Government of Jamaica

News Releases

News Releases

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (second right) leads a unifying group handshake with (from left) Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Jennifer Griffith, outgoing Chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Hon. Godfrey Dyer and incoming TEF Chairman, Ryan Parkes at the Ministry’s One-day Strategic Visioning Retreat held last Wednesday at the AC Marriott Hotel.

Featured News Releases

Minister Bartlett Salutes Godfrey Dyer’s 14 Years of Exemplary Service KINGSTON, Jamaica; Thursday, April 30, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has named Ryan Parkes, Group Chief Executive Officer of Island Car Rentals and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Tourism Workers Pension Scheme (TWPS), as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), effective May 1, 2026. The appointment, recently approved by Cabinet, was announced at the Ministry’s One-day Strategic Visioning Retreat held on April 22 at the AC Marriott Hotel. In making the announcement, Minister Bartlett also paid tribute to the outgoing TEF Chairman, Hon. Godfrey Dyer, whose 14-year tenure at the helm of the TEF represents the longest record of chairmanship in the fund’s history and one of the longest across government.

All News Releases

Minister Bartlett Underscores Need to Boost Global Tourism Resilience & Sustainability

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates; Wednesday, May 3, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has underscored the need to boost resilience and sustainability in the global tourism industry by engaging players of all sizes in the tourism value chain. In providing a template Minister Bartlett outlined several initiatives being undertaken by the Ministry of Tourism and its public bodies to support small and medium tourism enterprises (SMTEs) while “holding them accountable to sustainable business practices aligned with industry standards.”

India in Focus as Jamaica Cements New Markets for Tourism Growth

Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Wednesday, May 3, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that Jamaica is placing special focus on the world’s most populated country, India, as a nation to pull visitors from in coming years as part of a renewed campaign to diversify Jamaica’s tourist markets as he and his team pound the pavement at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, United Arab Emirates this week.

Bartlett Pursues Bid for Middle East Travel Market

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Monday, May 1, 2023: Jamaica’s effort to get a foothold in the lucrative United Arab Emirates (UAE) travel market gets a major push this week with Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett travelling to Dubai to participate in the Arabian Travel Market trade show from May 1 to 4 and other key events.

Key Change Being Made to Definition of Tourist Attraction

BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth; April 28, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has revealed that an important administrative change is being made to the definition of local tourist attractions to facilitate them being licensed whether or not they charge an entry fee. The move is expected to give more Jamaicans greater access to various attractions across the island.

Tourism Growing in Trelawny but Falmouth Needs Improvement - Bartlett

FALMOUTH, Trelawny; April 25, 2023: Even as the development of the parish of Trelawny into a sought-after resort is progressing in earnest, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett is expressing displeasure with the state of sections of the town capital, Falmouth.

Minister Bartlett Welcomes Racquet Club Condominiums and Spa Development

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; April 25, 2023: The once famous Racquet Club hotel in Montego Bay has been demolished to make way for the construction of an 8-storey luxury condominium complex for which Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett broke ground over the weekend.