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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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.”

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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.

Bartlett Challenges Caribbean Media to Instigate Positive Debate on Climate Change

KINGSTON, Jamaica; August 15, 2018: Noting that most island economies in the Caribbean are based on highly climate-sensitive industries and sectors like tourism and agriculture, Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett says the region’s media have an important role to play as a contributor to the local, regional and global discussion on climate change.

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