Government of Jamaica

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Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (2nd right) engages in a vibrant discussion with (from left) Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, Dr. Kerry-Ann McKenzie, Consultant Pediatrician at the Falmouth Public General Hospital and Karen Zacca, Operations Director at the Sandals Foundation, following Tuesday’s (August 11) launch of Island Challenge Jamaica held at the AC Marriott Hotel in Kingston.

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Tourism Minister urges businesses to embed community development in their operations as Sandals Foundation brings Island Challenge home KINGSTON, Jamaica; Friday, August 14, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, is calling for a fundamental redefinition of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Jamaica’s tourism industry, urging businesses to move beyond charitable giving and become more deeply embedded in the development and resilience of the communities in which they operate. Minister Bartlett made the call on Tuesday (August 11) while delivering the main address at the launch of the Sandals Foundation Island Challenge Jamaica 2026, under the theme “Tourism Doing Good,” at the AC Marriott Hotel in Kingston. The four-day endurance event, scheduled for October 2–5, will take approximately 30 UK athletes, along with local and international partners, on a route spanning Trelawny, St. Ann, St. Mary and St. Andrew. Participants will run, kayak, trek and hike across Jamaica’s landscapes while seeking to raise £100,000 to strengthen neonatal and paediatric healthcare services, including at the Falmouth Public General Hospital.

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Messi's Argentina Remains Jamaica's Number One Market in Latin America

Buenos Aires; ARGENTINA; Tuesday, August 2,2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, in relaying some of the strategic objectives for the Latin American (Latam) market, has singled out Argentina as a critical part of those objectives. Home to popular international football player Lionel Messi, with a population of 45 million, Argentina represents the largest market for Jamaica in the region.

Bartlett Targeting 250,000 Visitors from Latam over the Next 5 Years

Kingston, Jamaica; Wednesday, August 2, 2023: Buoyed by the full recovery of Jamaica's tourism sector, Hon Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism is targeting 250,000 visitors from Latin America (Latam) over the next 5 years. The move forms part of the Minister's aggressive push to reengage this large source market.

Tourism Workers Pension Scheme Pulls in $876 Million Since 2022

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Friday, July 28, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has urged delinquent employers in the tourism industry “to step up to the plate and honour their commitment to workers to match the 5 percent contribution” made by members of the Tourism Workers Pension Scheme (TWPS).

Minister Bartlett Leads Rebuilding Effort in Latin America to Boost Arrivals

Kingston, Jamaica; Thursday, July 27, 2023: In a bid to boost Jamaica’s share of the lucrative South American travel market, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has departed the island en route to three Latin American countries where he will engage critical tourism stakeholders during a weeklong visit to the region.

Tourism Can Aid Greatly in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Kingston, Jamaica; Monday, July 17, 2023: The pivotal role of tourism as the lifeblood of many rural communities in Jamaica and in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been outlined to a global audience by Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett. Minister Bartlett highlighted the importance of the sector in this regard while addressing participants at a special side event during the United Nations (UN) High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on sustainable development recently.

Minister Bartlett Travels to New York for High-Level UN Forum on Sustainable Development

Kingston, Jamaica; July 13, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett will be travelling to the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York City to attend a High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development. Minister Bartlett departs the island today, Thursday, July 13 and is expected to participate in the HLPF’s official side event on Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability in Tourism on Friday, July 14.