Government of Jamaica

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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.

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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.

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Bartlett says his Ministry is committed to the Increase of Local Goods Consumed in the Hospitality Industry

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 08, 2020: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says the Agricultural Sector must be transformed to better meet the consumption requirements of visitors to the island.

Bloomberg Lists Jamaica as Must-See Destination for 2020

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 07, 2020: Jamaica has been featured as one of 24 destinations to visit in 2020 by American media-company Blooomberg LP.

Nepalese Global Tourism Resilience Centre to be opened in April 2020

KATHMANDU, Nepal; January 3, 2019: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett says April 2020 is the date earmarked to officially open the Satellite Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre in Nepal. The announcement follows Minister Bartlett’s visit to Nepal to conclude discussions for a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Centre.

Jamaica Listed In CNN Travel's 20 Best Places to Visit In 2020

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 02, 2020: American news-channel CNN, has named Jamaica as one of the 20 best places to visit in 2020. The island is one of two Caribbean destinations to make the list.

Bartlett Extends Sympathy to Owners of Richmond Hill Inn

KINGSTON, Jamaica; December 31, 2019: Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett has extended sympathy to the owners of the historic Richmond Hill Inn in Montego Bay, following a fire that destroyed a section of the property last night.

Bartlett to establish Satellite Tourism Resilience Centre in Nepal

KINGSTON, Jamaica; December 27, 2019: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has announced that the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) will, on January 1 2020, conclude discussions for a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Satellite Centre in Nepal.