NEW YORK, US – April 16, 2024 – Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has emphasized the critical role that travel advisors play in advancing the growth of Jamaica’s tourism. Speaking at a special luncheon to honour top travel advisors in Northeast America on April 13, the Minister reflected on the effort and dedication of these advisors during the pandemic.

“We all remember the day planes stopped flying, ships stopped sailing and countries closed their borders. We did not know what the next day would hold but through data, innovation and public private sector partnerships, Jamaica was able to open its borders and remained open. Our valued travel advisors were first out the blocks, selling the destination, but more importantly our message of destination assurance to their clients,” said Minister Bartlett.

Jamaica opened its borders on June 15, 2020, through its robust health and safety protocols and one of a kind resilient corridor that had infrastructure in place to allow for a safe and seamless visitor experience during the pandemic.

“The country that made Jamaica recover is the United States which never closed its borders and within a year of the destination’s reopening, we welcomed one million visitors, 800 thousand of which came from the United States. 

And of the 4.1 million visitors we welcomed last year, it is important to note that 3 million of them are from the United States, 2.2 million stopovers and the rest being cruise visitors. This impressive figure could not have been achieved without our travel advisors who continue to champion brand Jamaica and are dedicated to the destination,” added Minister Bartlett.

Statistics show that between 2020 to now, the market share of US visitors to Jamaica has increased from 63% to approximately 74%. 

“In 2019, Jamaica welcomed roughly 1.6 million stopover US visitors which means since COVID, we have increased that number by 600 thousand. This speaks to the demand for the destination, confidence from the US market and the efforts of our tourism partners like our travel advisors,” said Minister Bartlett.

New York, USA; Tuesday, April 16, 2024: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has called for a united international effort to bolster sustainable tourism practices as he addressed the United Nations General Assembly's (UNGA) first-ever Sustainability Week in New York, this morning.

The week-long initiative, being held from April 15-19, focuses on achieving a sustainable future for all, with a specific emphasis on the tourism industry’s role. Minister Bartlett, a leading advocate for sustainable development in tourism, will address the High-Level Thematic Event on Tourism twice, on April 16th.

In opening his address, Minister Bartlett said: “Allow me to express Jamaica's appreciation for the support provided by the Member States of the United Nations in the General Assembly last year for the adoption of the resolution establishing February 17 as Global Tourism Resilience Day.” 

The tourism minister continued by acknowledging the historical vulnerability of the tourism industry to global crises but highlighted its remarkable ability to recover and drive economic growth.

“In Jamaica, our focus has shifted towards sustainable tourism that respects both our natural resources and cultural heritage, ensuring long-term economic viability and sustainability,” Minister Bartlett explained.

He continued: “The road to resilience is not one we can walk alone. Protecting global tourism, especially in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), requires a concerted, international effort to implement adaptive, forward-thinking policies that not only mitigate risks but also promote sustainable practices.”

Minister Bartlett also used the forum to reiterate his call for the establishment of a Global Tourism Resilience Fund. 

“It is our shared responsibility to fortify the tourism sector against the inevitable challenges of the future. We must foster a global environment where resilience in tourism is not just an aspiration but an achievement,” he said. 

“The establishment of the Global Tourism Resilience Fund is a critical step towards this goal. It embodies our collective commitment to a sustainable, resilient and prosperous future for all nations reliant on tourism,” Minister Bartlett stressed. 

Minister Bartlett’s address at the UNGA echoes his previous call for a special voluntary visitor contribution-driven fund to support tourism resilience initiatives. He has expressed that the establishment of a dedicated Global Tourism Resilience Fund seeks to ensure that vulnerable destinations are not only prepared for future crises but are also empowered to leverage tourism as a sustainable development tool.

Kingston, Jamaica; Friday, April 5, 2024: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has expressed that, in developing Jamaica’s new Tourism Strategy and Action Plan (TSAP), greater focus will have to be placed on strengthening linkages with other sectors and preventing economic leakages. He was speaking yesterday at the Spanish Court Hotel as the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), successfully concluded its islandwide series of tourism strategy consultation workshops, with the final session being held with stakeholders from the Kingston and St. Andrew destination area. 

The tourism minister highlighted that the strategy must have an emphasis on reinforcing linkages between tourism and other productive sectors, such as agriculture and manufacturing, to prevent economic leakages, as the sector prepares to meet the sustained and increased demand of visitors over the next few years. In this regard, Minister Bartlett noted: “Our strategy in tourism must drive the linkages in the various areas, to stop the leakages from other areas.”

The workshops, which have garnered valuable insights from several stakeholders across Jamaica’s seven destination areas, form a part of the Ministry’s thrust to develop a comprehensive new strategy and action plan for the country’s vital tourism industry. 

“The whole idea of these strategy development workshops is to respond to innovation and the changing realities of one of the most dynamic industries on planet Earth. The discussion today is critical if we are going to be able to create the capacity to respond to the new architecture that tourism will demand,” the tourism minister added. 

He continued: “Our strategies must also consider how we make tourism more inclusive and more of an enabler of economic growth and development across Jamaica.”

Recognizing that human capital development remains at the heart of the industry, Minister Bartlett stressed: “Our people are the wealth of this country. So, we must build the capacity of that wealth not to be dead capital but for that wealth to continue to grow exponentially.”

Importantly, Minister Bartlett also acknowledged the unique challenges and opportunities each destination area presents. Kingston, for instance, with its rich cultural heritage, he said is poised to become a key player in tourism diversification efforts.

“Today in Kingston, the vibrant hub of Caribbean culture, our focus is on enhancing Jamaica’s benefits from cultural tourism while also fostering its role as a key center for business tourism growth,” explained Minister Bartlett.

The consultation workshops, one held for each destination, provided a platform for investors, entrepreneurs, government officials, community members, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to collectively examine issues affecting Jamaica’s evolving tourism landscape.

Kingston, Jamaica; Monday, March 25, 2024: With Jamaica on track to attract 5 million visitors by 2025, local manufacturers are being urged by Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett to put themselves in a position to meet the increasing needs of the sector for products and services.

The call has been made even as players in the industry, such as Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs), have grossed more than $1 billion since the Tourism Linkages Network, a division of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) implemented its annual Speed Networking initiative. The TEF is a public body of the Ministry of Tourism.

In a recent address at the 9th staging of the Speed Networking Event, delivered on his behalf by Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ms Jennifer Griffith, Minister Bartlett expressed that the event was being hosted “at a time when Jamaica is experiencing its best ever tourism performance in terms of arrivals, inclusive of cruise passengers, stopovers and US dollar earnings.”

He noted that Speed Networking had become one of the most anticipated calendar events created by the Tourism Linkages Network “in a continued bid to strengthen linkages and increase business between the tourism industry and local suppliers of goods and services from other sectors.” 

This objective is being achieved through collaboration with the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (JMEA) and other partner entities, including the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC).

Participation has been consistent, with over 150 participants, representing tourism entities, suppliers and HR Managers, registered for this year’s event, staged recently at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

Minister Bartlett said Speed Networking had been recording a high return rate, citing that last year, “94 per cent of hotels surveyed as tourism buyers said they were satisfied with the products presented to them,” while “80 per cent of tourism suppliers reported receiving business leads from their participation in the Speed Networking Event.”

Also pointing to “a significant increase in business” for the sector, Executive Director of the JHTA, Mrs. Camille Needham recalled that: “When we started Speed Networking we knew we were onto something because it was, from the outset, established to bring the tourist industry together with the suppliers of goods, services and products.” She also shared that “over the years, the success of this event, and the reports we have received from those who have participated have really been heart-warming.”

In a testimonial, Chief Executive Officer of HoneyVera, Ms. Christal-Ann Thompson said her participation in the Speed Networking Event over the years has helped to boost her business. She outlined that from just two products when the company started in 2013, it now manufactures over 50 products that are also marketed internationally.

Buyers ranged from small hotels to large international chains, most of which are repeat participants. Purchasing Manager at Deja Resort, Samuel Bowen said the hotel has been participating from the inception and reaping many benefits. “We were able to make some very good connections in terms of suppliers, and currently we have one supplier who has been with us from the very beginning and it has benefitted us greatly,” he acknowledged.

Meanwhile, Retail Manager for Secrets and Breathless Resorts, Damion Stewart who has been attending the event for the last three years, described the benefits as “amazing,” adding that: “This is one of the main ways that we use to meet local suppliers that are aspiring to be part of the gift shop and the hotels’ operations, so this is very important for us.”

He said the property was very big on sustainability and local suppliers were a big part of that and “every year we try to increase our local suppliers’ presence by at least ten percent.”

Kingston, Jamaica; Monday, March 18, 2024: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, is set to depart the island today (March 18) to participate in Eco-Canada's Sustainable Blue Economy Summit 2024 in Halifax, Canada, on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Minister Bartlett will be a featured speaker and thought leader at the summit, highlighting the critical importance of the blue economy to building tourism resilience and sustainability.

Commenting on the significance of the high-level summit, Minister Bartlett said: “The blue economy is intricately linked to the resilience of our tourism sector. As a small island developing state, Jamaica must prioritize sustainable practices and environmental stewardship to ensure the long-term viability of our tourism industry. I am honoured to share Jamaica's perspective on these critical issues and engage in meaningful discussions with fellow industry leaders and eco-tourism advocates.”

Eco Canada highlights that the event seeks to bring together thought leaders, environmental professionals, and experts from various fields to engage in meaningful discussions on the critical issues facing our oceans and explore innovative solutions for a sustainable blue economy. The event, themed “Sustainable Blue Economy Summit 2024: Beyond the Shoreline,” will take place at the Halifax Tower and Conference Centre in Nova Scotia. 

In this regard, Minister Bartlett noted that his involvement in the summit underscores Jamaica's commitment to sustainable tourism practices and the preservation of marine ecosystems. The tourism minister will be participating in two sessions during the summit. The first session, a keynote presentation under the theme “Navigating the Blue Horizon: Inspiring a Vision for a Sustainable Blue Economy,” will take place from 1:30-2:00 PM. In this session, Minister Bartlett will address critical issues facing the ocean economy, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices and responsible tourism.

Following the keynote session, Minister Bartlett will join a panel discussion titled “Empowering Coastal Communities and Indigenous Perspectives” from 3:00-4:00 PM. This engaging fireside chat will explore the involvement of coastal communities and indigenous perspectives in sustainable coastal and marine management. 

Minister Bartlett is scheduled to return to Jamaica on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.

BERLIN; Germany; Friday March 8, 2024: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett is driving future tourism investment for St. Thomas which is gearing up to become Jamaica’s newest tourist destination. In a meeting with German leisure, travel and tourism company, TUI Group, it was confirmed that the company is exploring expanding its footprints in Jamaica and is showing signs of interest to invest in St. Thomas. 

The interest stems from the group’s hotel expansion plans in Jamaica and St. Thomas has been positioned as the ideal location to support this, while ensuring sustainable tourism practices. The Government of Jamaica’s Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project (SCHIP) has provided increased publicity and opportunities to St. Thomas’ potential as a new investment frontier. The project will facilitate ease of movement, especially between the parish and the Norman Manley International Airport.

Minister Bartlett made the investment pitch during a meeting yesterday (March 7) with Senior TUI Group executives and his senior tourism team at the TUI Group office in Berlin.

“St. Thomas has become extremely attractive and is ripe for investment as this highway development comes on stream. It only makes sense that as we diversify our tourism products that we zero in on the possibilities that exist in the parish.

I am happy that our long-standing partner, TUI Group, continues to show confidence in the destination by including Jamaica in its expansion plans. This future mega investment will translate to more jobs and opportunities for communities and will be a game changer for the parish,” said Minister Bartlett.

TUI Group Senior Executives, led by their CEO of Markets and Airlines, Mr. David Schelp, reconfirmed their strong partnership with Jamaica as one of its key destinations in the Caribbean. Considered the largest travel company in the world, it is also the leading tour operator for Germans going to Jamaica. 

TUI Group fully or partially owns several travel agencies, hotel chains, cruise lines and retail shops as well as five European airlines. These activities involve the operation of 353 hotels with 275,144 beds and it allows its brand to be used for another 65 hotels operated by third parties. These hotels accommodate 21 million guests per year. It also operates 16 cruise ships under the TUI Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and Marella Cruises brands, as well as a fleet of 134 aircraft.

Discussions also included potential growth for flights in summer 2025, a curated Jamaica cruise itinerary that would explore home porting around the island’s ports and the establishment of a distinguished TUI Lecture series to promote tourism and tourism resilience. 

“The pandemic has shown that partnerships are critical in building resilience and sustaining tourism activities. As one such partner, TUI Group is a key component in Jamaica’s tourism growth strategy and we look forward to building out this new phase of expansion,” added Minister Bartlett.

BERLIN; Germany; Thursday March 7, 2024: The Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) has bestowed the prestigious title of Global Tourism Icon upon Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the tourism industry.

This esteemed accolade, that was presented yesterday (March 6), comes as a testament to Minister Bartlett’s relentless dedication to promoting sustainable tourism practices, fostering cultural exchange, and advancing the tourism sector on a global scale. He has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at enhancing visitor experiences, building resilience and creating economic opportunities for local communities through tourism.

Upon receiving the title of Global Tourism Icon, the Minister expressed gratitude to the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association for this esteemed recognition. He emphasized the importance of collective action in advancing the tourism industry, underscoring the role of collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity in shaping the future of travel.

“It has been my life’s mission to ensure that the tourism sector in Jamaica flourishes in terms of arrivals, earnings, economic growth and resilience. I am pleased that through public-private sector partnerships we have not only weathered the most devastating period in global tourism history but have elevated Jamaica as a premier travel destination and also set a benchmark for excellence in the global tourism landscape,” said Minister Bartlett.

The Pacific Area Travel Writers Association's decision to honour Minister Bartlett as a Global Tourism Icon reaffirms his status as a visionary leader and trailblazer in the field of tourism. His unwavering commitment to excellence and sustainability serves as an inspiration to industry professionals and travellers alike.

Minister Barlett is leading a delegation at ITB Berlin, the world's largest travel tradeshow. With over 20 thousand participants expected this year, ITB Berlin is viewed as an important platform for the international tourism industry, facilitating knowledge and networking.

BERLIN; Germany; Thursday March 7, 2024: Jamaica has been named Global Destination of the Year at the renowned travel trade show, ITB in Berlin. The award was presented yesterday by the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA). The PATWA is a nonprofit international media organization of travel writers founded in 1999 and the awards seek to recognize organizations, destinations/brands and individuals achieving the highest standards in their field.

In accepting the award on behalf of the destination, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett said, “Jamaica is known for its food, music and indeed love so we are humbled to be recognized for these experiential offerings to our visitors that provide meaningful memories.”

The PATWA awards are held during ITB and are among the most coveted recognitions where nominees are evaluated on various standards with an extensive internal evaluation for each category. 

The Minister of Tourism is participating in the 2024 staging of ITB Berlin, the world's largest travel tradeshow. With over 20 thousand participants expected for this year, ITB Berlin is viewed as a critical platform for the international tourism industry, fostering networking and facilitating knowledge exchange.

“PATWA remains one of the highest honours you can receive in tourism and travel and Jamaica continues to punch above its weight to excel in its products and services. It is truly the perfect backdrop for all things romance – engagements, weddings, honeymoons – you name it,” added Minister Bartlett.

Jamaica has received several awards based on its authentic and unique tourism offerings. Last year, the island was named ‘Caribbean’s Best Culinary Destination’ at the World Culinary Awards. In the same year, Jamaica won 33 World Travel Awards, chief among them was being named the ‘Caribbean’s Leading Destination.’

This award also comes on the heels of phenomenal arrivals and earnings for the island last year. The destination welcomed over 4 million international visitors and earned US4.2 billion.

Kingston, Jamaica; Tuesday, March 5, 2024: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has departed the island to participate in the 2024 staging of ITB Berlin, the world's largest travel tradeshow. With over 50 years of global recognition, ITB Berlin stands as a pivotal platform for the international tourism industry, fostering networking and facilitating knowledge exchange. 

Minister Bartlett's itinerary is stacked with high-level engagements, showcasing Jamaica's commitment to building international partnerships and promoting its vibrant tourism sector. His schedule includes a dinner meeting with TUI Group executives and a slate of engagements on Thursday (March 7), which includes interviews with prominent German travel trade magazines, FVW Medien and Touristik Aktuell, an ITB travel special interview with NTV and an appearance on Radio Frankfurt. Additionally, he is set to meet with the newly appointed Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs for Sierra Leone, Hon. Nabeela Tunis.

On Friday, (March 8), Minister Bartlett will lead a JTB regional meeting with staff and representatives based in Germany, followed by a meeting and reception with the Jamaican community in Germany at the Embassy of Jamaica in Berlin.

“ITB Berlin is well known as a catalyst for business within the travel and tourism ecosystem and provides an ideal forum for global industry players to connect and share insights. We aim to continue leveraging this opportunity to promote Destination Jamaica, foster growth in the tourism sector, as well as build and strengthen valuable international relationships,” expressed Minister Bartlett. 

His itinerary will also feature his participation in the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) International Travel Awards, which is a major event on the global tourism calendar.

Minister Bartlett is scheduled to return to Jamaica on Saturday, March 9, 2024. 

Montego Bay, Jamaica; Wednesday, February 21, 2024: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has renewed his call for visitors across the world to be asked to support the financing of tourism resilience initiatives via a special tip. While urging the international community to urgently unite to establish a Global Tourism Resilience Fund, Minister Bartlett outlined that “the money collected in each destination from this tip would contribute to the fund and aid in boosting tourism resilience.” 

Funding tourism resilience was one of the pressing issues explored at the just concluded 2nd Global Tourism Resilience Day Conference, which was held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre from February 16-17. With an international panel of experts, the discussion focused on how international organizations create and execute tourism resilience financing strategies.

Leading off the deliberations, Minister Bartlett said tourism offered investment opportunities for all interest groups “but the more important point that we want to focus on is investment in resilience; how do you present to a destination the resources necessary to enable them to be able to forecast and track disruptions, how to mitigate against it, how to manage, recover and recover quickly and how to thrive.”

“Investment in these areas is not necessarily sexy,” Minister Bartlett added as their return on investment was not easily measured. However, he said: “We are going to build capacity in this area; we’re going to be training people, educating, building structures to enable the education of people to do these things and the building of tools to be able to manage and overcome these pressures.”

Having closely examined the question of where the funding is to come from, Minister Bartlett pointed to the fact that some 1.5 billion visitors traversed the world in 2019 and “it is expected that in the next 25 years from now, 1.5 billion more people will traverse the world.” 

Faced with the questions of where those 3 billion people will be coming from and where they will be going, he said this raised the issue of personal responsibility on the part of visitors for resilience building. Stressing that tourism is arguably the most consumer-driven activity on Earth, Minister Bartlett said: “If we were to say to each visitor who travels, leave a resilience tip behind at every point of consumption, consider what 1.5 billion visitors leaving a tip at every point of consumption, with their propensity to consume, could do to individual destinations.”

He explained that the money left in each destination from this tip would be unfettered by the bureaucracy that often comes with multi-national engagements and the difficulty of navigating those processes as well as challenges faced in defining which countries or entities would be able to access these funds.

“It’s an opportunity for us to think through, and perhaps something that the UN Tourism Secretary-General might want to look at” Minister Bartlett noted. “One hundred and fifty countries are involved here and so we can broaden the scope of available resources for resilience funding and sustainability by making a personal commitment for each tourist travelling across the world, in terms of the consumption pattern and carbon footprint that flows from those consumption patterns and to create a fund that may very well be the answer for building capacity for mitigation, adaptation and the building of human capacity,” said Minister Bartlett.