KINGSTON, Jamaica; Thursday, December 4, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, departed the island yesterday for Miami, Florida, where he will undertake a robust series of high-level engagements designed to reinforce international confidence in Destination Jamaica as the country advances its tourism recovery and prepares for the 2025/26 winter tourist season.
Ahead of his departure, the tourism minister explained that Miami, one of Jamaica’s most important airline connection hubs and a major source market gateway, provides the ideal platform to deliver direct updates to media, business partners, diaspora stakeholders, and regional policymakers on Jamaica’s readiness and resilience following Hurricane Melissa.
Reflecting on the significance of this mission, Minister Bartlett emphasised Jamaica’s strong rebound: “Jamaica is recovering with tremendous momentum. Across Ocho Rios, Negril, Montego Bay, Port Antonio and Kingston, we are seeing properties come back online, attractions reopening, and workers returning to their duties with remarkable dedication. Our people are eager to resume full operations, and this visit to Miami allows us to reassure the global market that Jamaica is safe, ready, and open for business.”
Minister Bartlett’s visit will feature a full day of marketing, media, and business activities spearheaded by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB). His schedule begins on December 4 with a taped appearance on WSFL-TV’s “Inside South Florida,” where he will provide viewers with detailed insights on Jamaica’s recovery progress, the reopening of hotels and attractions across Ocho Rios, Negril, Montego Bay, Port Antonio, and Kingston, and the measures being implemented to ensure a safe and seamless visitor experience.
The tourism minister will then participate in a strategic business meeting with Airbnb representatives and senior JTB officials, including Donovan White, Director of Tourism and Philip Rose, Deputy Director of Tourism for the Americas.
Later in the afternoon, Minister Bartlett will join members of the South Florida Caribbean Diaspora press at the Island SPACE Caribbean Museum in Plantation, Florida, for a targeted media engagement.
Outlets such as South Florida Caribbean News, Caribbean National Weekly, Voice of the Caribbean, WAVS 1170 Radio, and Jamaicans.com will receive real-time briefings on the country’s recovery efforts, community restoration, workforce mobilisation, and the timeline for the full return of tourism operations. Rounding out the day’s activities, Minister Bartlett will meet with Vinod Sreeharsha, Business and Tourism Trends Reporter at the Miami Herald.
On Friday, December 5, Minister Bartlett will attend the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s (CTO) Special Purpose Meeting of the Council of Ministers and Commissioners at the Loews Hotel Coral Gables. The meeting will review progress on regional recovery, provide updates on Hurricane Melissa relief efforts across member states, and examine the final draft of the CTO Air Connectivity Study. Minister Bartlett will contribute to discussions on aligning regional recovery strategies, safeguarding aviation access, and strengthening coordination among Caribbean destinations as the region enters one of its most critical travel periods.
Later that day, the tourism minister will participate in the prestigious Nobel Sustainability Trust Miami Summit 2025 at The St. Regis Bal Harbour. Bringing together senior government officials, diplomatic representatives, academics, and global industry leaders, the summit will explore themes of leadership in implementation, biodiversity preservation, and smart, sustainable city development. Minister Bartlett is expected to share Jamaica’s ongoing work in building climate resilience, promoting sustainable tourism growth, and integrating smart technologies across key resort areas.
In addition to these engagements, Minister Bartlett will also serve as a featured speaker at the CTO’s upcoming fundraiser, “Caribbean Christmas of Hope,” part of Caribbean Weekend 2025 in Miami. The special event, scheduled for Friday, December 5, at the Loews Miami Hotel in Coral Gables, will raise funds to support hurricane relief and tourism restoration efforts in Jamaica and Haiti following Hurricane Melissa.
He further underscored the importance of these engagements for Jamaica’s long-term resilience: “This mission strengthens partnerships, expands our visibility and anchors investor and consumer confidence as we move into the peak season. It also reinforces our commitment to a recovery that is not only strong, but sustainable and forward-looking.”
Minister Bartlett is scheduled to return to the island on Saturday, December 6, 2025.
