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PS in the Ministry of Tourism, Jennifer Griffith (2nd right) engages in a lively discussion with Bishop Everton Lawrence of Faith Temple Assemblies of God (left), Junior Minister of Tourism and Montego Bay High School student, ThaeJadore Kerr (2nd left) and member of the Board of Directors for Jamaica Vacations (JAMVAC), Tricia-Ann Bicarie, following yesterday’s (September 27) Thanksgiving Church Service to mark World Tourism Day and kickstart Tourism Awareness Week 2026, which runs from Sept 27 – Oct 3.

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AI and Other Digital Technology Being Used to Transform Tourism Sector - Bartlett

Thanksgiving Church Service Kickstarts Tourism Awareness Week 2026 MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Monday, September 28, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has stressed that artificial intelligence and other digital technology are being used to strategically transform Jamaica’s tourism sector. This as the Ministry of Tourism, its public bodies and industry stakeholders, joined global partners in marking the annual UN-Tourism backed World Tourism Day (WTD), with a thanksgiving church service yesterday (September 27). The service also officially kick-started Tourism Awareness Week (TAW) 2026, being observed from September 27 to October 3, under the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” in keeping with the theme selected by UN Tourism for WTD. In a message read by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Jennifer Griffith, Minister Bartlett said the ministry was “actively leveraging AI and digital technology to modernise the sector through key initiatives such as real-time concierges, deploying multilingual digital concierges, and structured content to optimise visitor bookings, as well as predictive analytics.”

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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.

Over 300 students from some 22 Tourism Action Club (TAC) schools islandwide were all smiles as they enjoyed a live performance during the Tourism Awareness Week (TAW) Youth Forum held on World Tourism Day (WTD) - September 27, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre. The week is being observed from September 24 – 30 under the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) theme for WTD – “Tourism and Green Investments,” which highlights the need to focus on investing in people, planet and prosperity.

TAW 2023 Youth Forum Hailed as a Major Success

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Friday, September 29, 2023: The highly anticipated Tourism Awareness Week (TAW) 2023 Youth Forum has been hailed as a “major success,” as the event saw strong support from hundreds of students and teachers from across the island. Over 300 Tourism Action Club (TAC) members attended the event, which was held on World Tourism Day (WTD) - September 27, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

2.7 Million Trees Planted Under National Tree Planting Initiative

Kingston, Jamaica; Monday, September 25, 2023: Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC), with responsibility for Water, the Environment and Climate Change, Senator, the Hon. Matthew Samuda has revealed that some 2.7 million trees have been planted under the National Tree Planting Initiative, which was launched in 2019 by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness with a goal of three million trees in three years.

TAW 2023 to Focus on Tourism and Green Investments

Kingston, Jamaica; Wednesday, September 20, 2023: The need to boost human capital development and build resilience in the tourism sector through more targeted investment, will be high on the agenda as the Ministry of Tourism, its public bodies and tourism partners, observe Tourism Awareness Week 2023 from September 24 – 30.

Bartlett Targeting Half a Million Visitors from Canada by 2025

In what he describes as an “ambitious but achievable” target, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has revealed that he is pushing for 500,000 visitors to Jamaica from Canada by 2025. Minister Bartlett made the disclosure today (September 19) ahead of his departure to the North American country, where he will be joined by senior tourism officials on a five-day ‘winter marketing blitz’ as Jamaica seeks to engage critical travel partners in the Greater Toronto Area.

Jamaica’s Tourism Outlook for the Fall Season Seems Bright

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; September 14, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has revealed that Jamaica’s tourism outlook for the fall season, September to mid-December, is looking very positive in terms of visitor arrivals, with “strong airlift from the United States.”

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