MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, March 14, 2016: Minister of Tourism Hon Edmund Bartlett has challenged the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) and leaders of key subsectors of the industry to raise standards and maintain integrity within the sector.

The Minister issued his charge recently as he embarked on a series of stakeholder meetings with subsector groups to outline the way forward, with the emphasis being on growth.

Following a meeting with the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association in Kingston, on Thursday March 10, Minister Bartlett then met with members of staff of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and TPDCo at the regional office in Montego Bay on Friday, March 11. He then engaged in dialogue with stakeholders from the attractions, ground transportation, and the craft sub-sectors at the Montego Bay Convention Centre and heard their concerns.

To the TPDCo staff he said, “your job is to ensure the integrity of the product. Destination Jamaica has to be managed and in managing it we have to look at the critical touch points that have to be in pristine condition at all times because when the visitor comes he leaves whatever he has in his own country and he is at your mercy and your whim. He is here to enjoy the product in a safe environment so that he can move around seamlessly and freely and that there will not be any negative repercussions.”

With the country enjoying an enviable 42 percent rate of repeat business, Minister Bartlett argued that attracting the other 58 percent could not be as hard as it may seem. “I believe it has been made to look that hard because we have not done enough to market and satisfy the passions of the people,” he said.

Noting that price was hardly a concern for people who travel to fulfill their passions, Mr. Bartlett said “our job is to identify these passion points and then to build the product around them.” He stressed that standards must be at the highest level and charged TPDCo to be “the centre of the integrity of the product,” seeing to the management of quality assurance, which, he said, “was what makes a quality destination.”

Mr. Bartlett, who is doing a second tour of duty as Tourism Minister, underscored that the opportunities were enormous and “the truth is tourism is the only industry over which Jamaica has both competitive and good comparative advantage in the world market,” adding that, “we do things better in tourism than anywhere else” and the country’s most iconic attraction, our people, is the greatest pull.

MONTEGO BAY, St James, Jamaica, March 24, 2016: In the aftermath of the third Tourism Linkages Speed Networking Event participants from various sectors including entertainment and construction are hailing the event as a major success. This as the participants emphasize that the event, which was held recently, has opened doors for well-needed business opportunities.

The event was hosted by the Tourism Linkages Hub in partnership with the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA), Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and other entities at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa, St. James.

The Tourism Linkages Hub puts producers of Jamaican goods and services in direct contact with operators in the tourism sector with the aim of getting more locally made products into hotels and other entities within the sector. While agriculture and manufacturing took the spotlight at the first Speed Networking event, this year providers of entertainment and construction goods and services, had the opportunity to meet with tourism decision-makers.

For Chief Executive Officer of Cleopatra’s Collections, Cleopatra Charles, “the linkage is excellent.”  She has long wanted to supply the hotel sector with her fashion creations and now “we are meeting people who we never dreamed of meeting as it was hard to get to them at the different hotels.”

Renowned fashion designer Earl ‘Biggy’ Turner, well known in the entertainment industry for his popular Biggy Fashions, also attended for the first time and was satisfied that “I’ve met a lot of the hotel representatives and I received good, positive response; it’s for me now to go back and package what it is I’m expecting to sell them, which is fashion to complement the music.”

Benjamin Hodura, Vice President of Marketing at Isratech Jamaica Limited, which provides irrigation systems as well as water treatment and energy solutions, was also thankful for the exposure the event provided for his company. He said “the event was good and we made some good connections. We stayed the entire day and met with everyone and made the best of it.”

Simone Harris, Executive Director of 360 Artistes an arts management agency, was very pleased with the reception she received at the speed networking event which she was attending for the first time.
She says, “I think this is an absolutely great opportunity for the creative industries, for the price. I mean, if I was to try to meet with all these buyers here I couldn’t afford it, not in time and in money; this is a great opportunity to sit face to face with the people who make the decisions about entertainment in their properties.”

Ms. Harris holds the view that the facilitation provided by the Tourism Linkages Hub gives an opportunity to change the perception that local performers are not welcome by the hotel sector. “We spend a lot of time complaining but this is the opportunity to make a change; stop complaining, make a change,” she says.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; April 4, 2016:  Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett will travel to the United States today (April 4, 2016) to attend several important meetings with strategic tourism partners, including representatives of the Jamaica Tourist Board’s advertising agency, in New York and New Jersey. 

This is the latest in a series of stakeholder meetings that the newly appointed Minister of Tourism has been engaged in since taking office last month. Thus far, Minister Bartlett has met with key tourism groups including the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Red Cap Porters Association, leaders of the attractions and ground transportation subsectors and employees of the Ministry and its agencies across the island.

He has indicated that in his meetings with overseas tourism stakeholders he will be placing special focus on driving new markets and forging new partnerships. “We have to look at the existing markets that we have in the United States, Canada and Europe, and we have to drive those to higher levels. The outputs of these markets have to be significantly more, simply because they have the capacity to deliver more for us,” said Minister Bartlett.

Minister Bartlett is being accompanied by Director of Tourism Paul Pennicook.  He returns to the island on Friday April 8, 2016.

MONTEGO BAY, St.  James, Jamaica, March 21, 2016: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett does not believe the changing tide in relations between the United States of America and Cuba threatens Jamaica’s tourism market. His comments come as US President Barack Obama makes his historic trip to Cuba.

With North America, in particular the US being Jamaica’s largest tourism market, Minister Bartlett has asserted, “the United States market is a big market, so the people who quarrel about Cuba, tell them this minister does not fear any destination anywhere at all because the markets that we are both competing in are huge and lucrative markets.”

The minister made his position known as he addressed Red Cap Porters at the Sangster International Airport on the weekend. Minister Bartlett said Jamaica’s share of the US market hovered at about two percent and even if Cuba got five percent there was still a large portion to draw from; “so why am I worrying about Cuba? I must go do my job… That’s what I have to say to all those who are skittish and nervous.”
However, he reiterated, the strategy being employed was one of developing partnerships with Cuba playing a role. “What I want to do is to develop synergies with partners, and Cuba is going to be a big partner because we are in something called the Northern Caribbean Space where tourism in the northern Caribbean is the largest block of tourists in the entire Caribbean area,” he stated.

He said the islands of the region accounted for 70 percent of tourists to the Caribbean, “there are therefore opportunities for joint activities and multi destination activities and we’re going to pursue that, so rather than fear them we’re going to join them and were going to explore this as we exploit the resources of the Northern Caribbean space.”

He told the Red Cap Porters that they were important partners and had a stake in selling the experience of “Destination Jamaica”. They were implored to learn other languages in order to communicate more effectively with non-English-speaking visitors.

President of the Montego Bay Airport Red Cap Porters Association, Levi Smith suggested that the membership be included on fam-trips being undertaken by the Jamaica Tourist Board to gain experience in dealing with foreigners and to market themselves as part of the product.

He said the association welcomed the plans outlined by Minister Bartlett for growth in tourism and the benefits to be derived by tourism workers to improve their economic and social status.

Kingston, Jamaica: March 8, 2016 – Hon. Edmund Bartlett has once again been appointed Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, following  the swearing in of Jamaica’s new Government at Kings House yesterday (March 7).  Minister Bartlett previously served as Tourism Minister from 2007-2011 and replaces Wykeham McNeill, who held the portfolio from 2011-2016, under the Portia Simpson Miller-led government.

During a meeting with Ministry staff today, Minister. Bartlett expressed pleasure at returning to the Ministry for a second stint. He stated that economic growth and development are central to the new administration’s growth agenda and that tourism has to play a vital role in this regard. “We have to go beyond the two and three percent growth we’ve had over the years and get into double digit growth,” the newly appointed Minister noted.

Minister Bartlett has been a member of the Jamaican parliament for more than 30 years, with a solid track record of service as a legislator in central government in both Chambers of Parliament. He was Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister and Minister of Youth, Sports & Community Development from 1980 to1989; later he served as Senator and Opposition Spokesman of various portfolios, including Tourism, from 1989 to 2007.

Mr. Bartlett’s has also represented Jamaica regionally and internationally and currently chairs the Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).  He is the first to serve on the executive of both the public and private sector arms of this prestigious organization. He served as second vice-chairman of the Council of Ministers during his tenure as tourism minister in 2011.

Jamaica ranks third in annual visitor arrivals among the 28 destinations tracked by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), exceeded only by the Dominican Republic and Cuba. The island recorded a significant increase in visitor arrivals for 2015. Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) figures show arrivals totaling a record 3.7 million last year, 5.3% over 2014. Stopover arrivals increased by 2.1 per cent to 2.1 million travellers and cruise arrivals rose by 10.2 per cent to 1.6 million passengers.

MONTEGO BAY, St. James, Jamaica, March 17, 2016: The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and the EXIM Bank are to set the stage for the establishment of a tourism bank.
Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has proposed the tourism bank as source of funding for service providers in the tourism industry to enable them to build capacity and reap more from the industry.
The concept of tourism bank was presented by Minister Bartlett as he address participants in the second annual Speed Networking hosted by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association and the Tourism Linkages Hub at the Hilton Hotel.

Noting that there was an Agricultural Credit Bank, Mr. Bartlett cited the need for also for a tourism credit bank which, he said, would be developed on lines similar to Banco Nacional in the Dominican Republic which only seeks out tourism opportunities and provides financing.

“I assure you, if we are able to do this then the problems that I see of tourism becoming a plantation will never happen because we must become the owners of tourism. Jamaicans must own the industry and owning the industry doesn’t mean that we are the owners of any sector; what it must mean is that we have access to every area and that we are beneficiaries of the proceeds of tourism,” said Minister Bartlett.
Recognizing the need for capital and credit to drive growth in the service sector, Mr. Bartlett noted, “The Jamaican banking system as structured is not responsive to tourism in the way that we are talking because if tourism is to be the great stimulant of economic growth, that it is in many places, then it must be given the space and the infrastructure support required to enable it.”

“The Tourism Enhancement Fund will be engaged to work with a sensitive but important financial institution to develop a financial portfolio to encourage local, indigenous entrepreneurship to meet the supply and demand of tourism.”

He said the idea has already been presented to the Tourism Linkages Hub Council “and already we’re thinking the process through.” While still in its infancy, Mr. Bartlett said “for now my thinking is through the EXIM Bank but it will morph in time to a full fledge institution which will be geared to supporting the needs and requirements of tourism.”
It expected that details of the proposed tourism bank will be outlined by Minister Bartlett in his Budget presentation.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; March 09, 2016:   In a bid to further strengthen relations between Jamaica and the United States in the area of tourism Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett met with US Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Luis Moreno, and members of his team today (March 9).

During their meeting, which was held at the New Kingston offices of  the Ministry of  Tourism,  they had preliminary  discussions  on  the  prospects  for  preclearance  operations  privileges  to be  granted  to Jamaica.    This  framework,  which  is  being  expanded  by  the  United  States,  currently  applies to  some  15 foreign  airports  in  six  different  countries.  Caribbean  islands  which  have such  privileges  include  The Bahamas, Bermuda, Aruba as well the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana).

Preclearance  allows  US  Border  inspection  and  clearance  of  commercial  airline  passengers  and  their goods and is typically the same inspection which a traveller would undergo at a US port of entry. Hence passengers who go through preclearance do not have to undergo a second inspection upon arrival in the US.  This is an initiative that Minister Bartlett strongly believes will be beneficial to the  tourism industry as it will, among other things, facilitate ease of travel for passengers. Minister Bartlett indicated that it is crucial for us to  strengthen the relationship between Jamaica and the United States.

I am convinced that once this is done it will help to drive investment in the sector and open doors for the entry of more US brands in the local tourism industry.Among the other issues discussed were efforts to further boost visitor safety and steps to enhance the Tourism Courtesy Corp.  This  is  Ambassador  Moreno’s  second  meeting  with  a  member  of  newly  appointed  Cabinet,  which  was sworn in on Monday March 7, 2016. The US Ambassador and his staff are also the first foreign officials to meet with Mr. Bartlett since his return to the Ministry in his second stint as Minister.

MONTEGO  BAY,  St.  James,  Jamaica,  April  10,  2016:  Minister  of  Tourism,  Hon.  Edmund  Bartlett  has outlined to the new boards of directors of key agencies in the ministry, five pillars on which the Ministry and  its  agencies  will  seek  to  transform  the  island's  vibrant  tourism  sector  and  achieve  double  digit growth.

The pillars were outlined yesterday (April 9) during a seminar at the Montego Bay Convention Centre for all board members, to inform them of their roles as directors of their respective agencies. In attendance were chairmen and board members of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF),  Tourism  Product  Development  Company  (TPDCo),  Jamaica  Vacations Limited  (JAMVAC)  and Devon House Development Company.

The  five  pillars  include  tapping  into  new  markets,  developing  new  products,  promoting  investment, building new partnerships and the development of human capital.

With  sights  set  on  pulling  in  more  than  US$3    billion  from  the  US$7.2  trillion  global  tourism  market, Minister  Bartlett  said  "we're  going  to  go  to  new  markets  but  we  have  to  be  careful  about  that."  He explained that "our existing key market is still not giving us the full returns that we want." 

The United States is being targeted alongside Canada for increased market share. Minister Bartlett was resolute that, "there's so much more to get from the United States,and we're gonna get it." Already, he said an additional flight has been secured out of Vancouver, Canada for the winter.

The  thrust  will  also  seek  to  grow  the  UK  market  which  has  been  recovering  from  a  slump  due  to  a recession. "We're going to grow further because during the period we acquired new partners which put us  in  a  position  where  we  are  able  now  to  benefit  from  the  growth  curve  that  is  taking  place  in  that economy," said Minister Bartlett. 

The  Caribbean  and  Asia,  in  particular  China  have  also  been  prioritized  and  Mr.  Bartlett  stressed  that Cuba was strategically positioned to help in the growth of tourism in the Caribbean which would augur well  for  Jamaica.  The  interest  in  Cuba  he  says  should  play  a  key  role  in enabling  the  region  to  secure better airlift arrangements and facilitate multi-destination marketing in the region.

Regarding  investments  and  partnerships,  Minister  Bartlett  told  the  board  directors  that  while  foreign direct  investment  would  be  pursued  to  build  large  hotels,  there  will  also  be  heavy  focus  on  convincing more  Jamaicans  to  invest  in  the  industry.  This,  he  said,  could  be  achieved  by  providing  services, developing  attractions  and  transforming  small  hotels  and  private  homes  to  meet  the  requirements  of special needs travellers and other groups.

He  said  based  upon  survey  results,  words  which  resonate  best  with  Jamaica are  food,  music  and  love and these ingredients will be woven into the marketing strategy to attract more tourists to the island.

Elaborating on the development of human capital, the tourism minister said service was a key element "so  we  must  train  our  workers  and  we're  going  to  build  out  in  this  dispensation  the  hospitality  school  that we've been talking about." 

He also disclosed that, "we're going to build out the capacity of our artisans to produce goods of a wide variety  with  strong  creative  output."  To  achieve  this,  "an  institute  of  craft  is  going  to  be  developed  to enable  us  to  have  goods  made  in  Jamaica,  sold  by  Jamaicans  and  to  carry  the  value  of  Jamaica  to  the four corners of the world." Concurrently,  he  said  three  artisan  villages  will  be  constructed,  one  in  Ocho  Rios,  another  in  Montego Bay and the third in Falmouth.

KINGSTON,  Jamaica,  March  17,  2016:  Minister  of  Tourism,  Honourable  Edmund  Bartlett,  yesterday noted that Public Private Partnerships (PPP) will form a key part of Jamaica’s tourism growth strategy.

Given  our  government’s  policy  to  make  the  private  sector  the  engine  of  growth  it  is  critical  for  the Tourism  Ministry  and  its  support  agencies  to  pursue PPP  arrangements  that  ultimately  redound  to  the Jamaica’s benefit.  It is an ultimate win win situation,said Bartlett.

Mr. Bartlett spoke against the background of a courtesy call on him by Managing Director of Red Stripe, Ricardo Nuncio on Wednesday March 16. Mr. Nuncio spoke with Mr. Bartlett about Red Stripe’s planned significant investments in its operations over coming years including the return of the production of Red Stripe to Jamaica and the prospects for partnership with the Ministry.

Mr.  Nuncio  noted  that  Red  Stripe  will  be  expanding  further  into  specific  international  markets  that include key source markets for which the Tourism Ministry is actively involved. Mr. Bartlett said that, The potential for partnership in promotions for Brand Jamaica and Red Stripe looms large and makes an excellent opportunity that we can’t ignore.

Mr.  Bartlett  further  noted  that,  "Tourism  will  undoubtedly  be  the  largest contributor  to  the  growth agenda; as such no effort would be spared in promulgating initiatives that would drive increased tourist traffic and increased revenues."