Tourism Minister Travels to Geneva to Co-Chair Beyond Tourism Forum and Engage Global Leaders
KINGSTON, Jamaica; Thursday, September 24, 2026: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has departed the island for Geneva, Switzerland, where he will represent Jamaica at the World Economic Forum (WEF) and co-chair the Beyond Tourism Day Forum on September 25.
The engagement places Jamaica at the centre of high-level international discussions on the future of tourism, including its role in economic resilience, investment, innovation and inclusive development. The WEF’s Beyond Tourism initiative advocates for a more integrated approach to tourism, recognising the interconnection between people and skills, finance, infrastructure, technology and innovation, and policy and governance.
Minister Bartlett said Jamaica’s participation represents an important recognition of the country’s influence in shaping global tourism thinking, particularly in tourism and human capital development.
“It is important that Jamaicans appreciate what this moment means for our country. Little Jamaica is being invited to the table not simply to participate, but to share ideas and experiences that are helping to shape the future of tourism. The World Economic Forum is looking at elements of Jamaica’s tourism development and our investment in people as useful lessons, case studies and models from which other countries can learn. That is a remarkable achievement for a small island, and Jamaicans should be proud that the ideas and approaches developed here are resonating at this level,” he said.
He added that Jamaica’s influence has been strengthened by its emphasis on resilience, innovation, skills development and the use of tourism as a vehicle for broader economic and social advancement.
“Our message is that tourism is much more than arrivals, hotel rooms and visitor spending. It is about people, skills, investment, innovation and creating opportunities across the economy,” he expressed.
“Jamaica has spent years building institutions and programmes that recognise this, and our responsibility now is to ensure that what we have learned can contribute to the advancement of tourism beyond our shores. Thought leadership is not about having the biggest market; it is about having ideas that matter,” Bartlett added.
The tourism minister’s programme of engagements will begin Friday, September 25 with the WEF official opening, followed by a studio session dubbed Beyond the Rankings: Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026; a Leaders’ Lunch and bilateral engagements, including a meeting with South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, and a separate bilateral session with Sommet Education.
Minister Bartlett will also participate in the PYNE Awards Africa 2026 virtually from Geneva, during an evening presentation on September 25, where he will receive the Tourism ICON Award for his contribution to tourism resilience and stronger Africa-Caribbean partnerships. The award is being presented as part of the three-day PYNE Awards Africa programme in Maputo, Mozambique.
Minister Bartlett is scheduled to return to Jamaica on Sunday, September 27, 2026.
