Government of Jamaica

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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.

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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.

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Minister McNeill and JTB Host High Level Meetings at World Travel Market 2014

LONDON, ENGLAND: November 3, 2014 - World Travel Market, one of the leading global events for the travel industry, got off to a favourable start for Jamaica with Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon Dr Wykeham McNeill, and Director of Tourism, Paul Pennicook, holding high profile meetings with key tourism partners.

Minister McNeill to Attend World Travel Market 2014

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: October 31, 2014 – Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, is set to travel to London, England, to participate in World Travel Market 2014, which will be held from November 3-5, 2014. The Minister departs the island tomorrow, November 1.

TPDCO Launches Tourism Essay Competition

Kingston Jamaica: October 26, 2014 - In a bid to stimulate discussion around issues affecting the tourism industry the Tourism Product Development Company Ltd (TPDCo) will stage its Tourism Essay Competition 2014. Among the objectives of the competition are to increase awareness of the importance of the industry to national development, encourage participation in the discussion of the issues affecting the industry; enhance the academic component of the school curriculum through collaboration with the Ministry of Education, improve the attitudes of the target group to our d

TEF to Assist in Transformation of Lucea

LUCEA, Hanover, September 23, 2014: The Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment has rallied several government agencies to work with the Tourism Enhancement Fund to transform the town of Lucea into a town attractive to visitors. Following a walking tour of today, Minister McNeill said on passing through the town recently he was disappointed.

Community Tourism Consultations Get Underway In St. Elizabeth

Kingston, Jamaica: April 17, 2014 – The Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment hosted the first in a series of national consultations on the Community-Based Tourism Policy green paper yesterday (April 16) at Lovers’ Leap in St. Elizabeth. The aim of the consultations, which will be held in parishes across the island, is to elicit valuable feedback from community stakeholders and tourism partners.

Nearly 1000 Chinese Visitors Arrive in Ocho Rios on Costa Atlantica Cruise Ship

Kingston, Jamaica: April 22, 2015 – There was a buzz of activity in Ocho Rios this morning as nearly one thousand Chinese vacationers descended on the resort town to experience Jamaica’s world class tourism offerings. The group represents the single largest number of Chinese visitors to vacation on the island ever.