Government of Jamaica

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Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (right) receives a welcome hug, one of the many he received on his tour of Royalton Negril on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Management and staff were out in their numbers to greet the Minister at the restart of operations following a multi-million-dollar restoration in the wake of last year’s hurricane.

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NEGRIL, Jamaica; Thursday, August 27, 2026: Pulsating music, dance and colourful dresses marked the reopening of the Royalton Negril hotel and the return of nearly 1,000 workers to their jobs. The hotel reopened at 50 percent occupancy, which is expected to rise to 80 percent over the US Thanksgiving period, and is already sold out for Jamaica’s Heroes Weekend and Christmas. Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, was excited as he moved among staff members and was greeted with gleeful smiles as he toured the property to see firsthand its multi-million-dollar recovery from the impact of hurricane Melissa. “When I walked in, I saw that 960 workers were back on the job, and that by Thanksgiving, I'm told, the other 320 will be back, and we will have a full complement of 1,200 workers employed. That means families are now going to be more secure. It's coming back at the right time with back to school,” Minister Bartlett said.

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Bartlett Congratulates Adam Stewart on Being Named Executive Chairman of SRI

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 19, 2021: Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett has extended heartfelt congratulations to renowned hotelier, Adam Stewart, on his appointment as Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International (SRI), following the recent passing of his father, business mogul, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart.

Minister Bartlett Names Special Task Force to Boost COVID-19 Testing Capacity

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Wednesday, January 13, 2021: Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett has named a special task force to spearhead efforts to boost Jamaica’s COVID-19 testing capacity, in light of the growing demand for such tests, fuelled by new travel requirements in key tourism source markets.

Jamaica to Ramp up COVID-19 Testing Capacity - Minister Bartlett

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Tuesday, January 12, 2021: Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett has revealed that urgent steps are being taken to ramp up Jamaica’s COVID-19 testing capacity, amid reports of expected changes in testing requirements by one of the country’s largest tourism source markets - the United States of America.

Bartlett Mourns Death of Shipping Stalwart Harry Maragh

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 05, 2021: Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett has expressed condolences to the family and loved-ones of the late Harriat “Harry” Maragh, past president of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ) and chairman of Lannaman & Morris Group of Companies.

Tourism Minister Mourns the Passing of Tourism Icon Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 05, 2021: Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett has expressed deep sadness at the passing of tourism stalwart Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart.

Bartlett Lobbies for Power Star Michael Rainey Jr. to be a Local Youth Ambassador

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 5, 2021: Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett says that actor Michael Rainey, Jr., best known for his role as Tariq St. Patrick on Starz network's hit drama series Power, is an ideal candidate to become an official youth ambassador for the country.