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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Jamaica Earns to date US$3.1 Billion with 3.4 Million in arrivals

KINGSTON, Jamaica; November 27, 2019: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has announced that preliminary figures from the Jamaica Tourist Board indicate that the island has earned US$3.1 billion to date. The data also indicates that from January to October 2019, Jamaica welcomed 3.4 million visitors to the island.

Bartlett Proposes Tourism Crisis Communication Strategy For The Caribbean... Global Resilience Centre To Formulate

KINGSTON, Jamaica; November 26, 2019: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says that the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre has been tasked with developing a tourism crisis communications strategy which will help Caribbean nations ‘build back better’ following a disaster.

Over 200 Hotel Workers attend Pension Sensitization

MONTEGO BAY, St. James; Thursday November 21, 2019: Two Hundred and fifty (250) hotel workers from Iberostar Montego Bay, attended a pension sensitization session yesterday. The session, spearheaded by Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, was held as part of an island wide effort to update workers on the next steps for the Tourism Workers Pension scheme.

Jamaica to Invest $66 Million in the Next 3 Years on Development of Health and Wellness Tourism

MONTEGO Bay, Jamaica; November 21, 2019: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says that over the next 3 years, the Tourism Linkages Network intends to invest JM$66 million, to develop Jamaica’s Health and Wellness Tourism product.

New Nonstop JFK/Mobay Flight to Further Boost Tourist Arrivals

MONTEGO BAY, St. James, Thursday November 21, 2019: United States Ambassador to Jamaica, Donald Tapia and Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett along with a raft of officials welcomed the commencement of daily nonstop American Airlines service between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport today.

Professional classification coming for Tourism Workers

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Wednesday, November 20, 2019: Jamaica’s drive towards professionalizing its tourism industry is moving towards classifying certified workers for the purpose of improved remuneration.

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