Government of Jamaica

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News Releases

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.

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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.”
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Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (standing) noted that the future of the travel and tourism industry relies on its workers and their ability to innovate and create new ideas. He was speaking at the World Travel Market's Ministers' Summit in London yesterday (November 6). WTM London is recognized as the most influential travel and tourism gathering globally.

Human Capital Development Critical to the Future of Tourism

LONDON, United Kingdom; Tuesday, November 7, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett is urging destinations to invest in their human capital development, which will be critical to the industry's future. Speaking at the World Travel Market's Ministers' Summit in London yesterday (November 6), Minister Bartlett highlighted that the future of the industry relies on its workers and their ability to innovate and create new ideas.
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Speaking at an exclusive media event held at the Jamaica stand at World Travel Market (WTM) yesterday in London, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett noted that Jamaica is targeting 250,000 visitors out of the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland by 2025. WTM London is one of the world’s largest tourism trade shows and has attracted some 5,000 exhibitors from 182 countries and regions and more than 51,000 participants.

Jamaica Targets 250,000 UK & Ireland Visitors by 2025

LONDON, United Kingdom; Tuesday, November 7, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has set a new target to welcome 250,000 visitors out of the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland by 2025. This follows on the heels of Jamaica being the number one Caribbean destination among UK visitors last year.
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Minister Bartlett to Attend 2023 World Travel Market London

Kingston, Jamaica; Friday, November 3, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, is set to depart the island on Saturday, November 4, 2023, for London, England, to participate in World Travel Market (WTM) London. The leading global travel tradeshow will take place at the ExCel London from November 6 to 8, 2023.
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Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left) gesticulates as he leads high-level internal discussions with senior representatives of the Ministry of Tourism and its public bodies during the Ministry's annual Strategic Planning Retreat held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, from October 25-26, 2023. Looking on are (L-R) the Ministry's Senior Director of Strategic Planning, Performance and Project Management, Mr. Astley Henry and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Ms. Jennifer Griffith.

ALEX Sales and EXIM Bank Disbursements Surpass Billion-dollar Mark

Kingston, Jamaica; Friday, October 27, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has announced that transactions on the Agri-Linkages Exchange (ALEX) platform have generated $1 billion in sales by small farmers. This as he also outlined that tourism loan disbursements through the National Export-Import (EXIM) Bank have also surpassed $1 billion for 2023. Commending the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) on the strides being made, the tourism minister underscored the increased impact of the tourism value chain on Jamaican small businesses as a significant outcome.
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Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett passionately delivers the keynote address on behalf of Prime Minister, the Most. Hon. Andrew Holness at the second annual Government of Jamaica Service Excellence Awards hosted by the Office of the Cabinet, yesterday (October 25) at the Spanish Court Hotel.

High-touch Service Critical to Government’s Prosperity Agenda

Kingston, Jamaica; Thursday, October 26, 2023: The Government of Jamaica (GoJ) has underscored its commitment to service excellence as a fundamental pillar of its prosperity agenda. The emphasis on high-touch service and unwavering dedication to quality service delivery was at the forefront as Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett delivered the keynote address at yesterday’s (October 25) staging of the second annual GoJ Service Excellence Awards at the Spanish Court Hotel.
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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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