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Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, announces that a "Local First" policy is coming that will require investors to partner with communities. He was speaking on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at an event celebrating the completion of the first phase of Vista Montego Bay Resort and the groundbreaking for phase two. The $100 million luxury mixed resort-style residential development is situated on Jimmy Cliff Boulevard.

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"Local First" Policy to Guide Jamaica's Tourism Investments – Bartlett

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Thursday, August 14, 2025: As Jamaica’s pivot toward the luxury tourism market gains momentum, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett is reinforcing his strong commitment to a policy that ensures local communities directly benefit from these new developments. He expressed delight that the government has been attracting premium investments, with groundbreaking ceremonies for over US$3.5 billion in tourism developments in the last three months alone. While not disclosing specifics, he mentioned he had just finalized discussions on two more "mega billion-dollar investments."

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Minister Bartlett Renews Urgent Call for a Global Resilience Fund

Kingston, Jamaica; Wednesday, October 11, 2023: In a compelling plea, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has again urged the international community to urgently unite in establishing a Global Resilience Fund to aid in boosting tourism resilience. This innovative initiative, he suggests, would encourage tourists to take personal responsibility for bolstering the ability to respond, mitigate, adapt, and recover from the impacts of climate-related shocks.

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (centre) shares a light moment with Country Manager of Flow Jamaica, Stephen Price and Chief Executive Officer of Flow’s parent company, Liberty Latin America (LLA), Balan Nair who welcomed him on arrival at the Rose Hall Great House for LLA’s recent Board meeting wrap up dinner, at which the minister was guest speaker.

Bartlett Welcomes Flow’s Plan to Invest US$550 Million to Boost Connectivity

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Monday, October 9, 2023: An announced plan by Flow to invest half a billion US dollars in Jamaica over the next three years, has been welcomed by Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett as a boost to connectivity and tourism development locally.

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (centre) gesticulates as he experiences the EON RX Platform virtual reality visual of setting up a kitchen, at the launch of a partnership arrangement between SCU and EON Reality for the virtual training of Sandals Resorts Caribbean employees, at Sandals Royal Plantation Resort in Ocho Rios. He is flanked by Executive Chairman, Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart (left) and Co-Founder and President of EON Reality, Mats Johannson.

Innovative AI Training Platform Gives Tourism Sector Competitive Edge

OCHO RIOS, Jamaica; Friday, October 6, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has hailed as transformational the move by local grown resort chain, Sandals Resorts International, to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to train its employees, through the use of virtual and augmented reality.

S Hotel and Jamaica Inn Cop Condé Nast Traveller Top 10 Rankings

Kingston, Jamaica; Wednesday, October 4, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has extended heartfelt congratulations to two of Jamaica's renowned hotels, S Hotel Jamaica and Jamaica Inn, for their exceptional achievements in the prestigious Condé Nast Readers' Choice Awards for 2023.

Tourism Sector Records 10th Consecutive Quarter of Growth

Kingston, Jamaica; Tuesday, October 3, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that the tourism sector has recorded another remarkable quarter of growth. Citing preliminary figures from the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) Mr. Bartlett said, “the economic performance figures for the third quarter of the year show that Jamaica continues to shine as a premier destination, with significantly increasing stopover arrivals and earnings.”

Icelandic Investors Eyeing Health and Wellness Tourism Opportunities

Kingston, Jamaica; Tuesday, October 3, 2023: The performance of the island’s vibrant tourism sector continues to attract the attention of global investors as a team from Iceland will be visiting Jamaica in January 2024, to examine luxury tourism opportunities as well as the potential of the island’s health and wellness tourism offerings, through its spas.

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