MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, June 4, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has identified sustainability of the national economy as key to his vision for tourism in the immediate future.

As a step in that direction, the Ministry of Tourism has embarked on the creation of a tourism strategy for Jamaica in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and stakeholders from a wide cross-section of industries and government agencies. The first in a series of strategy development workshops being staged in resort destinations was held on Friday (June 2) at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St. James.

Mr. Bartlett related that his vision was “to make tourism inclusive and the driver of the economy of Jamaica, but most importantly, to make it the centre of community enrichment and human development.”

He stated that a key component of achieving this goal was to build the capacity against the demand that tourism brings and to strengthen the ability of Jamaicans to supply the services and goods needed.

“It calls for a shared commitment from each one of us in this room today. Let us seize this opportunity to work together; unifying our vision and efforts to secure the future of our beloved country and build a legacy we can proudly pass on to future generations,” he urged.

Minister Bartlett expressed confidence that “With the right strategy and plan in place, we can achieve all these objectives and more. I urge you all to join hands and work towards creating a comprehensive Tourism Strategy and Action Plan for Jamaica.”

The collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and the IDB has the support of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) and involves several specialized firms and consultants in the development of a set of in-depth diagnostics to inform the future Jamaica Tourism Strategy.

Meanwhile, citing that tourism was critical in the economic and social development of the country, the IDB’s Chief of Operations for Jamaica, Mr. Lorenzo Escondeur, said that although the industry had made a remarkable recovery from the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, “tourism has not yet achieved its full transformational potential, and with the challenges that exist including environmental degradation, climate change impact, new disruptive technologies, and a rapid change in demand patterns,” it was necessary to reconsider tourism policies and investments, and the role of the public sector and multilateral organizations in the sector's development.

He stated that human activity and climate change threatened most of the country's biodiversity, “and if we do not take prompt action, some endemic animal and vegetation species might be lost forever, and Jamaica would lose its competitive edge for potential visitors.”

There was therefore a need for increased focus on nature preservation to permit the development of new tourism products and expand the tourism economic footprint beyond current major destinations.

Mr. Escondeur said working in close collaboration with the Jamaican government, the private sector, and civil society in such a strategic sector as tourism was crucial for implementing the Bank's mission of improving people's lives, and tourism was critical in the economic and social development of Jamaica.

Pre-pandemic, the travel and tourism contribution to Jamaica's Gross Domestic Product reached over 30% with the sector being about one-third of the total economy. Also, the tourism sector was directly or indirectly linked to around 30% of jobs and nearly 60% of total exports were driven by international visitor spending.

It was also necessary to build climate resilience by moving forward with tourism land-use planning by destination and developing a comprehensive and integrated coastal management framework to boost the sector's competitiveness and sustainability.

He indicated that the Inter-American Development Bank “would continue supporting the Jamaican government to design and implement an evidence-based strategy that will guide all public and private sector stakeholders into a new future.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Sunday, May 28, 2023: Coming out of the best winter tourist season ever, Jamaica is now set to achieve record visitor arrivals for the summer.

“As of May 10, 2023, the island has welcomed just over 1.5 million total visitors, with provisional gross earnings exceeding US$ 1.6 billion for the same period. The 2023 summer is gearing up to be the best summer in the history of tourism in Jamaica,” says Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett.

Already, 1.4 million seats have been secured, representing a 16% increase over the previous best in 2019. Jamaica’s main source market, the United States of America, has locked in 1.2 of these seats. “We are expecting a load factor of some 87.5%, which means that 1.2 million visitors will come to Jamaica over the summer period and will bring revenue of some US$1.5 billion just within that period of June to August,” says Mr Bartlett.

Travel bookings are currently showing a rise of 33% compared to summer 2022 and the anticipated boom is being weighed against Jamaica having welcomed approximately 3.3 million visitors for 2022/23 to register a remarkable recovery of earnings compared to pre-Covid earnings of 2019.

In the meantime, Minister Bartlett is also upbeat over the increasing number of celebrities flocking to Jamaica. “Making Jamaica their place of choice for a vacation is testimony to the post-Covid impression we have made and the appeal that we now have in the marketplace as well as confidence in what we offer as a leading destination,” he says.

The most recent celebrity to grace our  shores is American actress Angelina Jolie, who was spotted Saturday at the 15th Calabash International Literary Festival in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth, which has become a cultural mecca that attracts thousands of writers and literary enthusiasts from across the globe.

Another celebrity recently on the island was top U.S. rapper ‘2Chainz’ whose real name is Tauheed Epps. He stood out at a party at Elevate Lounge and Nightclub in Montego Bay Wednesday night for the launch of Mochafest Jamaica 2023.

Mocha Fest is an Afro-American and Afro-Caribbean destination festival brand that promotes freedom of self and expression and since 2014, has been creating life-changing vacation experiences for thousands of people across the world. The series of party events started as a single festival in Jamaica with only 200 people and has now grown to multiple destinations worldwide with events as large as 5,000 attendees.

‘2Chainz’ was joined by Senior Advisor and Strategist in the Ministry of Tourism, Delano Seiveright, other government officials and scores of largely American party vacationers. He has been sharing his time in Jamaica with his over 12 million Instagram followers, giving the country tremendous exposure.

‘2Chainz’ and Angelina Jolie join a slew of other celebrities, including Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau and his family; Senior US President Joe Biden administration Cabinet member and U.S. Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen; Maryland Governor Wes Moore; Hollywood screen actors Michael Douglas, his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones, John Amos and Tracee Ellis Ross; Nigerian Afrobeat mega-star Burna Boy as well as American music stars Dua Lipa, Cardi B, Offset, Rick Ross, Omarion and Chance the Rapper, who have made Jamaica their preferred vacation spot in recent months.

Meanwhile, capitalizing on the goodwill being generated, Minister Bartlett is gearing up to lead a high-profile team from the Ministry of Tourism to sure up business in the lucrative North American travel market.

Kingston, Jamaica; May 16, 2023: With the Jamaican tourism sector continuing on its robust growth trajectory for 2023, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has revealed that as of May 10, 2023, the island has welcomed just over 1.5 million total visitors, with provisional gross earnings exceeding US$ 1.6 billion for the same period.

Minister Bartlett made the announcement on the heels of the 41^st Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Barbados, where he received the President’s Award for Caribbean Excellence in Tourism. The tourism minister shared that the current year-to-date figures revealed that Destination Jamaica hit this target ahead of projections.

“Between January 1, 2023 and May 10, we received 1,586,303 total visitors, stopover and cruise, earning US$1.69 billion, putting our destination on par with 2019 record figures. We have seen steady growth in our arrivals and continued investment in the tourism sector, which is a tremendous achievement,” said Minister Bartlett.

The tourism minister stressed that strategic investments and resilience building were key areas of focus in sustaining the strong recovery of the tourism sector. He further cited intensified marketing efforts, increased room capacity and expanded airlift connectivity as critical drivers behind the boom in tourist arrivals. 

In this regard, Minister Bartlett stated: “To keep this growth on an upward trajectory, we continue to secure new air service with the addition of new routes by prestigious carriers such as American Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Arajet, and Edelweiss Airlines. Plus, we are expanding and modernizing Sangster International Airport and have approximately 8,000 new hotel rooms slated for construction over the next two to five years.”

Minister Bartlett highlighted that the Ministry of Tourism’s Blue Ocean Strategy as well as its Destination Assurance Framework and Strategy continue to influence the development of a more sustainable, resilient and diverse tourism product.

“Jamaica is leveraging key pillars for tourism that showcase the destination’s unique culture and heritage while simultaneously addressing the desire of today’s traveller to experience more than just sun, sea and sand. We need to carefully manage the industry through resilience building, so it can continually adapt to issues that may arise and put plans in place to protect it from potential future shocks,” noted Minister Bartlett.

Kingston, Jamaica; Tuesday, May 16, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, this morning departed the island to join global tourism leaders for the 118^th Session of the World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) Executive Council, which runs from May 16-18, in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Representatives from 159 member states will convene to discuss trends in international tourism, resilience building and tourism’s impact on economic and social development globally, among other issues.

Some critical agenda items include a status report on the establishment of the Task Force on “Redesigning Tourism for the Future”, a status report on the establishment of UNWTO Regional and Thematic Offices and a report on preparations for the 25^th session of UNWTO General Assembly later this year (October 16-20) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

“These meetings always provide a great opportunity to share best practices, build new relationships and strengthen existing partnerships. This session will also allow UNWTO member states to brainstorm ways we can reimagine tourism in a post-COVID-19 era, carefully manage our strong recovery and decide on a strategic path towards future-proofing the sector against various types of shocks,” noted the tourism minister.

Minister Bartlett’s schedule of activities will also include an Inter-Institutional Forum on Sustainable Tourism in the Dominican Republic and a thematic session entitled “New Narratives in Tourism”.  The latter event will show how tourism adapts its communication to the demands of an audience that is more technological, demanding and committed.  It is a platform to exchange ideas and convey the message of a more innovative, sustainable and people-centred tourism, through the integration of novel tools and concepts. Noted presenters include Travel Media Founder and Managing Director, Michael Collins;  Instagram’s Director of Public Policy, Ernest Voyard and Meta’s Director of  External Affairs, Sharon Yang.

The Executive Council is expected to propose themes and host countries for World Tourism Day 2024 and 2025 and select the place and dates of the next two sessions.

Minister Bartlett is being accompanied  by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Jennifer Griffith. 

He returns to Jamaica on Friday, May 19, 2023.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Monday, 15 May 2023: Caribbean insurance companies have been challenged to play a pivotal role in ensuring safety and security within the regional tourism industry.

Citing Jamaica’s tourism recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic as an example, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett said that during the pandemic the insurance sector was needed on board as a safety valve to give assurance to visitors that they had protection if anything happened when they arrived at the destination. This, he said, was integral to the early recovery of the industry.

Minister Bartlett’s position was stated yesterday (May 14) as he delivered the keynote address at the Hall of Fame Induction dinner of the 34^th Sales Congress of the Caribbean Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (CARAIFA), held at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa in Montego Bay.

“As the islands act urgently to integrate resilience as a core component of its tourism development agenda, Caribbean insurance companies can play a critical role in helping to protect the tourism sector in the face of future crises,” he said.

He listed a number of ways in which the insurance industry can help to contribute to tourism resilience, such as providing coverage for loss of income and property damage caused by a variety of risks, including natural disasters, pandemics or other disruptions; helping businesses and individuals accurately assess the risk associated with their activities and providing advice on the types of coverage that should be taken out; and increasing awareness of the importance of having adequate coverage in place by engaging in public education campaigns.

Mr. Bartlett suggested that the campaigns could include providing advice on best practices in risk management as well as making people aware of the consequences of not having adequate coverage in place and educating travellers who are unfamiliar with the risk they could be exposed to and what insurance coverage to look for.

He also stated that the insurance industry could help to contribute to tourism resilience by investing in disaster response and relief initiatives such as providing financial support for businesses and individuals affected by natural disasters or pandemic-related disruptions as well as aiding in rebuilding efforts.

Minister Bartlett noted that at last week’s Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) 41st Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Barbados, discussions took place on establishing a full pension plan across the region using as a model Jamaica’s ground-breaking comprehensive Tourism Workers Pension Scheme (TWPS), which involves two major insurance companies in the management and administration of the fund.

An important consideration is that “it has tremendous implications for capital formation across the Caribbean because there are one million workers in the tourism sector in the region; 643,000 of which are working directly in the industry and the others indirectly,” said Minister Bartlett, adding, “and if that pension plan is taken across the region as Jamaica has it, there is the potential to create a level of domestic saving, the size of which the region would never have seen” providing a pool of low-cost funds to build the Caribbean.

With Jamaica’s TWPS now fully operational, he said, “We now need a comprehensive health plan for the workers of the industry” and challenged the insurance sector “to craft an instrument that will enable a health security arrangement for the workers of the tourism industry in the Caribbean.”

With the theme for the CARAIFA sales congress focussing on resilience, Minister Bartlett also called on the region’s insurance companies “to build the human capital of our region.” He said, “Resilience has to come from knowledge, from building capacity for people to convert ideas into meaningful and practical application that will have a value and so we must build the capacity of our young people to think, not just to regurgitate information which they get by reading a text but learn to innovate.”

He, therefore, called on CARAIFA to work with the education system on a programme “to help to establish innovation incubators where young people can learn about financial administration, how to use their money properly and wisely, and learn what insurance is all about.”

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados; Wednesday, May 10, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has been recognized for his stellar contribution to the regional tourism industry. The Minister received the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s prestigious President’s Award for Caribbean Excellence in Tourism during the Travel Forum and Awards luncheon held at Sandals Royal Barbados yesterday (May 9).

“The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association is acutely aware that resilience strengthens Caribbean tourism, and it is a message that has reached all corners of the region and the world largely because of the efforts of one man, the Honourable Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s dynamic Minister of Tourism. This is one of the many reasons why we honour him today,” said President of the CHTA, Mrs. Nicola Madden-Greig.

One of Minister Bartlett’s notable international successes was the establishment of The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC), which assembles distinguished international experts to examine resilience from multiple viewpoints, a timely and much needed forum for the examination of the key elements needed to strengthen the region’s major economic driver, tourism.

“It is always good to be recognized for your hard work and dedication, but this award is extra special as it is coming from my regional partners who I have worked shoulder to shoulder with for many years to improve our tourism experience and ultimately arrivals and earnings,” said Minister Bartlett.

Mr. Bartlett was also cited as an advocate for harmonizing cooperation and collaboration among Caribbean countries and has called for a single use visa to encourage visitors to travel to multiple destinations in the region.

He has also encouraged the larger international airlines to dedicate more flights to the Caribbean. Stressing it was possible to compete as well as cooperate with each other, he coined the word “co-petition.”

“There is much more work to be done and I believe that the Caribbean is poised for even greater achievements in tourism,” added Minister Bartlett.

“Tourism in the Caribbean and Jamaica are that much better off for having an innovative thought leader like Minister Bartlett and we all wholeheartedly congratulate him,” said Donovan White, Director of Tourism.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados; Tuesday May 9, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has urged regional tourism stakeholders to redefine the industry in what can now be described as the new post-COVID era.

Speaking at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourist Association’s (CHTA) Travel Forum and Awards Luncheon today at Sandals Royal Barbados, Minister Bartlett said: “In this post-COVID era, we must as a region rethink and redefine the meaning of tourism if we are to maximize our earnings and growth. We must begin to appreciate the fact that tourism is so much more than hotels, cruise lines and attractions and that there are direct, indirect and induced economic benefits in the tourism value chain that can accelerate growth in the region.”

The CHTA Travel Forum, which was held under the theme, “Tourism the Key Driver of Generational Wealth for Caribbean Nationals” included Hon. Kenneth Bryan, Minister of Tourism and Transport, Cayman Islands, and Chairman, Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO); Hon. Ian Gooding-Edghill, Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Barbados, and Marc Melville, CEO, Chukka Caribbean.

“Tourism happens successfully because of all the sectors and subsectors that supply experiences, so there is a strong place for agriculture, technology, health and manufacturing and many more. The real wealth of tourism therefore lies in the capacity to supply on the demands of the industry,” added Minister Bartlett.

The Caribbean Travel Forum, held within the margins of CHTA Caribbean Travel Marketplace, is a new event focusing on the business of tourism in the Caribbean with specific emphasis on topics such as intra-Caribbean travel with a focus on air connectivity and multi-destination marketing, sustainability, technology innovations, labour market constraints and taxation.

“If 42% of people travel for just food, it means that suppliers of agricultural goods and services have the potential to really earn, and this is just one sector. We need to let everyone know that tourism is for them because once you have an idea you can convert that idea into tangible wealth,” Minister Bartlett noted.

The CHTA Travel Forum panel also looked at the impact of climate change and new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence on the tourism industry. Minister Bartlett in these discussions made another call for the establishment of a Resilience Fund that would allow every traveller to contribute a monetary sum towards their carbon footprints. He also embraced the new technologies that will shape tourism in the future by advocating for “training, training, training to ensure a better understanding to leverage them.”

The 41^st CHTA Caribbean Travel Marketplace, being held in Barbados from May 9-11, is the largest regional annual event, which brings together buyers and sellers of the region’s tourism products and services.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates; May 8, 2023: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that plans are afoot to facilitate tourism cooperation between Jamaica and Dubai following a meeting with H.E. Abdulla Al Saleh, Undersecretary of Foreign Trade and Industry in the Ministry of Economy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

They met recently at the UAE’s Ministry of Economy, which has oversight for tourism in the UAE, where they discussed areas for cooperation in tourism that will redound to the benefit of both countries and their citizens.

Minister Bartlett outlined that: “We concluded that Jamaica and Dubai can collaborate in tourism. Dubai will support us in terms of MICE market development, logistics and technology and we will reciprocate in terms of resilience and sustainability, the building out of human capital programmes, product development and marketing.”

In expressing his enthusiasm at the possibilities for collaboration in cruise tourism, Minister Bartlett noted that “Dubai Ports, one of the largest in the world with enormous capacity, is looking for partnerships across the world and Jamaica is a good place to start.”

A key matter that was also explored during the meeting was the possibility of establishing an outpost of the Jamaica-based Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) in the UAE. This would mark the centre’s latest satellite location, adding to its offices in countries including Kenya, Jordan and Canada.

The tourism minister indicated that further discussions will be held to formalise these arrangements through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) when both countries convene alongside other nations at COP 28 this November.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; May 8, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett will continue his push for the introduction of a multi-destination tourism framework within the region as he heads to Barbados for the annual Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace trade show. The highly anticipated event runs from May 9 to May 11, 2023.

Minister Bartlett has become the leading advocate for multi-destination tourism in the Caribbean, one of the major selling points he has been promoting regionally and globally.

He has renewed his call for the private sector to get involved. “Regional governments and the private sector need to collaborate more closely to develop multi-destination tourism and advance market integration by fostering and harmonizing legislation on air connectivity, visa facilitation, product development, promotion and human capital development,” he said.

“Jamaica has always played a leading role in the CHTA and coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year is even more special for our participation as our own Nicola Madden-Greig is the president with the responsibility of charting the course for the Caribbean moving forward,” added Minister Bartlett.

The schedule for the trade event will entail the participation of other Jamaicans during an innovative Caribbean Travel Forum and Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, May 9.

This forum is a new event for the CHTA and will focus on the business of tourism in the Caribbean with specific emphasis on topics such as intra-Caribbean travel relating to air connectivity and multi-destination marketing, sustainability, technology, labour market constraints and taxation.

CHTA President Nicola Madden-Greig will deliver her state of the region and industry address while Prime Minister of Barbados, Hon Mia Mottley will give the keynote address.

Minister Bartlett will participate in an in-depth panel discussion among regional Ministers of Tourism and private sector leaders on pressing issues affecting the business of tourism with emphasis on multi-destination marketing and new markets for Caribbean tourism.

Other panellists will include Minister of Tourism and Transport, Cayman Islands, and current Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Hon Kenneth Bryan; Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Barbados, Hon Ian Gooding-Edghill, and Chief Executive Officer of Chukka Caribbean, Marc Melville, with Mrs Madden-Greig as moderator.

Another panel discussion will focus on responsible and resilience tourism: “Positive Mind Change = Positive Climate Change.” It will explore impactful and innovative ideas as well as solutions to drive responsible and resilient tourism with an emphasis on human capital development.

The session will be moderated by General Manager, Jamaica Inn and Chairperson, Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST), Kyle Mais.

Other topics for discussion include technology and its impact on Caribbean tourism and the impact and state of artificial intelligence (AI) in the hospitality industry.

The CHTA Awards Luncheon recognizing Destination Resilience and Caribbean Icons of Hospitality will close off the forum allowing participants to prepare for the CHTA Marketplace official opening, followed by two packed days of back-to-back meetings. Minister Bartlett’s slate of activities kick off with a Jamaica Press Conference on Wednesday, May 10 and includes meetings with prospective investors, participation in the CHTA Marketplace sessions, and the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the CHTA and the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC).

Mr Bartlett, who is being accompanied by Director of Tourism, Donovan White, returns to Jamaica on Friday, May 12.

Kingston, Jamaica; Thursday, May 4, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has welcomed the announcement by low-cost Norwegian airline Norse Atlantic Airways that it will expand its services to the Caribbean to include Jamaica this winter season. 

“This service is coming at an opportune time as we seek to diversify the options available to our visitors from the UK, which is our largest European market. Norse will provide flights at a reasonable price point that will certainly encourage more arrivals to Destination Jamaica, moving us closer to our target of 5 million annual visitors by 2025,” noted Minister Bartlett.

Norse announced on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, plans to begin the operation of four flights per week to Montego Bay from October 29 and three flights per week to Kingston from October 31, out of the London Gatwick International Airport in the United Kingdom.

Bjorn Tore Larsen, Chief Executive Officer of Norse Atlantic Airways has underscored that the introduction of such new flights from London Gatwick will enable more travellers to experience destinations at lower fares, adding that those wishing to reunite with friends and family will have greater choice during this traditionally high demand travel period.

In lauding the move, Minister Bartlett described it as a major boost to efforts by the Ministry of Tourism, the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), and various travel partners to improve affordable air connectivity between Jamaica and its traditional and non-traditional source markets.

The tourism minister also noted that further discussions are ongoing with other air carriers to establish direct routes to Jamaica, to foster continued growth in arrivals and tourism earnings.