News Releases

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.

Featured News Releases

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.

All News Releases

Bartlett Announces Over J$2 Billion in Funding for Small Enterprises in Tourism

KINGSTON, Jamaica; July 10, 2020: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has announced that over $J2 Billion in funding will be made available for Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs). The move, forms part of the government’s commitment to help these small tourism businesses retool and rebound amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tourism is at the Heart of Jamaica’s Post-COVID Economic Recovery Programme – Bartlett

KINGSTON, Jamaica; July 10, 2020: Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett says Jamaica’s tourism sector is critical to Jamaica’s economic recovery from the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Grim UNCTAD Report Underscores Need to Safely Reopen Tourism Sector

KINGSTON, Jamaica; July 1, 2020: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says that a report published today by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) outlining the projected fallout for the global economy and in particular countries like Jamaica, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism, further underscores the need to restore the sector by reopening on a phased basis and in a safe manner.

Global Tourism Players Must Prepare to Meet the Needs of “Gen-C Travellers” - Bartlett

KINGSTON, Jamaica; June 24, 2020: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says global tourism players must prepare to meet the new demands of the post-COVID generation, whose return to travel will be crucial to the recovery of the global economy.

Minister Bartlett Chairs High-level UNWTO Meeting

KINGSTON, Jamaica; June 18, 2020: Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett, today chaired the high level 65th meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) Commission for the Americas (CAM). During the virtual session he led a team of 22 Member States from across the Americas, in high-level discussions to develop a strategy for sustainable growth, as some tourism industries across the globe, prepare for the recovery period from the economic and social impact experienced, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tourism and Health Ministries Collaborate to Safely Fully Reopen Borders

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Monday, June 15, 2020: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett and Health and Wellness Minister, Hon Christopher Tufton have jointly lauded the collaboration that enabled today’s full reopening of Jamaica’s borders to international travel and, in particular, the restart of the country’s tourism industry.

Contact Information

64 Knutsford Boulevard,
Kingston 5, Jamaica

(876) 920-4926-30

info@mot.gov.jm