News Releases

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, announces that a "Local First" policy is coming that will require investors to partner with communities. He was speaking on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at an event celebrating the completion of the first phase of Vista Montego Bay Resort and the groundbreaking for phase two. The $100 million luxury mixed resort-style residential development is situated on Jimmy Cliff Boulevard.

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"Local First" Policy to Guide Jamaica's Tourism Investments – Bartlett

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Thursday, August 14, 2025: As Jamaica’s pivot toward the luxury tourism market gains momentum, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett is reinforcing his strong commitment to a policy that ensures local communities directly benefit from these new developments. He expressed delight that the government has been attracting premium investments, with groundbreaking ceremonies for over US$3.5 billion in tourism developments in the last three months alone. While not disclosing specifics, he mentioned he had just finalized discussions on two more "mega billion-dollar investments."

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Bartlett in Talks with Potential Israeli Investors

KINGSTON, Jamaica; February 13, 2019: Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett says major hotel brands in Israel have expressed interest in investing in Jamaica and are expected to visit the island soon.

Jamaica takes the lead on Global Tourism Resilience Management

Resilience is everybody’s business. All policymakers in the Caribbean must be concerned about the resilience of their national sectors amid a wide range of constantly evolving threats facing the region. The concern is however especially urgent for policymakers in the tourism sector which is simultaneously one of the most resilient yet volatile segments of the economies of small island states.

Inaugural Rum Festival to Bolster Jamaica’s Gastronomy Tourism Product

KINGSTON, Jamaica; February 07, 2019: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says the Jamaica Rum Festival will broaden the country’s market by adding value to the Gastronomy Tourism product offerings.

PRIME MINISTER WELCOMES NEW H10 SPANISH INVESTMENT

FALMOUTH, Trelawny; February 7, 2019: Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness has welcomed the new USD 250Million (J$34 Billion) investment from Spanish Hotel chain, H10, which officially broke ground today in Coral Spring, Trelawny.

JAMAICA IS CARIBBEAN CRUISE DESTINATION OF THE YEAR

MONTEGO BAY, St. James; February 2, 2019: Jamaica is once again in the spotlight as top Caribbean Cruise Destination of the year for 2018. Jamaica received the award from Caribbean Journal, the world’s largest website covering Caribbean travel and trade news.

Tourist Arrivals Increase by 9% in January

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; February 1, 2019: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says recent figures from the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) reveal that Jamaica welcomed 202,192 visitors in January, which represents a 9% increase over the same period in 2018.

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