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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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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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COPA Moves to Eleven Flights Per Week to Jamaica - Bartlett

Santiago, Chile; April 22, 2018: Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett this week announced that one of Latin America’s largest airlines, COPA, will increase to daily its service between Panama City and Montego Bay starting July of this year bringing to eleven the overall number of flights weekly between both countries.

Chilean Couple Surprised With Free Honeymoon by Bartlett

Santiago, Chile; April 22, 2018: Diners at one of the largest restaurants in Santiago, Chile last night erupted in rapturous applause after a Chilean couple was presented by Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett with a free honeymoon in Jamaica after Andres Tejeda proposed to his girlfriend Ariel Stockl.

Jamaica to Lead Development of Caribbean Tourism Innovation Centre

Kingston, Jamaica; April 13, 2018: Following a successful presentation on Jamaica’s plans to establish a Centre of Tourism Innovation through the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Jamaica was asked to lead the development of a similar centre for the region.

TEF’s New Business Model to Focus on Tourism Innovation

KINGSTON, Jamaica; April 12, 2018: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) will be repositioned within the next month as the country’s primary producers of tourism innovation, better allowing his Ministry to meet demands of the industry.

US $2.4 Million Earned by Kingston Airbnb Users in 2017

KINGSTON, Jamaica; April 11, 2018: Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett urged more Jamaicans to embrace innovative tourism enterprises, such as Airbnb, as they have the potential to have a major impact on the local economy. He noted that in 2017 some 910 Kingston hosts earned a collective US$2.4 million from the digital home sharing site.

Tourism Minister to Garner Support for Global Disaster Resilience Centre in South America

KINGSTON, Jamaica; April 11, 2018: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett leaves the island today to attend a series of meetings in South America. While there, he is expected to make a presentation on the Global Disaster Resilience Centre that is to be established in Jamaica, as well as garner more support for Small and Medium Sized Tourism Enterprises.

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