News Releases

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, announces that a "Local First" policy is coming that will require investors to partner with communities. He was speaking on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at an event celebrating the completion of the first phase of Vista Montego Bay Resort and the groundbreaking for phase two. The $100 million luxury mixed resort-style residential development is situated on Jimmy Cliff Boulevard.

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"Local First" Policy to Guide Jamaica's Tourism Investments – Bartlett

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Thursday, August 14, 2025: As Jamaica’s pivot toward the luxury tourism market gains momentum, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett is reinforcing his strong commitment to a policy that ensures local communities directly benefit from these new developments. He expressed delight that the government has been attracting premium investments, with groundbreaking ceremonies for over US$3.5 billion in tourism developments in the last three months alone. While not disclosing specifics, he mentioned he had just finalized discussions on two more "mega billion-dollar investments."

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Tourism Workers’ Pension Act now in Effect

KINGSTON, Jamaica; February 03, 2020: Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett says the appointed date on which the Tourism Workers’ Pension Act came into operation was January 31, 2020, with registration for the scheme to begin soon.

Bartlett Calls for Global Support for a Tourism Resilience Fund

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 28, 2020: Minister Bartlett says the recent threats of global pandemics and the frequent occurrences of natural disasters heightened the need for a Global Tourism Resilience Fund.

Minister Bartlett Congratulates Koffee on Her Grammy Win

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 26, 2020: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett extended his heartfelt congratulations to Jamaican teen sensation Koffee on winning the Grammy Award in the Best Reggae Album category, earlier yesterday in Los Angeles. Koffee becomes the first woman and the youngest artist to win the award in this category, for her album Rapture.

Jamaica and Panama Sign Multi-Destination Marketing and Airlift Agreement

MADRID, Spain; January 24, 2020: Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett has announced that Jamaica and the Republic of Panama have signed a multi-destination arrangement, as part of efforts to strengthen tourism relations between both countries.

SPANISH HOTELIERS TO BUY MORE LOCAL PRODUCTS

Madrid, Spain; January 23, 2020: Spanish Hotel interests this morning, while noting the importance of quality, good pricing and consistency, committed to expand their purchasing and support for local products and services as Jamaica’s tourism industry continues on a strong growth path that will see the build out of thousands of new hotel rooms over the coming months and years.

BARTLETT’S TOURISM WORKERS PENSION PLAN GETS FULL BACKING OF SPANISH HOTELIERS

Madrid, Spain; January 23, 2020: Spanish Hotel interests this morning gave their support for the government’s ground-breaking Tourism Workers Pension Scheme whilst however noting the importance of it being carefully managed in a closed door meeting with them in Spain today.

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