OCHO RIOS, Jamaica; Thursday, September 17, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has given further insights into transformative developments set to come onstream under his Ministry’s new Tourism 3.0 growth agenda.
Speaking online from Dubai earlier this week, Minister Bartlett laid out the government’s plans for the industry to a large gathering of international and local journalists at a media breakfast during the 36th staging of the Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) trade show. The event is being staged at the Moon Palace Jamaica resort in Ocho Rios.
With several initiatives in the making, including adding roughly 20,000 new rooms within the next 10 to 15 years, Jamaica is pivoting to the next level of luxury tourism, while maintaining the highest standard of resilient systems. He says 5,000 of those new rooms are currently under construction.
New hotels bearing world-class brands are in the offing while a number of existing properties are increasing their room count.
Small hotels are not being left behind, and a Saudi investment team is to visit early next year with a view to enable those properties to either expand their offerings or to position them to be better able to compete in their markets.
Minister Bartlett said discussions are also taking place in the airline sector which will see additional flights into Montego Bay next year, with Jamaica being positioned to become a hub for Middle Eastern and South American airlines.
Meanwhile, Minister Bartlett says with the remodelling of the sector under Tourism 3.0; to create better infrastructure and heightened human capital development, plans are now on the drawing board for the redesign of Montego Bay.
Proposals have already been outlined for a boardwalk along the city’s waterfront, and the creation of facade along a pedestrianized Hip Strip, showcasing shopping, entertainment and restaurants, with a greater emphasis on local culture.
In cruise tourism, more ports are to be established to boost that sub-sector and expose more of Jamaica’s diversified landscape to passengers while allowing for tourism dollars to have a wider reach into communities, expanding the value chain.
Also, with the addition of new experiences, he said casino gaming will come on stream early next year with the opening of the first licensed casino at Princess Grand Jamaica Resort in Green Island, just outside of Negril. It is expected that no more than three casino gaming licenses will be granted over time.
Giving an update on hotels impacted by hurricane Melissa, Minister Bartlett says room stock back in operation is now at 75 percent. He expects that given the schedule for other properties to reopen their doors before the end of the first quarter of next year, close to 100 percent of staff will be back on the job by then.
He said, going forward, under Tourism 3.0, added focus will be placed on building the capacity of tourism workers through training, professional certification and classification. Ultimately, he anticipates greater commitment to the sector and enhanced quality of service.
Minister Bartlett also disclosed that the revolutionary Tourism Workers Pension Scheme launched in January 2022, now has some 10,800 workers registered and over $6 billion in savings. He said it has also been endorsed by UN Tourism, which has cited Jamaica’s model of the scheme “as something that must be implemented across the world.”
“We are building back better by providing new and innovative experiences that go beyond sand, sea and sun,” says Minister Bartlett, highlighting that as the full breadth of the island’s offering is showcased: “We are going to be reimagining Destination Jamaica.”
Mr. Bartlett underscored that under Tourism 3.0 the tourism sector is pursuing a bold growth target of welcoming 10 million visitors and generating US$10 billion in earnings over the next 10 years. With that in mind: “We are professionalizing the industry now to create a committed team and to move them from workers to owners and become main stakeholders of the industry,” he added.
