News Releases

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Tuesday, September 30, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, left the island today (September 30) for London, England, where he will participate in a series of high-level meetings and events at Jamaica Travel Market 2025, which runs from October 1–3, 2025. The Jamaica Travel Market is a dedicated travel trade event organized by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) to facilitate business between Jamaican tourism suppliers and international buyers, fostering growth and investment in Jamaica's vibrant tourism sector. Minister Bartlett’s schedule in London will include back-to-back B2B meetings with buyers and Jamaican suppliers on Thursday, October 2, before joining partners for a networking luncheon. Later that afternoon, he will hold talks with Jules Ugo, CEO of W Communications, Jamaica’s UK-based public relations agency.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Tuesday, September 30, 2025: Promoting Jamaica as a ‘love destination,’ the Ministry of Tourism is seeking to increase the island’s share of the lucrative global wedding services market, which is projected to reach US$368 billion by 2030. With destination weddings comprising one of the fastest growing segments and increasing by 40% over the last five years, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett is looking to professional wedding planners for support stressing that “it is time for us to start positioning ourselves to secure a bigger share of that US$368 billion.” He wants weddings to double their current contribution to arrivals and earnings in Jamaica. Minister Bartlett outlined that Jamaica is targeting 8 million visitors by 2030 and being “confident that we are well positioned so to do..."

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Monday, September 29, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that the Tourism Action Club (TAC) initiative in high schools and tertiary institutions locally is being leveraged as an important platform to foster human capital development in the tourism industry, especially in the areas of management and customer service. Minister Bartlett has underscored that TAC students have access to programmes offered through the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation (JCTI), and once successful, they are certified by the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) with an internationally recognised Associate Degree in Customer Service as well as the HEART/NSTA Sixth Form Pathway II Programme (SFP2P). The Minister made the announcement while addressing over 230 TAC members from some 24 clubs across the island, during the World Tourism Day 2025 Youth Forum at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on Friday, September 26, 2025.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Thursday, September 25, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, today announced the establishment of a high-level Local First Task Force, a new strategic body that will spearhead efforts to build local capacity, strengthen linkages, and ensure that the benefits of tourism are more inclusively shared across the Jamaican economy. The announcement came during a one-day strategic pre-retreat meeting of the Ministry of Tourism’s heads of divisions and public bodies, where Minister Bartlett commended the senior team for their continued hard work and outlines the charge for the new term. “Jamaica is at a critical inflection point in tourism. With stopover arrivals nearly matching our population size, we must reconfigure to ensure that local stakeholders have the capacity and opportunity to thrive,” said Minister Bartlett.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Wednesday, September 24, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has announced plans to fuel major expansion in the island’s vibrant tourism sector as the Ministry of Tourism seeks to boost Jamaica’s share of the lucrative global tourism market. In a wide-ranging address to local and foreign media during a special Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) 2025 media breakfast, at Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort & Spa yesterday (September 23), Minister Bartlett articulated the overall strategy to build on the successes of the industry to date, and plans now in train to achieve robust growth. Focus was placed on the critical areas of human capital development, boosting safety through destination assurance, expansion of the villa sector and enhancing the tourism product.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Tuesday, September 23, 2025: Jamaica has secured its position as the Caribbean’s most connected destination, achieving record-breaking global linkages while advancing an ambitious agenda for inclusive and sustainable tourism growth. With year-end arrivals projected at 4.5 million — comprising 3.1 million stopover visitors and 1.4 million cruise passengers — Jamaica now boasts direct connections to over 55 international gateways, strengthening its global reach and setting a new regional benchmark. This unprecedented connectivity is fuelling both visitor growth and broader economic development. “Jamaica’s rapid expansion in airlift is more than just a milestone for tourism; it’s a catalyst for national transformation,” said Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett. “Our vision is clear — tourism must work for all Jamaicans. These investments are creating opportunities for small businesses, communities, and workers, ensuring the benefits of growth are shared equitably across the island,” he added.