Government of Jamaica

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Seated, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (C) with Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) (L) and Cynthia Holmes, Dean, Ted Rogers School of Management, TMU. Sharing in the moment are standing L-R, Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Donnette Chin-Loy, Chancellor TMU and Angella Bennett, Regional Director, Canada. The occasion was the tour of the University to discuss tourism opportunities and partnership.

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Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation to Partner with Toronto Metropolitan University to Elevate Tourism Workforce Development

TORONTO, Canada; Thursday October 8, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, has announced that initial discussions have started to have the Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation (JCTI) and Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) collaborate to develop comprehensive training and certification programs for tourism professionals across Jamaica. This groundbreaking partnership will aim to strengthen the capabilities of Jamaica's tourism workforce by providing world-class professional development opportunities that align with international industry standards. The collaboration will leverage TMU's extensive expertise in hospitality and tourism education alongside JCTI's deep understanding of the Caribbean tourism landscape. “This partnership represents a significant milestone in our commitment to building a highly skilled, globally competitive tourism workforce,” said Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett. “By working with Toronto Metropolitan University, we're bringing internationally recognized training standards to Jamaica while ensuring our programs reflect the unique strengths of Caribbean hospitality.”
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Jamaica Elected Second Vice Chair of UNWTO Executive Council

Samarkand, Uzbekistan; Monday, October 20, 2023: Jamaica’s position as a leader in the global tourism industry has been further bolstered after the Caribbean nation secured the post of second vice chair of the United Nations World Tourism Organization's (UNWTO) Executive Council. This significant achievement follows a recent vote held on the margins of the UNWTO General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. After an impressive lobbying effort by the Jamaican delegation, Jamaica received a resounding 20 votes, while Lithuania garnered 14.
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Minister Bartlett to Participate in UNWTO General Assembly

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Friday, October 13, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett will depart the island tomorrow (October 14) to attend the highly anticipated twenty-fifth session of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly, which will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from October 16-20, 2023.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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