Government of Jamaica

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Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (right) receives a welcome hug, one of the many he received on his tour of Royalton Negril on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Management and staff were out in their numbers to greet the Minister at the restart of operations following a multi-million-dollar restoration in the wake of last year’s hurricane.

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NEGRIL, Jamaica; Thursday, August 27, 2026: Pulsating music, dance and colourful dresses marked the reopening of the Royalton Negril hotel and the return of nearly 1,000 workers to their jobs. The hotel reopened at 50 percent occupancy, which is expected to rise to 80 percent over the US Thanksgiving period, and is already sold out for Jamaica’s Heroes Weekend and Christmas. Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, was excited as he moved among staff members and was greeted with gleeful smiles as he toured the property to see firsthand its multi-million-dollar recovery from the impact of hurricane Melissa. “When I walked in, I saw that 960 workers were back on the job, and that by Thanksgiving, I'm told, the other 320 will be back, and we will have a full complement of 1,200 workers employed. That means families are now going to be more secure. It's coming back at the right time with back to school,” Minister Bartlett said.

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Over 115 Exhibitors at Successful 4th Staging of ‘Christmas in July’

KINGSTON, Jamaica; July 20, 2018: The Tourism Linkages Network staged another highly successful ‘Christmas in July’ trade show yesterday (July 19), which saw a large turnout of enthusiastic patrons to view and purchase locally produced craft, gifts and souvenirs.

Minister Bartlett to Give Keynote Address at St. Lucia Hotel and Tourist Assn AGM

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Thursday, July 19, 2018: In recognition of the tremendous success of the Jamaica Tourism Centre of Innovation (JCTI) and the significant role of Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett in its establishment, he has been invited by the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) to give the keynote address at its 54 th Annual General meeting.

$1 Billion TEF Funded Tourism Pension Scheme on Track

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Thursday, July 12, 2018: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, yesterday (July 11) described the Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme, which will receive $1 billion in funding from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), as the final piece in a four-point human capital development plan to enhance Jamaica’s tourism workers.

Strong Regional Support for Tourism Resilience Centre

MONTEGO BAY, St. James; July 8 2018: Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett is confirming strong regional support for the establishment of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, which is expected to be operational in September of this year.

TEF Rewards Holland High With $J2.5M Computer Equipment

FALMOUTH, Trelawny, Friday, July 6, 2018: The importance of safeguarding the environment was underscored by Executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Dr Carey Wallace at the official opening of a computer room furnished with 27 laptops and other computer equipment valued at $2.5 million to the Holland High School on Tuesday July 3, 2018. The computer room has also been outfitted with a projector and screen with surround sound.

Tourism Booms Despite Enhanced Security Measures

MONTEGO BAY, St. James; Friday July 6, 2018: Quick, aggressive and sustained interventions by the Edmund Bartlett led Ministry of Tourism and the Jamaica Tourist Board, to counter some effects of enhanced security measures implemented in the parish of St. James in January of this year, have proven successful.