Tourism Minister Delivers Inaugural Don Hawkins Distinguished Lecture
WASHINGTON D.C., United States; Tuesday, April 14, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has honoured late tourism scholar Professor Donald E. Hawkins at the inaugural Don Hawkins Distinguished Lecture at the George Washington University School of Business, describing him as a “national hero of tourism” for his contribution to Jamaica’s tourism development.
Speaking at the event in Washington D.C. recently, Bartlett said Hawkins played an important role in helping to shape key aspects of Jamaica’s tourism architecture, particularly in the areas of human capital development, institutional strengthening and professionalisation.
“Don Hawkins was not born on Jamaican soil. But in the story of Jamaica’s tourism transformation, he belongs to our national journey. In the language of gratitude, and in the language of impact, we honour him as a national hero of tourism,” Bartlett said.
The Tourism Minister highlighted Hawkins’ advisory support in the establishment of the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation (JCTI), his role in developing the business case for Jamaica’s first hotel school, and his support for the development of artisan villages and the Craft Development Institute.
Bartlett said these initiatives helped to strengthen the systems supporting tourism growth in Jamaica by building workforce capacity, encouraging higher standards and supporting greater cultural authenticity within the sector.
He also linked Hawkins’ work to Jamaica’s broader focus on resilience in tourism, noting that strong institutions, trained workers and clear standards remain central to the sector’s long-term performance.
“Resilience depends on systems. It depends on trained people. It depends on standards. It depends on institutions that can mobilise knowledge quickly,” Bartlett said.
The lecture formed part of a wider programme recognising Hawkins’ contribution to global tourism policy and education. He died in December 2025.
Hawkins earned his PhD in park management from New York University and served for several years as the Eisenhower Chair of Tourism Policy at the George Washington University School of Business. He later became professor emeritus. Over the course of his career, he received several international honours, including the Ulysses Prize from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) in 2003 for his contribution to tourism knowledge and policy.
Bartlett encouraged students, faculty and tourism stakeholders to continue advancing tourism systems that are resilient, people-centred and inclusive, and said Jamaica would continue to benefit from the foundations Hawkins helped to lay.
