News Releases

PS in the Ministry of Tourism, Jennifer Griffith (2nd right) engages in a lively discussion with Bishop Everton Lawrence of Faith Temple Assemblies of God (left), Junior Minister of Tourism and Montego Bay High School student, ThaeJadore Kerr (2nd left) and member of the Board of Directors for Jamaica Vacations (JAMVAC), Tricia-Ann Bicarie, following yesterday’s (September 27) Thanksgiving Church Service to mark World Tourism Day and kickstart Tourism Awareness Week 2026, which runs from Sept 27 – Oct 3.

Featured News Releases

AI and Other Digital Technology Being Used to Transform Tourism Sector - Bartlett

Thanksgiving Church Service Kickstarts Tourism Awareness Week 2026 MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Monday, September 28, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has stressed that artificial intelligence and other digital technology are being used to strategically transform Jamaica’s tourism sector. This as the Ministry of Tourism, its public bodies and industry stakeholders, joined global partners in marking the annual UN-Tourism backed World Tourism Day (WTD), with a thanksgiving church service yesterday (September 27). The service also officially kick-started Tourism Awareness Week (TAW) 2026, being observed from September 27 to October 3, under the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” in keeping with the theme selected by UN Tourism for WTD. In a message read by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Jennifer Griffith, Minister Bartlett said the ministry was “actively leveraging AI and digital technology to modernise the sector through key initiatives such as real-time concierges, deploying multilingual digital concierges, and structured content to optimise visitor bookings, as well as predictive analytics.”

All News Releases

Sustainable Framework needed for Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises – says Bartlett

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica: January 29, 2019: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says that there is a growing need to build a smart and sustainable framework to better integrate Small and Medium Enterprises into the tourism value chain and to prevent leakages of the earnings from the industry.

Spanish Investors on board with Training and Pension Scheme

MADRID, Spain; January 27, 2019: The largest block of Spanish Hoteliers and Investors, Inverotel, has indicated they are fully on board with training through the Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation (JCTI) as well as the Ministry's pension scheme.

Jamaica Scores Big With Travvy Tourism Awards

NEW YORK, New York; January 24, 2019: Less than two months after Jamaica swept the World Travel Awards in Portugal, the island nation scored big at the 2019 Travvy Awards held in New York City last night taking five major awards. This included Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett copping the inaugural Chairman’s Award for Global Tourism Innovation and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) attaining the best Tourist Board in the Caribbean award.

Bartlett secures USD750Million in Hotel Investment and 3000 Rooms

MADRID, Spain; January 23, 2019: Following discussions with two major Spanish Hotel chains, H10 and Princess Resorts, Minister of Tourism, Honourable Edmund Bartlett has secured USD750Million in investment. The investment will see the construction of three thousand (3000) new rooms in Jamaica by 2021.

Bartlett to Attend International Tourism Fair in Spain

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 22, 2019: Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett travels to Spain today to participate in FITUR, the largest International Tourism Trade Fair for inbound and outbound Ibero-American markets.

Bartlett commits to construction of Reggae Museum

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 21, 2019: Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett has committed to the construction of a Reggae Museum to the tune of J$25Million. The move forms part of the Ministry’s effort to build out the reggae product to create more authentic Jamaican experiences for visitors and locals alike. The project will be done in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.

Contact Information

64 Knutsford Boulevard,
Kingston 5, Jamaica

(876) 920-4926-30

info@mot.gov.jm