Government of Jamaica

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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.

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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.”

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Jamaica Prepares for Record Winter Tourist Season

MONTEGO BAY, St. James; December 17, 2018: As part of preparations for what is expected to be a record winter tourist season, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett yesterday unveiled twenty (20) new automated kiosks. The automated kiosks, which were donated by the Passport Immigration and Citizens Agency, were unveiled at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.

New regulation to boost resort shopping next year

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Friday, December 14, 2018: In an effort to induce more investment in shopping and get more tourism dollars from that attraction, a new regulation will be introduced by the Ministry of Tourism next year.

Local Farmers Earn over $39 Million from Tourism Agri-Linkages Exchange Pilot Project

KINGSTON, Jamaica; December 14, 2018: The Tourism Agri-Linkages Exchange (ALEX) pilot project has assisted 400 local farmers with the marketing of approximately 360,000 kg of agricultural produce valued at over $39 million.

Minister Bartlett Commits $100 Million to Alpha Redevelopment Plan

KINGSTON, Jamaica; December 12, 2018: Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett today (December 12) committed $100 million to the redevelopment of the 40-acre Alpha Campus. The allocation will come from the Ministry’s Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) in tranches of $20 million over five years.

Minister Bartlett Mourns the Death of Senator Frank Pringle

KINGSTON, Jamaica; December 11, 2018: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has offered condolences to the family of former Minister of Tourism, Senator Donald Frank McKenzie Pringle, who died yesterday, at the age of 88.

Jamaica will not be a Casino Destination

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Sunday, December 9, 2018: Jamaica’s first regulated casino should be up and running by the start of 2020 but Jamaica will not be a casino destination.