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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.

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Ryan Parkes Named New TEF Chairman

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.

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Tourism Linkages Network to Host Virtual Speed Networking Event

KINGSTON, Jamaica; March 29, 2021: The Ministry of Tourism, through its Tourism Linkages Network, will host its highly anticipated annual Speed Networking event on Wednesday, March 31, using a virtual format to connect local suppliers directly with key buyers in the tourism sector.

Tourism Recovery Requires Strong Multi-Level Response and Partnership - Bartlett

KINGSTON, Jamaica; March 26, 2021: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett is urging global and regional policymakers to utilize new approaches, partnerships and a strong multi-level response to aid in the sector’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that this strategy will ensure that the tourism sector becomes more resilient, sustainable, inclusive and competitive.

JCTI to Offer Free Globally Accredited Online Courses Starting April - Bartlett

KINGSTON, Jamaica; March 25, 2021: Starting April 2021, the Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation (JCTI) will be offering, mostly free of charge, four American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) certified courses online, to members of the tourism and hospitality sector. This was revealed recently by Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, during the third JCTI Lecture Series, which focused on ‘Tourism & the Law: The Employers’ Duty of Care.’

$6 Million Tourism Linkages Backyard Gardening Project to be Expanded - Bartlett

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; March 24, 2021: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that the $6 million tourism linkages backyard gardening project, which has been implemented by the Tourism Enhancement Fund, will be expanded across the island to enable even more Jamaicans to benefit from the tourism sector.

Organizers to Forgo Carnival in Jamaica for April 2021

KINGSTON, Jamaica; March 23, 2021: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has announced that due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers of Carnival in Jamaica will forego the annual road march and related activities for April 2021, until further notice.

Bartlett Calls for Universally Accepted Vaccines That are Interoperable Between Countries

KINGSTON, Jamaica; March 19, 2021: Minister of Tourism and Chair of the high-level Organization of American States (OAS) Working Group, that is currently developing an action plan, for the recovery of the cruise and airline industries, Edmund Bartlett, is calling for careful consideration of the universal recognition and interoperability of systems regarding COVID- 19 vaccines.

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