Government of Jamaica

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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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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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Bartlett to Participate in African Tourism Investment Summit

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Monday, April 3, 2022: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett will today (April 3) join government ministers, finance executives and administrators from South Africa, Botswana, Spain and Sierra Leone on a Ministerial Roundtable titled: “Developing a Sustainable Tourism Industry in Africa by Integrating Cultural, Environment, Good Governance and Social Concerns”. The roundtable is one of the highlights of the African Tourism Investment Summit being held from April 3-5, 2023, in Cape Town, South Africa, under the theme: “Revitalizing Investment in Sustainable Tourism on the African Continent”.

Bartlett Calls for Public Order in Public Spaces

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Monday, April 3, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has thrown down the gauntlet against disorderly behaviour, especially in resort areas. “I want to say very loudly that Destination Assurance is fully predicated on public order. And the Ministry of Tourism and the tourism sector stand squarely behind the Ministry of National Security to secure and ensure public order in the public spaces of Jamaica,” he declared.

Destination Assurance Key to Tourism Success – Bartlett

NEGRIL, Hanover, Monday, March 27, 2023: The Ministry of Tourism has begun national public consultations ahead of presenting its Destination Assurance Framework and Strategy (DAFS) to Parliament for approval as a White Paper.

Kingston Cops Award for Best Creative Destination for 2023

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Friday, March 24, 2023: Jamaica's vibrant cultural capital, Kingston, beat out 152 entrants from 28 nations to be selected Best Creative Destination for 2023 by the jury of the 9th Creative Tourism Awards.

Bartlett Presents PM Holness' Vision & Plans for Negril

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Saturday, March 24, 2023: Both the Hanover parish capital, Lucea, and the popular resort of Negril are being earmarked for major development to enhance them as tourist towns.

Minister Bartlett Welcomes Resurgence of Villas Sub-Sector

DISCOVERY BAY, St Ann, Jamaica; March 20, 2023: With the local hotel room-stock set to grow by 20,000 new rooms over the next five to ten years, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has welcomed a resurgence of the villas sub-sector.