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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Bartlett to attend inaugural UAE-Caribbean Cooperation Forum

KINGSTON, Jamaica; November 23, 2018: Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett departed the island yesterday, to join Jamaica’s delegation attending the inaugural UAE-Caribbean Cooperation Forum 2018, to be held in Dubai, from November 24 – 26, 2018.

Jamaican Seafarers Are In the Highest Demand In the Cruise Business – says Bartlett

KINGSTON, Jamaica; November 22, 2018: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says there is currently a demand for 5000 Jamaican seafarers in the cruise industry.

Bartlett Announces Noted International Expert for Security Audit Team

KINGSTON, Jamaica; November 22, 2018: Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett has announced that highly regarded international expert, Dr Peter Tarlow, will join the team carrying out the intensive security audit of the tourism sector.

Bartlett orders Review of Montego Bay Welcome Sign….J$5Million pumped by Private Sector into Project

KINGSTON, Jamaica; November 21, 2018: As part of the Ministry of Tourism and its Agencies’ commitment to full transparency, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has ordered a full review of the costs associated with the budgeted amount for the ‘Welcome to Montego Bay’ sign and attraction. Minister Bartlett has instructed the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism to conduct the review.

J$350Million for Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises

KINGSTON, Jamaica; November 20, 2018: Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett says his Ministry is committed to driving the capacity of Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs) that provide goods and services within the tourism sector. This commitment was underscored at today’s handover of J$350Million to the EXIM Bank from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) to facilitate a loan facility for these local suppliers.

New Montego Bay Welcome Sign to be Ready By December

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; November 19, 2018: Minister of Tourism Hon Edmund Bartlett, Ministry officials and Montego Bay city leaders laid blocks on Saturday (November 17) to symbolize the commencement of a project to create a new welcome sign at the round a bout in the vicinity of the Sangster International airport. The aim is to have the new sign completed in December. The previous sign was destroyed through a motor vehicle accident.