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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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Ryan Parkes Named New TEF Chairman

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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Prime Minister Holness Calls for Synergies to Build Tourism Resilience

KINGSTON, Jamaica; September 13, 2018: Speaking to the nearly 200 delegates attending the Tourism Resilience Summit of the Americas, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness challenged them to commit to finding common solutions to tourism resilience through synergies to reduce the risks and diminish the threats to the tourism industry.

Bartlett: “Best Summer ever!”

KINGSTON, Jamaica; September 05, 2018: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says the island experienced record-breaking stopover arrivals from May to August this year, with provisional estimates showing stopover arrivals up by 6 percent, over the same period last year.

Tourism Ministry Invests $53 Million in 2018 Summer Internship Programmes

KINGSTON, Jamaica; September 03, 2018: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says his Ministry provided temporary employment for approximately 2000 youths this year, at a cost of $53 million, through summer internship programmes at the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo). This was the largest number of interns to ever participate in the programmes.

Resilience Building Needed Now… more than ever, says Bartlett

KINGSTON, Jamaica; August 22, 2018: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett says resilience building within the Caribbean region is needed now more than ever, given the increase in disruptions such as hurricanes and earthquakes. The Minister’s comment comes on the heels of the 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Venezuela yesterday.

Minister of Tourism Promoting ‘Staycation’ at Jamaican Facilities

KINGSTON, Jamaica; August 20, 2018: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has embarked on a local vacation, more popularly known as a staycation, which will take him across the island to review the various tourism products. The staycation is also being used to encourage more Jamaicans to choose to vacation at home.

$33M Upgrade for Old Fort Craft Market

KINGSTON, Jamaica; August 17, 2018: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says, the Old Fort Craft Market in Montego Bay will receive upgrades valued at $33 million. The work will be carried out by the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) and will include restoration to the heritage park at a cost of $25million and improvement of bathroom facilities at a cost of $8million.

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