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.

Featured News Releases

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.”

All News Releases

Hon. Edmund Bartlett Returns as Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism

Kingston, Jamaica: March 8, 2016 – Hon. Edmund Bartlett has once again been appointed Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, following the swearing in of Jamaica’s new Government at Kings House yesterday (March 7). Minister Bartlett previously served as Tourism Minister from 2007-2011 and replaces Wykeham McNeill, who held the portfolio from 2011-2016, under the Portia Simpson Miller-led government.

Bartlett Proposes Tourism Credit Bank

MONTEGO BAY, St. James, Jamaica, March 17, 2016: The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and the EXIM Bank are to set the stage for the establishment of a tourism bank. Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has proposed the tourism bank as source of funding for service providers in the tourism industry to enable them to build capacity and reap more from the industry.

Minister Bartlett Meets With US Ambassador to Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica; March 09, 2016: In a bid to further strengthen relations between Jamaica and the United States in the area of tourism Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett met with US Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Luis Moreno, and members of his team today (March 9).

Minister Bartlett Lays out Five Pillars for Tourism Growth

MONTEGO BAY, St. James, Jamaica, April 10, 2016: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has outlined to the new boards of directors of key agencies in the ministry, five pillars on which the Ministry and its agencies will seek to transform the island's vibrant tourism sector and achieve double digit growth.

Public Private Partnerships to form significant part of tourism growth strategy – Bartlett

KINGSTON, Jamaica, March 17, 2016: Minister of Tourism, Honourable Edmund Bartlett, yesterday noted that Public Private Partnerships (PPP) will form a key part of Jamaica’s tourism growth strategy. Given our government’s policy to make the private sector the engine of growth it is critical for the Tourism Ministry and its support agencies to pursue PPP arrangements that ultimately redound to the Jamaica’s benefit. It is an ultimate win win situation,said Bartlett.

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”.

Contact Information

64 Knutsford Boulevard,
Kingston 5, Jamaica

(876) 920-4926-30

info@mot.gov.jm