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Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (2nd right) engages in a vibrant discussion with (from left) Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, Dr. Kerry-Ann McKenzie, Consultant Pediatrician at the Falmouth Public General Hospital and Karen Zacca, Operations Director at the Sandals Foundation, following Tuesday’s (August 11) launch of Island Challenge Jamaica held at the AC Marriott Hotel in Kingston.

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Bartlett Calls for Redefinition of Tourism CSR in Jamaica

Tourism Minister urges businesses to embed community development in their operations as Sandals Foundation brings Island Challenge home KINGSTON, Jamaica; Friday, August 14, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, is calling for a fundamental redefinition of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Jamaica’s tourism industry, urging businesses to move beyond charitable giving and become more deeply embedded in the development and resilience of the communities in which they operate. Minister Bartlett made the call on Tuesday (August 11) while delivering the main address at the launch of the Sandals Foundation Island Challenge Jamaica 2026, under the theme “Tourism Doing Good,” at the AC Marriott Hotel in Kingston. The four-day endurance event, scheduled for October 2–5, will take approximately 30 UK athletes, along with local and international partners, on a route spanning Trelawny, St. Ann, St. Mary and St. Andrew. Participants will run, kayak, trek and hike across Jamaica’s landscapes while seeking to raise £100,000 to strengthen neonatal and paediatric healthcare services, including at the Falmouth Public General Hospital.

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Bartlett Seeks to Boost Strategic Partnerships at ATM Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (UAE); Monday, April 28, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, who departed Jamaica over the weekend for Dubai, has begun his participation in the much-anticipated 2025 staging of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), one of the world’s largest travel and trade events. While en route to Dubai, Minister Bartlett made a brief stop in Florida, where he was the guest speaker at the 29th Anniversary Fundraising Gala hosted by the Friends of Good Shepherd International (FOGS) at the Double Tree Hotel in Sunrise. The event, attended by a full house of patrons from the Jamaican Diaspora, recognized the charitable efforts of the organization, and its founder Archbishop Emeritus of Kingston, The Most Rev. Hon. Charles Dufour, in support of the Mustard Seed Communities in Jamaica.

Senator the Hon. Delano Seiveright, Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism (centre), is pictured with (from left) Ms. Shernette Crichton, General Manager of Half Moon Resort; Ms. Paulette Foster-Christie, Acting Head of the School of Hospitality, Tourism & Creative Studies at Montego Bay Community College (MBCC); Dr. Angela Samuels-Harris, Former Principal of MBCC; Ms. Ann-Marie Burgess, Lecturer; Carol Walters, Former Vice President of Academics, MBCC; and Charles Ramsay, Lecturer.

Seiveright Encourages Youth to Prepare for Expanding Opportunities

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Wednesday, April 16, 2025: Jamaica's consumer confidence has reached an unprecedented level of 183.7 points, according to the latest Business and Consumer Confidence Indices released by the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) on Tuesday. This remarkable increase is primarily driven by the island’s thriving tourism sector, particularly among consumers in tourist-related industries, businesses, and areas.

A significant step for Jamaica’s tourism sector: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (2nd left) joins LCH Developments CEO, Yangsen Li (left) and COO, Tanya Golaub (2nd right) alongside Ennismore's EVP – Americas, Jason Hsiang (right) at the signing ceremony announcing The Pinnacle's collaboration with Ennismore and Accor to introduce their prestigious luxury lifestyle brands to the island.

Bartlett Signals New Wave of Luxury Tourism Development for Jamaica

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Tuesday, April 15, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, recently announced that a new era of luxury tourism is on the horizon for Jamaica during a contract signing press conference hosted by LCH Developments, the developers of The Pinnacle. This event took place last Thursday, April 10, at the Pinnacle headquarters in Montego Bay and marks a significant partnership with Ennismore and Accor. This collaboration promises to elevate the island’s tourism offerings with the introduction of two prestigious luxury brands, setting a high benchmark for hospitality in the region.

Bartlett Spearheads Three-Day JTB Marketing Blitz in New York City

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Monday, April 7, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, along with Director of Tourism, Donovan White and other representatives from the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), departed the island yesterday (April 6) to execute a strategic three-day marketing blitz in New York City, aimed at bolstering Jamaica’s tourism presence in the United States. The marketing mission, which kicks off today, April 7, is part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to strengthen relationships with industry partners and bolster forward bookings for the upcoming summer season. This blitz also comes as the Jamaica Tourist Board celebrates its 70th anniversary, marking seven decades of promoting Jamaica as a premier global destination.

Embrace AI as a Catalyst for Innovation and Resilience - Bartlett

WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America; Thursday, April 3, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has again emphasised the importance of harnessing emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), to drive innovation and resilience within the tourism sector. Speaking yesterday (April 2) at the George Washington University School of Business on the theme: Tourism Unleashed: AI, People, and the Future of Global Resilience, the tourism minister highlighted Jamaica’s strides in tourism innovation and the critical role of AI in shaping the sector’s future.

Bartlett to Participate in 26th OAS Inter-American Congress of Tourism Ministers

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Wednesday, April 2, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, departed the island today for Washington D.C., where he will participate in the 26th Inter-American Congress of Ministers and High Authorities of Tourism, hosted by the Organization of American States (OAS). Hosted under the theme “Harnessing the Power of Heritage Tourism for Development in the Americas,” the high-level meeting will run from April 3-4, 2025. Minister Bartlett is slated to address the Inaugural Session on Thursday, April 3 alongside the Chair of the Inter-American Council on Integral Development (CIDI), Ambassador Lou-Anne Gilchrist and the OAS Secretary-General, H.E. Luis Almagro.

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