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Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (right) receives a welcome hug, one of the many he received on his tour of Royalton Negril on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Management and staff were out in their numbers to greet the Minister at the restart of operations following a multi-million-dollar restoration in the wake of last year’s hurricane.

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Workers Joyful as Royalton Negril Reopens Amid Wider Tourism Recovery

NEGRIL, Jamaica; Thursday, August 27, 2026: Pulsating music, dance and colourful dresses marked the reopening of the Royalton Negril hotel and the return of nearly 1,000 workers to their jobs. The hotel reopened at 50 percent occupancy, which is expected to rise to 80 percent over the US Thanksgiving period, and is already sold out for Jamaica’s Heroes Weekend and Christmas. Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, was excited as he moved among staff members and was greeted with gleeful smiles as he toured the property to see firsthand its multi-million-dollar recovery from the impact of hurricane Melissa. “When I walked in, I saw that 960 workers were back on the job, and that by Thanksgiving, I'm told, the other 320 will be back, and we will have a full complement of 1,200 workers employed. That means families are now going to be more secure. It's coming back at the right time with back to school,” Minister Bartlett said.

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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.

2014 Best Year Ever for Cruise Shipping in Jamaica

Kingston, Jamaica –April 16, 2015: 2014 was Jamaica’s best year ever for cruise shipping as the island welcomed 1.4 million cruise ship visitors, a 12.5 percent increase over 2013. Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, made this announcement during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Parliament, on Tuesday, April 14, 2014.

Small Hotels To Reap Benefits From New Incentives Legislation

Kingston, Jamaica, April 20, 2015: Under the new Fiscal Incentives Act, better known as the Omnibus Act, the number of tourism properties eligible for tax benefits for re-investment and refurbishing has increased from 100 to some 400 entities.

SECTORAL PRESENTATION 2015-2016 BY HON. DR. WYKEHAM MCNEILL, MINISTER OF TOURISM AND ENTERTAINMENT, APRIL 14, 2015

Sectoral Presentation 2015-2016 Presented by Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, MP Minister of Tourism and Entertainment April 14, 2015 TOURISM WORKING FOR JAMAICA OPENING REMARKS Mr. Speaker,

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.

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