Government of Jamaica

News Releases

News Releases

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (second right) leads a unifying group handshake with (from left) Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Jennifer Griffith, outgoing Chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Hon. Godfrey Dyer and incoming TEF Chairman, Ryan Parkes at the Ministry’s One-day Strategic Visioning Retreat held last Wednesday at the AC Marriott Hotel.

Featured News Releases

Ryan Parkes Named New TEF Chairman

Minister Bartlett Salutes Godfrey Dyer’s 14 Years of Exemplary Service KINGSTON, Jamaica; Thursday, April 30, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has named Ryan Parkes, Group Chief Executive Officer of Island Car Rentals and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Tourism Workers Pension Scheme (TWPS), as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), effective May 1, 2026. The appointment, recently approved by Cabinet, was announced at the Ministry’s One-day Strategic Visioning Retreat held on April 22 at the AC Marriott Hotel. In making the announcement, Minister Bartlett also paid tribute to the outgoing TEF Chairman, Hon. Godfrey Dyer, whose 14-year tenure at the helm of the TEF represents the longest record of chairmanship in the fund’s history and one of the longest across government.
Continue Reading

All News Releases

Devon House Opens Bigger I-Scream Parlour

KINGSTON, Jamaica; July 25, 2017: Efforts to bolster Devon House as the epicentre of Gastronomy in Kingston have been increased, with the official opening of an expanded ‘I-Scream’ parlour on the North Lawns of the property on July 24, 2017.
Continue Reading

Minister Bartlett Pushes For More Technology in Tourism

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Monday, July 17, 2017: The Ministry of Tourism, through its Linkages Network, is encouraging the tourism sector to make greater use of technology to enhance guest experience.
Continue Reading

Jamaica Welcomes Millionth Visitor And Earns Over US$1.2 billion

MONTEGO BAY, June 15, 2017: Jamaica’s tourism industry marked a historical milestone today with Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett welcoming the millionth stop-over visitor to the island for the year to date. In tandem with this landmark achievement, the tourism sector has earned in excess of US$1.2 billion for the same period.
Continue Reading

Regional Tourism Industry Set To Take Centerstage During UNWTO Global Conference in Montego Bay, Jamaica

NEW YORK, NY – June 6, 2017 – The regional tourism industry is set to take centerstage during the UNWTO, Government of Jamaica and World Bank Group Conference on Jobs & Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St. James, November 27-29, 2017. Speaking at a press conference on June 6 at the Consulate General of Jamaica during Caribbean Week in New York, Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Edmund Bartlett noted that given the region’s dependency on tourism, it was important that such a conference provide solutions on how the Caribbean can better leverage this industry.
Continue Reading

Minister Bartlett - Jamaica On The Verge Of Visitor Arrivals History

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Monday, June 5, 2017: With earnings for the first four months of this year at an all-time high of over US$1 billion, or a 6.5 per cent increase over last year, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett announced yesterday (June 4) that Jamaica’s tourism industry is heading for a historic one million visitors before the end of this month.
Continue Reading

Minister Bartlett to Attend UNWTO Forum on Gastronomy Tourism

KINGSTON, Jamaica; May 7, 2017: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett will be holding discussions with leading experts in gastronomy at the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism, taking place in Donostia, San Sebastian, Spain, from May 8-9, 2017. He says these discussions will be vital to the further development of the gastronomy product locally.
Continue Reading