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Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (2nd right) engages in a vibrant discussion with (from left) Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, Dr. Kerry-Ann McKenzie, Consultant Pediatrician at the Falmouth Public General Hospital and Karen Zacca, Operations Director at the Sandals Foundation, following Tuesday’s (August 11) launch of Island Challenge Jamaica held at the AC Marriott Hotel in Kingston.

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Bartlett Calls for Redefinition of Tourism CSR in Jamaica

Tourism Minister urges businesses to embed community development in their operations as Sandals Foundation brings Island Challenge home KINGSTON, Jamaica; Friday, August 14, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, is calling for a fundamental redefinition of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Jamaica’s tourism industry, urging businesses to move beyond charitable giving and become more deeply embedded in the development and resilience of the communities in which they operate. Minister Bartlett made the call on Tuesday (August 11) while delivering the main address at the launch of the Sandals Foundation Island Challenge Jamaica 2026, under the theme “Tourism Doing Good,” at the AC Marriott Hotel in Kingston. The four-day endurance event, scheduled for October 2–5, will take approximately 30 UK athletes, along with local and international partners, on a route spanning Trelawny, St. Ann, St. Mary and St. Andrew. Participants will run, kayak, trek and hike across Jamaica’s landscapes while seeking to raise £100,000 to strengthen neonatal and paediatric healthcare services, including at the Falmouth Public General Hospital.

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: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (2nd L) accepts the Caribbean Media Award for Best Social Media Campaign at CTO Week in New York on June 2. Sharing in the moment are (L-R) Donna Regis-Prosper, Secretary Geneal of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Minister of Tourism for Barbados and Chairman of CTO, Hon Ian Edgehill-Gooding and Director of Tourism, Donovan White.

Jamaica Wins Top Honours with Two Major Awards at CTO Caribbean Week

MANHATTAN; New York, June 2026; Friday June 6, 2026 — Jamaica has once again solidified its position as one of the Caribbean's leading tourism destinations, earning two prestigious awards during the Caribbean Tourism Organization's (CTO) Caribbean Week celebrations in New York City on Tuesday, June 2. The destination was recognized for excellence in Caribbean tourism, receiving the Caribbean Media Award for Best Social Media Campaign. This category honours top-performing digital promotions, creator collaborations, and visual strategies that effectively engage global audiences and showcase the Caribbean. Jamaica was singled out for Love Island influencers that covered Reggae Marathon in 2025 and received over 6 million in views. The destination was also acknowledged for freelance travel and lifestyle journalist Dana Givens’ National Geographic story on Luxury experiences on the island.

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett addresses delegates at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Caribbean Week at the Intercontinental Hotel in New York on Monday June 1, 2026.

Jamaica Reimagines Tourism through Bold 3.0 Agenda

Minister Bartlett Highlights Resilience, Workforce Development and Sustainable Growth as Cornerstones of Tourism's Next Chapter MANHATTAN, New York; Tuesday, June 2, 2026 — Jamaica's tourism sector is entering a new era of transformation under the banner of Tourism 3.0, a bold strategy aimed at repositioning the destination for sustained growth, enhanced competitiveness and greater benefits for Jamaican workers and communities. Speaking at the opening of CTO Caribbean Week in New York yesterday, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, underscored the remarkable resilience of Jamaica's tourism sector, noting that despite a series of global disruptions, the industry has continued to demonstrate its strength and adaptability. “In every instance, the real resilience that is the essence of tourism manifested itself in Jamaica,” said Minister Bartlett. “These disruptions have bent us a little bit, but they have not broken the spirit of the Jamaican people.”

Bartlett Embarks on Strategic Tourism Missions to New York and Spain

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Monday, June 1, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has departed the island for a series of high-level tourism engagements this month in New York and Spain aimed at strengthening Jamaica’s global tourism partnerships, advancing regional collaboration and reinforcing the country’s leadership in tourism resilience and sustainability. The tourism minister is participating in the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Caribbean Week in New York from June 1-5, where he will join regional tourism leaders, travel trade partners, media representatives and industry stakeholders in a packed programme of leadership fora, business meetings, cultural showcases and networking events. During the week, Minister Bartlett will participate in meetings of the CTO Council of Ministers and engage with key tourism stakeholders while supporting efforts by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and local tourism partners to promote Jamaica’s diverse tourism offerings in one of the island’s most important source markets.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left) throws out a challenge to the Jamaica Dental Association (JDA) to partner in Jamaica’s drive to secure a share of the lucrative dental health tourism market. He delivered the keynote address at the 62nd convention of the JDA at the Princess Grand Jamaica in Green Island, Hanover, on Thursday, May 21, 2026, directing his remarks to (seated from left) JDA President, Dr. Wendy Chuck-Francis; Convention Chair, Dr. Chinel Lee and co-chair, Dr. Jordan McNeil.

Jamaica Seeks to Secure Share of Global Medical and Dental Tourism Market

GREEN ISLAND, Hanover, Jamaica; Wednesday, May 27, 2026: Jamaica is positioning itself to secure a share of the multi-billion-dollar global medical and dental tourism market as it intensifies efforts to penetrate new and emerging tourism markets. Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the health and wellness subsector presents enormous opportunities for Jamaica, noting that the global medical and dental tourism market is currently valued at between US$10 billion and US$15 billion and is projected to grow rapidly over the next decade to between US$41 billion and US$65 billion. Addressing the 62nd Convention of the Jamaica Dental Association (JDA) at the Princess Grand Jamaica recently, Minister Bartlett pointed to destinations already capitalising on the lucrative industry by combining high-quality medical procedures with vacation experiences.

Minister Bartlett Calls on CARICOM to Prioritize Tourism as the Region’s Largest Economic Activity

ST.JOHN’S; Antigua and Barbuda; Tuesday, May 12, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, one of the Caribbean's most influential voices in global travel and tourism, has issued a bold call to action to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), urging member states to formally recognise tourism as the region's single largest economic activity and to act collectively to protect, develop, and future-proof the industry. Speaking ahead of the start of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2026 trade show in Antigua and Barbuda, Minister Bartlett noted that while tourism contributes more than 40 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) across several Caribbean economies and supports the livelihoods of millions of citizens, it is still not a core priority of CARICOM's strategic agenda. “Tourism is not a secondary consideration — it is the economic backbone of the Caribbean. The time has come for CARICOM to treat it as such, with the urgency, resources, and political will the sector demands,” said the Minister.

Bartlett Travels to Antigua for CHTA Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2026

Tourism Minister to Attend Celebration of New Treasure Beach Village at Beaches Turks & Caicos KINGSTON, Jamaica; Monday, May 11, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has departed the island to participate in the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2026 trade show in Antigua and Barbuda from May 12–15, where regional leaders, hoteliers, tour operators, airlines, travel advisors and other tourism stakeholders will engage in high-level discussions and business meetings aimed at strengthening Caribbean tourism competitiveness, connectivity and collaboration. The annual marketplace, organised by the CHTA, is regarded as the Caribbean’s premier tourism business event and will feature several days of strategic engagements, including business appointments between buyers and suppliers, the Caribbean Travel Forum, Responsible Tourism Day activities and the Direct Booking Summit focused on digital marketing, artificial intelligence and technology trends shaping the future of tourism.

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