Government of Jamaica

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Seated, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (C) with Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) (L) and Cynthia Holmes, Dean, Ted Rogers School of Management, TMU. Sharing in the moment are standing L-R, Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Donnette Chin-Loy, Chancellor TMU and Angella Bennett, Regional Director, Canada. The occasion was the tour of the University to discuss tourism opportunities and partnership.

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Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation to Partner with Toronto Metropolitan University to Elevate Tourism Workforce Development

TORONTO, Canada; Thursday October 8, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, has announced that initial discussions have started to have the Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation (JCTI) and Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) collaborate to develop comprehensive training and certification programs for tourism professionals across Jamaica. This groundbreaking partnership will aim to strengthen the capabilities of Jamaica's tourism workforce by providing world-class professional development opportunities that align with international industry standards. The collaboration will leverage TMU's extensive expertise in hospitality and tourism education alongside JCTI's deep understanding of the Caribbean tourism landscape. “This partnership represents a significant milestone in our commitment to building a highly skilled, globally competitive tourism workforce,” said Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett. “By working with Toronto Metropolitan University, we're bringing internationally recognized training standards to Jamaica while ensuring our programs reflect the unique strengths of Caribbean hospitality.”
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‘Rediscover Jamaica’ Campaign a Major Success for Tourism

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; October 6, 2020: As the tourism sector seeks to rebound from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jamaica Tourist Board’s ‘Rediscover Jamaica’ campaign is being hailed as a major success in helping to drive this process. In highlighting the positive contribution of the campaign, Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett said it “has been a great success, with some hotels reporting up to 50% to 60% occupancy from local bookings.”
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St. Thomas Being Targeted for Tourism Development - Bartlett

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; September 29, 2020: The Ministry of Tourism will be taking strategic steps to facilitate the development of tourism in St. Thomas and the expansion of the sector along the South Coast and in other parts of the country that have untapped tourism potential.
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Minister Bartlett Welcomed to the International Tourism Hall of Heroes

KINGSTON, Jamaica; September 29, 2020: Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett was recently welcomed into the International Tourism Hall of Heroes by the Rebuilding Travel Group, for his wide-ranging expertise and accomplishments in tourism.
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Tourism Awareness Week to Place Emphasis on Rural Development - Bartlett

KINGSTON, Jamaica; September 24, 2020: The Ministry of Tourism, its agencies and industry partners will seek to further raise awareness about the transformative impact of tourism on rural communities through the observance of Tourism Awareness Week (TAW), from September 27 – October 3.
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Minister Bartlett Welcomes New JHTA President

KINGSTON, Jamaica; September 22, 2020: Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett has welcomed newly elected President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Clifton Reader. Reader was elected on Friday, September 18, during the JHTA’s 59th annual general meeting, which was hosted virtually. He succeeded Omar Robinson, who served in the capacity for the last four years.
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Tourism Ministry to Launch Tourism Supplies Hub - Bartlett

KINGSTON, Jamaica; September 21, 2020: Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett says his Ministry will be developing a Tourism Supplies Hub that will help to position Jamaica as the premier logistics centre in the region. The hub will focus on training and certification of tourism workers, serving as suppliers for cruise and airlines; and resilience and technology support.
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