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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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Ryan Parkes Named New TEF Chairman

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 of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (2nd R) pauses for a photo opportunity with fellow panellists for the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) ‘Leveraging AI’ discussion, Hon Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation for the Bahamas (2nd L), Hon Kenneth Bryan, CTO Chairman and Minister of Tourism and Ports for the Cayman Islands (R) and Lee Hall, Founder of Clarity Media (L).

Human Capital Development Critical to Prepare Tourism Workers for New Age in Tourism with AI, says Bartlett

NEW YORK; New York; Thursday June 20, 2024: Artificial Intelligence (AI), the latest global phenomenon, was a major focus at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Caribbean Week in New York, where a Ministerial forum looked at leveraging AI for tourism development. During the discussions, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett highlighted that this technology will be the new frontier for Caribbean tourism and must be harnessed properly to enable more seamlessness within the industry.

Bartlett Saddened by Passing of Jamaican Trailblazer Kingsley Cooper

Kingston, Jamaica; Wednesday, June 19, 2024: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has offered his sincere condolences to the family and friends of Kingsley Cooper, a visionary pioneer in the fashion, entertainment and lifestyle industries, who passed away yesterday. Cooper was renowned for his ground-breaking contribution to the fashion industry locally, regionally and internationally. Along with fellow attorney Hilary Phillips, he founded Pulse Investments Ltd., and the acclaimed Pulse Model Agency, a trailblazer for Jamaica’s prominence in the international fashion and lifestyle arena.

Minister Bartlett in New York for CTO Caribbean Week

Kingston, Jamaica; Monday, June 17, 2024: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett arrived in New York City yesterday (June 16) to participate in a series of events and activities for the Caribbean Tourism Organization's (CTO) Caribbean Week celebrations from June 16 to June 21. While in the USA, Minister Bartlett and senior tourism officials will embark on a strong multi-city marketing blitz that will also take them to Chicago and Dallas.

JetBlue confirms US Demand for Jamaica remains High

NEW YORK; New York; Monday June 17, 2024: Popular low-cost carrier out of the United States (US), JetBlue Airlines, has confirmed that the demand for Jamaica remains high. In a meeting today, lead by Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett and his Senior Tourism executives, the Airlines’ Executives confirmed that Jamaica was in high demand in some of their key states in the US.

Jamaica Shares All-Star Event Line-Up For Summer 2024

Kingston, Jamaica, June 10, 2024 – With travelers flocking to Jamaica for summer getaways, the beloved island is sharing its action-packed event schedule for the season. The thrilling line-up will bring together the best of the island’s music, culture, and food for locals and visitors to enjoy, including the annual Reggae Sumfest now in its 31st year.

Stronger Tourism Linkages Will Boost Local Supply Capacity – Bartlett

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Monday, June 10, 2024: The Ministry of Tourism and its public bodies will be ramping up efforts to boost the capacity of local suppliers in a bid to further strengthen linkages between tourism and other key sectors of the Jamaican economy. This commitment was underscored by Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, during his recent 2024/2025 Sectoral Debate opening presentation in Parliament.

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