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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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Take Greater Advantage of Growing Rum Tourism Niche Market - Bartlett

KINGSTON, Jamaica; February 15, 2021: Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett is calling on private sector interests to take greater advantage of the growing rum tourism niche market, in order to generate higher growth rates in both visitor arrivals and earnings for Jamaica, in the post-COVID-19 era.

Minister Bartlett Chairs OAS Tourism Recovery Working Group Meeting

KINGSTON, Jamaica; February 12, 2021: Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett yesterday chaired the third meeting of a 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, which have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bartlett Lauds Marriott and Sunwing Travel Group on New Marketing Deal

KINGSTON, Jamaica; February 09, 2021: Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett has lauded Marriott and Sunwing Travel Group on their new marketing deal, which will double Marriott’s all-inclusive portfolio, including properties in countries such as Jamaica and Costa Rica. Minister Bartlett welcomed the agreement, which he believes is a significant show of confidence in the full recovery of the regional tourism industry in the Caribbean and Central America.

Steps Being Taken to Reset the Tourism Sector

WORTHY PARK, St Catherine, Jamaica; Monday, February 8, 2021: Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett has revealed that steps are currently being taken to ‘reset’ the tourism sector to ensure that it benefits even more Jamaicans and fuels greater economic growth, whenever the sector rebounds from the impact of COVID-19. Mr. Bartlett adds that the Ministry of Tourism has embarked upon a series of consultations with key stakeholders, aimed at maximizing the opportunity to reorganize the local tourism industry.

Several Local Entrepreneurs to Benefit From New Artisan Village - Bartlett

FALMOUTH, Trelawny, Jamaica; February 2, 2021: Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett has revealed that more than 60 small and medium sized entrepreneurs are set to reap economic benefits whenever normalcy returns to the tourism sector, as they are slated to secure coveted shop spaces at the modern artisan village being created in Falmouth, Trelawny.

Small Tourism Enterprises and Farmers Receive Major Boost Under REDI II Initiative

ST. ANN, Jamaica; February 1, 2021: Small entrepreneurs in the tourism and agriculture sectors are receiving well needed assistance under a J$52.46 million initiative, developed to assist them in recovering from the economic ravages of COVID-19. The assistance is being provided under the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI II), which has seen the implementation of a special COVID-19 Resilience and Capacity Building sub-project for Agriculture and Community Tourism Enterprises.

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