WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America; Thursday, April 3, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has again emphasised the importance of harnessing emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), to drive innovation and resilience within the tourism sector. Speaking yesterday (April 2) at the George Washington University School of Business on the theme: Tourism Unleashed: AI, People, and the Future of Global Resilience, the tourism minister highlighted Jamaica’s strides in tourism innovation and the critical role of AI in shaping the sector’s future. 

Minister Bartlett outlined how Jamaica’s tourism industry has undergone transformative changes, driven by technology and human capital development, particularly focusing on the role modern technologies have played in restructuring tourism operations. The Minister encouraged tourism stakeholders to: “Embrace AI and other emerging technologies not as threats but as catalysts for creating richer, more personalized, and more resilient travel experiences.”

“We are at the cusp of a technological revolution that can empower us to create more personalized, responsive, and sustainable tourism experiences,” added Minister Bartlett. “AI can help us track global trends, predict crises, and ensure our preparedness in real-time. This not only makes tourism safer for visitors but also supports local economies and communities,” he noted. 

At the same time, he stressed that AI could play a key role in crisis management. “Imagine a scenario where, before a hurricane hits, we already know exactly where to position evacuation buses and stock emergency supplies. This is the kind of proactive approach AI can enable, ensuring that we don’t just survive crises but thrive in the aftermath,” he explained. 

Minister Bartlett also highlighted the importance of a broader, more inclusive approach to human capital development, which empowers local farmers, artisans, and youth, ensuring that tourism’s benefits are widely distributed. He said: “By embracing emerging technologies, we can ensure that tourism serves not only as an economic engine but also as a tool for inclusive development.”

The tourism minister now turns his attention to the ongoing Organization of American States (OAS) 26th Inter-American Congress of Ministers and High Authorities of Tourism, where he is representing Jamaica, as outgoing chair of the OAS Inter-American Committee on Tourism (CITUR). Jamaica will hand over the position to a newly elected country, which will be chosen during the congress.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Wednesday, April 2, 2025:Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, departed the island today for Washington D.C., where he will participate in the 26th Inter-American Congress of Ministers and High Authorities of Tourism, hosted by the Organization of American States (OAS). Hosted under the theme “Harnessing the Power of Heritage Tourism for Development in the Americas,” the high-level meeting will run from April 3-4, 2025. Minister Bartlett is slated to address the Inaugural Session on Thursday, April 3 alongside the Chair of the Inter-American Council on Integral Development (CIDI), Ambassador Lou-Anne Gilchrist and the OAS Secretary-General, H.E. Luis Almagro. 

Minister Bartlett will also deliver a much-anticipated presentation on: Empowering Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs) on Friday, April 4. Jamaica is currently the chair of the esteemed OAS Inter-American Committee on Tourism (CITUR) and will hand over the position to a newly elected country, which will be chosen during the congress.

Minister Bartlett’s trip to Washington D.C. will also include a high-level speaking engagement at the George Washington University School of Business, where he will share insights under the theme: Tourism Unleashed: AI, People, and the Future of Global Resilience. The tourism minister noted that the session will focus on the transformative changes within Jamaica’s tourism sector driven by technology and innovative human capital development initiatives like the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation (JCTI), a division of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF). 

“Jamaica is world-renowned for our rich culture and heritage. Participating in the OAS Congress provides an important platform to discuss the potential of heritage tourism to drive sustainable development and to forge stronger relationships with our regional partners,” said Minister Bartlett. “At the same time, my engagement at George Washington University allows us to showcase Jamaica’s commitment to developing our human capital in a way that directly benefits the tourism sector and the broader economy,” he added. 

During the OAS Congress, Minister Bartlett will join leaders from across the Americas to explore strategies for leveraging cultural and heritage tourism to promote economic growth, preserve traditions, and empower local communities. Discussions will include the role of heritage tourism in building resilient, inclusive economies and the potential for community-based tourism in indigenous and Afro-descendant communities.

Minister Bartlett is scheduled to return to Jamaica on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Thursday, March 27, 2025:Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, today welcomed the announcement of Emirates Airline’s new weekly scheduled flights between Dubai and Montego Bay, Jamaica, starting on April 10, 2025. The flights, which will operate via Frankfurt, Germany, are a major achievement for Jamaica’s tourism sector and the result of years of advocacy and strategic discussions led by Minister Bartlett and his team, including Minister of State, Sen. the Hon. Delano Seiveright; Director of Tourism, Donavan White, and Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) Chairman, John Lynch, supported by key tourism partners.

Emirates will operate the route with a Boeing 777-300 aircraft. Minister Bartlett further noted that “the new service, facilitated through a codeshare agreement with German airline Condor, will significantly expand Jamaica’s reach in the Middle East and the broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, bringing more opportunities for both tourism and trade.”

“This is indeed a mega achievement for Jamaica’s vibrant tourism sector,” said Minister Bartlett. He underscored that: “It is the culmination of years of effort, dating back to 2021 when we first met with representatives of Emirates to explore the possibility of opening up the Caribbean gateway. This flight service signals Jamaica’s expanding footprint in the global tourism market, and it also opens the door for trade linkages, allowing our agricultural and manufacturing sectors to access the lucrative markets of the Middle East.”

“This new flight arrangement will position Jamaica as one of the gateways to the Caribbean from the Middle East and this strategic partnership should see more visitors from the Middle East visiting Jamaica and the Caribbean and vice versa,” Minister Bartlett noted. He stressed that this new route is not just a victory for tourism but Jamaica’s economy. “Emirates flying to Jamaica will create new opportunities for our manufacturers, agricultural producers, and entertainers. This is a key step in driving multi-destination tourism and strengthening the supply side of the sector,” he added.

The new flight service will operate weekly on Wednesdays, and it is expected to further diversify Jamaica’s visitor base while enhancing trade and cultural exchanges. The flights between Frankfurt and Montego Bay will be operated by Condor Flugdienst GmbH.

KINGSTON; Jamaica; Saturday March 8, 2025: Today, on International Women's Day, Minister of Tourism, the Hon Edmund Bartlett is saluting the contributions of women in the tourism industry.

“On International Women's Day, I am proud to recognize the exceptional women whose leadership, innovation, and dedication drive our nation's tourism industry forward. Globally, women are the backbone of our tourism industry, making up the majority of the workforce while increasingly taking on leadership roles that shape the future of travel experiences across our country,” he said.

International Women's Day (IWD) commemorates women's fight for equality and liberation along with the women's rights movement. 

“To the incredible women of tourism, Happy International Women's Day! Today and every day, we celebrate your strength, resilience, and determination. You are the backbone of the tourism industry, and your contributions are invaluable. As Maya Angelou so eloquently put it, ‘Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women’. You are role models, leaders, and trailblazers, inspiring a new generation of women to pursue their passions in tourism,” added Minister Bartlett.

This year’s United Nations theme ‘For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment’, calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a feminist future where no one is left behind.

The resilience and adaptability demonstrated by women in our tourism industry, particularly during the challenges of recent years, have been nothing short of remarkable. Women have been at the forefront of innovative solutions, sustainability initiatives, and community-based tourism approaches that are redefining travel experiences.

GREEN ISLAND, Jamaica; Thursday, March 6, 2025: As passenger traffic through Jamaica’s seaports and airports continues to rise, demanding greater attention to speed and efficiency, tourism stakeholders have revealed that Internet technology is playing an increasing role in boosting efficiency at these crucial locations.

Insight into how the Internet has been enhancing service delivery, specifically at the cruise shipping ports and Sangster International Airport (SIA), was provided during the recently held 3rd Global Tourism Resilience Conference and Expo at the Princess Grand Jamaica resort in Hanover.

A panel of experts exploring the topic “Utilizing the Internet of Things (IoT) for Enhanced Service Delivery” zoomed in on its transformative impact on tourism, “from enhancing guest experiences through personalized services, to improving operational efficiencies and safety.” It was underscored that IoT refers to a network of physical devices that can transfer data to one another without human intervention.

Executive Director of e-Gov Jamaica, Anika Shuttleworth said tech analysts have projected that over 41.6 billion IoT devices are currently in use globally. She pointed out that “the Internet of Things is actually a very important space because it means connecting devices all the way through the human value chain.” She said a lot of data was being collected through the IoT and raised the question of what was being done with all that data. 

Citing examples of digital transformation and the use of IoT to improve the passenger experience at local airports, Chief Executive Officer of MBJ Airports, Shane Munroe highlighted self-service kiosks. He stressed their use to streamline passenger check-in processing systems, noting that “self-service is now the most popular way for passengers to check in. You see that continuing to evolve throughout the industry.”

SIA has also implemented interactive way finding through kiosks with QR Codes that give passengers a map to navigate their way throughput the airport. Also, there are sensors throughout the airport that monitor wait-time in the streaming, immigration and customs processes. “Other areas that we’re using IoT devices include environmental sensors that can adjust air-conditioning based on humidity and temperature, camera systems with video analytics, queue management as well as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi sensors that anonymously track passenger flow for data analysis,” disclosed Mr. Munroe.

He explained that a key objective is “the use of IoT and integration of all of this data into an operations centre for efficiency and for predicting peak travel times.”

On the issue of cruise ship ports, Executive Director of Jamaica Vacations (JAMVAC), Joy Roberts said a recent case study determined that the IoT “has the potential to change the dynamics of the industry, personalizing services for tourists and guests, cost savings, increased productivity, greater efficiency and customized and differentiated services.”

She explained that JAMVAC had implemented a wireless machine at the ports that gives real time alerts with guests being able to share their feedback with the simple press of a smiley face emoji button which “helps to eliminate blind spots, discover some of the most burning issues and implement best practices to improve customer experience.”

Mrs. Roberts said JAMVAC aims for a 98% approval rating from cruise passengers disembarking the ports and with onsite manning of the system any problem that arises is dealt with expeditiously with redress given where warranted.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Friday, February 28, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has expressed deep sorrow at the passing of Mr. Lionel Reid, a distinguished leader and long-serving executive within Jamaica’s tourism sector. Mr. Reid, who passed away this morning, dedicated decades of his life to the development of Jamaica’s tourism industry, serving in key leadership roles at Jamaica Vacations Limited (JAMVAC), a public body of the Ministry of Tourism.

Reflecting on his contributions, Minister Bartlett hailed Mr. Reid as a visionary and an ardent champion of Jamaica’s tourism sector. “Tourism has lost a great stalwart. A gentleman, urbane, and sophisticated. His sense of correctness and diligence to duty was unparalleled,” Minister Bartlett said. 

Mr. Reid’s service to Jamaica’s tourism sector was marked by transformative leadership. He first served as President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) from 1993 to 1997 before assuming the role of Executive Director of JAMVAC from 2008 to 2012. He later returned as Chairman of JAMVAC from 2016 to 2018, playing an instrumental role in shaping Jamaica’s airlift strategy. 

Among his most enduring contributions was his pivotal role in securing Jamaica’s air connectivity with the United States following the cessation of Air Jamaica’s operations. Minister Bartlett underscored his impact, noting that “to his eternal legacy will be ascribed Jamaica’s strong airlift security. As chairman and Executive Director of JAMVAC, along with John Lynch, the then executive chairman of the JTB, Lionel played a leading role in the negotiations with American Airlines to future-proof our air connectivity with the USA, our most significant market. This will never be erased.” 

Minister Bartlett extended his deepest condolences on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism and its public bodies, as well as the wider tourism fraternity to Mr. Reid’s family, friends, and colleagues. “My deepest and most sincere condolences to his dear widow Vonnie and the children, as well as the huge extended tourism family. RIP my friend Lionel.”

GREEN ISLAND, Jamaica; Thursday, February 27, 2025: While touting artificial intelligence (AI) as a useful tool for tourism, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism, Donovan White is advising global industry stakeholders that “the human element of travel is irreplaceable.”

Mr. White was among a panel exploring the topic “Harnessing AI for Tourism Resilience” with the focus on the impact of AI in fortifying the tourism sector against various challenges” at the 3rd Global Tourism Resilience Conference, held recently at the Princess Grand Jamaica resort. 

Taking it from the position of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), Mr. White’s presentation looked at AI and travel, AI and tourism, predictive analytics, crisis management and sustainability. He said since its emergence, the tourism industry has used AI to reduce cost, streamline operations and it has been transforming the industry, and at all stages has given useful tools to make the travel process seamless. Identifying areas in which certain tools have benefitted the travel trade, he singled out the AI Travel Agent as being, perhaps one of the most interesting tools.

He said these digital agents can assist with complex travel requests, search online platforms for the best deals, make hotel recommendations and develop itineraries. “What we have found however, is that whilst some travellers are finding this a very useful tool, they’re still doing their intelligence of researching on their own through the online travel forums, working with trusted travel advisors and visiting the destination’s website for recommendations,” he informed.

Underscoring that the human element was irreplaceable, he pointed out that “only humans can provide insights into particularities like the best time to visit a location for an excursion; who at the hotel mixes the best drinks or offers the best rates through personal contacts.” He said AI won’t give those deliberate responses “so authenticity is still an important aspect in the travel planning process and we don’t see that disappearing any time soon.” 

Mr. White identified many key areas in which AI is being utilized in Jamaica’s tourism industry, including automated kiosks equipped with biometric face scanners at the international airports in Kingston and Montego Bay, allowing for border agents to be freed up to deal with more serious border related security tasks. At the end of 2024 over 100 passport control kiosks and 15 e-Gates had been installed at both airports.

He added that the JTB’s AI-powered Chatbot which acts as a virtual travel specialist on visitjamaica.com delivers 24-hour customer assistance to potential visitors, with users being able to connect to a live agent. Mr. White said the Chatbot can now converse in ten languages; “still, there’s enormous potential for AI that is yet to be realized.” The JTB is now building an audio AI tool that it hopes to bring to market this year.

In terms of analytics, Mr. White said AI can help to forecast future trends, demand, customer preferences, enable proactive decision making, research optimizations and “this enhances our ability to cater to evolving traveller’s needs and stay competitive.”

KINGSTON; Jamaica; Wednesday, February 26, 2025:  – Jamaica welcomed and honour the volunteer whose act of kindness helped hurdler Hansle Parchment make it to his event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where he went on to win gold in the 110m hurdles. Ms. Teiyana Kawashima Stojkovic was hosted in Jamaica with her immediate family for a week as a gesture of gratitude for her selfless support.

“On behalf of the government of Jamaica, I thank Teiyana for her single act of kindness that created a positive ripple effect and gave our country the gold at the Olympics. We are truly grateful for her assistance and happy she and her family were able to enjoy our authentic Jamaican experiences and hospitality,” said Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett.

In a moment that captured hearts worldwide, Parchment shared how Ms. Teiyana assisted him when he mistakenly boarded the wrong bus to the Olympic Stadium, ensuring he arrived in time to compete in the semifinals and ultimately secure Jamaica’s only gold medal in track and field at the Games.

Director of Tourism, Donovan White expressed the nation’s appreciation, stating, “Jamaica will never forget the kindness and generosity shown to one of our athletes in his time of need. This visit is a small way to say thank you and celebrate the power of goodwill and sportsmanship.”

During their stay, Ms. Kawashima and her family experienced Jamaica’s rich culture, scenic beauty, and warm hospitality. The itinerary included visits to key sites like Dunn’s River Falls and a reunion with Hansle Parchment at the Bob Marley Museum.

Jamaica’s hosting of this extraordinary guest underscores the country’s deep values of gratitude and unity. The event also serves as an inspiring reminder of how simple acts of kindness can lead to historic achievements.

GREEN ISLAND, Jamaica; Tuesday, February 25, 2025: With tourism increasingly relying on digital technologies, Senior Lecturer at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Dr. Yonique Campbell has urged global tourism players to implement key security measures to protect the sector from cybercrime.

Focusing on the regulatory architecture, Dr. Campbell notes that “any threats to tourism that contributes as much as 30% to GDP in some Caribbean countries, and which has interlinkages to so many other sectors, including transportation for example, ought to be subject to robust discussions among industry, government, academics, international players, and to continuous research.” 

Dr. Campbell was one of five panelists examining the topic: “Cybersecurity, Privacy and Security: Measures for Protecting Digital Infrastructure in Tourism” at the 3rd Global Tourism Resilience Conference held at Princess Grand Jamaica from February 17 to 19, 2025.

In recent times hotels, airlines, and travel websites have experienced numerous cyber-attacks and according to digital travel company, Booking.com, there has been a 900% increase in travel scams, primarily driven by the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by criminals. Experts add that the problem is compounded by a limited use of threat protection mechanisms by online users, sometimes because they have limited awareness of the extent of the threat. With this in mind Dr. Campbell implied that “perhaps the regulatory system ought to contemplate that as well.”

Against this background, Dr. Campbell says: “The threat of cybercrime looms large for tourism in states that are already quite vulnerable, and part of the problem is that cybercrimes have obviously damaged trust and puts the reputation of the tourism sector at risk, and we can’t afford that especially in small island developing states.” 

She also argued that the Caribbean has a large number of American and European visitors, intensifying the risk and the consequences in the event of a breach. Dr. Campbell outlined that governments, by investing in a robust and resilient architecture, can improve protection for the tourism sector against cybercrimes, including “a zero-tolerance approach, place emphasis on contingency planning, tough penalties for serious breaches, continuously build out technical skills and build human resource capacity.”

She noted that cybersecurity has become increasingly important as technological innovation continues to move at a rapid pace, causing tourism businesses to rely more on technology. Dr. Campbell said this “has made the tourism sector increasingly reliant on and made to be more efficient as a result of this technology, but this technology also makes the tourism sector extremely susceptible to cybercrime.”

Dr. Campbell highlighted several forms of cybercrime and reminded her international audience that “the motivation is not always commercial. Cybercrimes could be politically motivated as well and it makes the picture more complicated in terms of coming up with a formidable and robust regulatory architecture.

HANOVER, Jamaica; Friday, February 21, 2025: Prime Minister of Jamaica, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has hailed the Palladium Hotel Group’s latest expansion project as a resounding vote of confidence in the Jamaican government and its economic trajectory. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Hanover recently, Prime Minister Holness underscored the project’s alignment with the administration’s ASPIRE growth agenda and its broader vision for economic sustainability.

“This expansion project aligns seamlessly with our new national pivot towards robust and inclusive growth. For most of the last decade, we have as a country focused on fiscal consolidation and debt reduction. The scale and speed of Jamaica's economic turnaround have no parallel amongst our peers in developing countries globally,” said Prime Minister Holness.

The Prime Minister noted that the 950-room expansion, valued at over 500 million euros, reflects the confidence of international investors in Jamaica’s economic stability and growth potential and extended his gratitude to Spain for its continued support of Jamaica’s tourism sector, citing Spain’s extensive investment in the country. The project will also include 600 houses for tourism workers.

“I want to acknowledge and thank His Excellency the Ambassador from Spain for his country's support for Jamaica's tourism. You mentioned that you have a portfolio here of in excess of 2 billion euros invested right here. So, that's a big vote that someone from another country would analyze our risk situation here and say I feel comfortable putting down that level of investment,” Dr. Holness remarked.

Prime Minister Holness further noted that the consistent expansion of the sector demonstrates investor faith in Jamaica’s macroeconomic direction. 

“It's clear businesses feel that the macroeconomic indicators are going in the right direction, which is why Minister Bartlett can say we have over 6,000 rooms that we will be breaking ground for or have already started this year – a massive vote of confidence in the government of Jamaica,” he added.

While celebrating the growth of Jamaica’s tourism industry, Prime Minister Holness reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the linkages between tourism and other sectors, such as agriculture and manufacturing, thereby reducing import dependency. He outlined a clear directive for tourism investors to integrate local suppliers into their operations.

“We must give our local producers who supply the tourism industry long-term supply contracts so that they can invest in building capacity and making the quality the standard that you would like. So that is a directive that if we don't see it happen by virtue of this kind of moral suasion, then we will have to go further to ensure that as our tourism grows, it is genuinely growing sustainably and fairly, which for me, this means everybody will prosper,” he stressed.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, echoed this sentiment, reaffirming that future tourism investments in Jamaica must include tangible benefits for local communities. Tourism is about people. This expansion is about people. Six hundred more houses for tourism workers, that is about people. We will have 950 of the finest rooms at a different level of experience with the elements of human capital development and growth embedded in it,” Minister Bartlett stated.

The tourism minister also highlighted the significant opportunities that the project will bring for local businesses. “Nine hundred and fifty more rooms will provide countless new opportunities for linkages, and we have established that through policy and the activities of the Tourism Enhancement Fund to go at a dimension unprecedented in our history. From our discussions at FITUR, that was a critical part of the agreement; every investor that will come to Jamaica from henceforth must have a component for housing and linkages with the local economy,” he said.

“We are grateful for the collaboration and commitment shown by our partners here in Hanover. In two years, I hope we will be enjoying these facilities not just as renderings but as a vibrant reality that sets new standards in hospitality,” added the President of the Palladium Hotel Group, Abel Matutes Prats. The expansion will include a state-of-the-art convention centre capable of hosting over 1,000 guests, enhancing Jamaica’s position as a premier destination for conferences and events. Additionally, the project will introduce newly designed buildings focused on optimal energy efficiency and sustainability as well as the launch of educational initiatives and skill-development programmes for residents.