Government of Jamaica

News Releases

News Releases

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (2nd right) is joined by Director of the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation (JCTI), Carol Rose-Brown (right) in greeting a portion of the first cohort of executive sous chefs trained and graduated by any Caribbean country outside the chamber of Gordon House ahead of his 2026 Sectoral Debate Presentation on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

Featured News Releases

Tourism 3.0 to Drive Jamaica’s Next Economic Leap – Bartlett

Bartlett Declares New Era Built on Trust, Inclusion and Local Prosperity KINGSTON, Jamaica; Thursday, June 25, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has unveiled a new growth agenda dubbed: Tourism 3.0, describing it as Jamaica’s new development architecture designed to transform tourism from a successful industry into a more inclusive and resilient national economic engine rooted in trust, confidence and shared prosperity. Making his 2026 Sectoral Debate Presentation in Gordon House earlier this week, under the theme “Trust and Confidence,” Minister Bartlett positioned Tourism 3.0 as the framework that will guide the next phase of Jamaica’s tourism evolution, one where growth is measured not only by visitor arrivals but by stronger communities, higher local retention, greater resilience and broader economic participation. “Tourism 3.0 is not a slogan. It is a new development architecture for Jamaica,” Bartlett declared.
Continue Reading

All News Releases

Minister McNeill to Meet With Officials from Carnival Cruise Lines

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill is scheduled to participate in an important meeting in Miami with officials from Carnival Cruise Lines, as part of efforts to boost cruise shipping locally. He departs the island today, March 20, 2013.
Continue Reading

TEF Sponsors Purchase of Hyperbaric Chamber to Treat Diving Disorders

The capacity of local health officials to treat divers with complications such as decompression illness has received a major boost with the commissioning of a new Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) sponsored Hyperbaric Chamber. The chamber, which has been installed at the Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory, St. Ann, was acquired through the collaborative effort of the TEF and the University of the West Indies, UWI.
Continue Reading

Tourism Sector in Transition, Due to Economic Changes - Minister McNeill

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill has explained that the tourism sector is in a state of transition, in response to changes in the industry and the economic conditions in the island’s main source markets. The Minister made this pronouncement as he addressed sector interests at the Commissioning Ceremony for the new Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) sponsored Hyperbaric Chamber at the Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory in St. Ann.
Continue Reading

TEF Enhances JCF Crime-Fighting Efforts with Donation of 15 Vehicles

Continue Reading

First Staging of ‘Arts in the Park’ a Major Success

The first staging of ‘ Arts in the Park,’ an initiative of the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment as part of its effort to develop the entertainment sector, is being heralded as a major success. The inaugural event was held at Hope Botanical Gardens in Kingston on February 24, 2013, and provided a total cultural immersion into the visual and performing arts for both locals and visitors alike. This, with a reggae show billed in its entirety with new and emerging talent, coupled with a village for local artists to showcase their paintings, craft items and other forms of art.
Continue Reading

Tourism Linkages Hub to be Established within Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment

Kingston, Jamaica: December 12, 2012 – Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill has announced that a Hub is to be formed within his Ministry to drive the process of establishing linkages between the tourism and other industries forward. Explaining further he said, “this Hub would be what would gather data and disseminate information, and would work with input and representation from the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Jamaica Manufacturers Association (JMA) and JAMPRO”.
Continue Reading