of Jamaica

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News Releases

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (second right) leads a unifying group handshake with (from left) Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Jennifer Griffith, outgoing Chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Hon. Godfrey Dyer and incoming TEF Chairman, Ryan Parkes at the Ministry’s One-day Strategic Visioning Retreat held last Wednesday at the AC Marriott Hotel.

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Minister Bartlett Salutes Godfrey Dyer’s 14 Years of Exemplary Service KINGSTON, Jamaica; Thursday, April 30, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has named Ryan Parkes, Group Chief Executive Officer of Island Car Rentals and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Tourism Workers Pension Scheme (TWPS), as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), effective May 1, 2026. The appointment, recently approved by Cabinet, was announced at the Ministry’s One-day Strategic Visioning Retreat held on April 22 at the AC Marriott Hotel. In making the announcement, Minister Bartlett also paid tribute to the outgoing TEF Chairman, Hon. Godfrey Dyer, whose 14-year tenure at the helm of the TEF represents the longest record of chairmanship in the fund’s history and one of the longest across government.

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New Nonstop JFK/Mobay Flight to Further Boost Tourist Arrivals

MONTEGO BAY, St. James, Thursday November 21, 2019: United States Ambassador to Jamaica, Donald Tapia and Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett along with a raft of officials welcomed the commencement of daily nonstop American Airlines service between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport today.

Professional classification coming for Tourism Workers

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Wednesday, November 20, 2019: Jamaica’s drive towards professionalizing its tourism industry is moving towards classifying certified workers for the purpose of improved remuneration.

4,800 Room Sugarcane Bay Multi-Resort Development to Break Ground Early 2020

MONTEGO BAY, St. James; Friday November 15, 2019: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has announced that Karisma Hotels and Resort is set to break ground in the first quarter of next year, for their 4,800-room multi-resort development project in St. Ann. The project represents a near US$1Billion dollar investment.

Bartlett bats for Regional Tourism Investment

MONTEGO BAY, St. James, Friday November 15, 2019: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has reiterated his call on tourism investors to look beyond developing hotels while batting for regional tourism investment.

Amaterra Jamaica “inks’’ deal with Marriott International for First Marriott All-Inclusive Resort in Jamaica

MONTEGO BAY, St. James; November 14, 2019: The architects of Jamaica’s largest integrated tourism real estate development, the Keith and Paula Russell led Amaterra Jamaica Group, have entered into a hotel management operator agreement with award-winning global travel company, Marriott International.

Jamaica to Host TD Jakes Caribbean Leadership Conference

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; November 12, 2019: Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett says internationally acclaimed Bishop TD Jakes is looking at staging his flagship leadership conference in Jamaica next year.