Government of Jamaica

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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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Ground Broken on $26M Salem Beach Upgrades

KINGSTON, Jamaica; October 17, 2018: Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett joined other officials in St. Ann today, for a ground-breaking ceremony at Salem Beach. The beach is being upgraded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) to the tune of $26 million, under their National Beach Development Programme.

Bartlett orders Security Audit of Hotels

KINGSTON, Jamaica; October 14, 2018: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has ordered an intensive security audit of the tourism sector including hotels and attractions as part of efforts to strengthen destination assurance.

Tourism Revenue Outpacing Arrivals, USD3.3billion projected by year end

KINGSTON, Jamaica; October 13, 2018: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has highlighted that revenue from both cruise and stopover arrivals is outpacing total arrival figures.

Bartlett leads Mid-term Review and Strategic Planning Retreat

KINGSTON, Jamaica; October 11, 2018: Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett says his Ministry has exceeded its growth targets and is leading the world in tourism innovation.

Jamaica’s Tourism Linkages Network Praised at World Trade Organization Forum

KINGSTON, Jamaica; October 05, 2018: Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett says the innovative work being done by Jamaica’s Tourism Linkages Network, was recently commended during the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Public Forum session on "Innovation and Digital Transformation for Sustainable and Inclusive Tourism" which took place on October 3 at the organisation's headquarters in Geneva.

US$10 Million in Revenues from Increased Cruise and Stopover Passengers next year

KINGSTON, Jamaica; October 2, 2018: Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett fresh from his visit to London for Jamaica Travel Market, has announced that Jamaica is to benefit from nineteen (19) weeks of stopover and cruise passengers for the winter tourist season in 2019.