KINGSTON, Jamaica, Tuesday, April 11, 2023: Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett is currently in Washington D.C. for a series of high-level meetings, over the next four days, with international organizations and tourism partners.

Foremost on Minister Bartlett’s compact itinerary is his participation in the 5th Special Meeting of the OAS Inter-American Committee on Tourism (CITUR), which he chairs.  CITUR is the most prestigious tourism body in the Americas. It lends continuity to dialogue on partnerships for development in tourism, follows up on the mandates issued at the ministerial level, and identifies multilateral cooperation initiatives.

Also of primary importance is his participation in a review of climate finance arising from decisions taken nearly half a year ago at COP27 at which the crucial role of multilateral development banks was front and centre. Minister Bartlett will join a panel of distinguished speakers who will take stock of climate finance, the role of MDBs and the private sector and look ahead to the next major climate summit COP28, under the theme, “Paris Agreement: Progress or Prevarification?”.  

This panel discussion is part of the 2023 Global Inclusive Growth Summit, which has assembled a dynamic group of U.S. and global leaders for action-oriented discussions on national and international issues against the acknowledged background of a turbulent economic, environmental, and human context.  Private sector, social impact, and government leaders will partner in new ways on meaningful solutions and approaches. As a featured speaker, Minister Bartlett will share the spotlight with Ilan Goldfajn, President, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); Afsaneh Beschloss, Founder and CEO, RockCreek and His Excellency Majid Al-Suwaidi, Director General, COP28.

The Summit runs alongside the 2023 Spring Meetings and other related ancillary meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group, taking place currently until April 16, 2023, in Washington. Minister Bartlett will be Jamaica’s representative at these meetings.

Among Mr. Bartlett’s other official engagements will be meetings with representatives from George Washington University, Chemonics International, Paramount Pictures and Salamander Hotels and Resorts.

Minister Bartlett returns to the island on Saturday, April 15, 2023.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Tuesday, April 4, 2023: Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett and his South African counterpart, Hon. Patricia de Lille, met yesterday (April 3) to discuss building a cooperation framework to make tourism for both countries a key driver of economic development.

“Jamaica welcomes the potential for collaboration, particularly in the field of tourism. This is an industry that can be transformative, socially and economically, so we want to leverage tourism for the full benefit of our respective countries.  Both Jamaica and South Africa are leaders in sustainable tourism, so together we have a lot of ideas and best practices to share,” noted Minister Bartlett.

The tourism ministers met on the margins of the African Tourism Investment Summit, currently underway in Cape Town, South Africa, under the theme: “Revitalizing Investment in Sustainable Tourism on the African Continent”, where Mr. Bartlett participated in a ministerial roundtable with government ministers, finance executives and administrators from South Africa, Botswana, Spain and Sierra Leone.

The two nations also agreed to further cooperation in the areas of human capital development, particularly training, and the building out of investment options to have South African investors look at product development in Jamaica. Minister Bartlett said noted, “Opportunities abound for investment in Jamaica’s tourism industry, so we welcome this interest from South Africa”.

With regard to air connectivity, the tourism ministers discussed prospects for introducing new flight services between the two counties. “South African Airlines, Africa’s leading airline, is currently focused on continental Africa.  However, post-COVID, the airline intends to re-enter the US and UK markets.  With our airline partner, Delta, flying directly into Cape Town both airlines can codeshare to facilitate the movement of traffic from South Africa through Atlanta to Kingston and Montego Bay,” Minister Bartlett explained.

“I look forward to building out the relationship with tour operators and travel agents in South Africa to get the tourism traffic moving,” he added. The African market of 1.3 billion people is being eyed as the next big visitor source market for Jamaica as the industry seeks to diversify beyond traditional markets in North America and Europe.

Ministers Bartlett and de Lille also discussed establishing a satellite Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) at the University of Johannesburg.  Mr. Bartlett noted that the University of the West Indies, Mona, where the GTRCMC is headquartered, and the University of Johannesburg “have already forged an academic partnership so this will be a good fit. It will pave the way for the two institutions to work together to develop policy and conduct relevant research on destination preparedness, management and recovery.”  The centre will serve Southwest Africa.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Tuesday, April 4, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has reiterated his commitment to strengthening relations between the Caribbean and Africa. “The Caribbean has a golden opportunity to work together in this new mode of ‘co-petion’ that is driving the way forward for tourism collaboration.  And the opportunity to become the bridgehead for Africa to the markets of the Americas looms greatly,” the tourism minister stated.

Speaking yesterday (April 3) at a Ministerial Roundtable at the African Tourism Investment Summit in Cape Town, South Africa, Minister Bartlett said, “I think that it is a wonderful opportunity for a reverse diaspora experience where we, from the new world, can give back to Africa based on our expertise and our investment resources in building the tourism that the Caribbean has become very famous and proficient in delivering. This is our chance to give back to Africa and tourism can be the vehicle.”

The Ministerial Roundtable, titled: “Developing a Sustainable Tourism Industry in Africa by Integrating Cultural, Environment, Good Governance and Social Concerns,” included presentations from government ministers, finance executives and administrators from South Africa, Botswana, Spain and Sierra Leone.

The African market of 1.3 billion people is being eyed as the next big source market for tourists to Jamaica as the industry seeks to diversify beyond traditional markets in North America and Europe. In furtherance of this objective, exploratory talks have been held with representatives of Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Rwanda Air concerning regular air service between Africa and Jamaica.  “This will not only open up the African Market to the Caribbean but, also, Jamaica will become the gateway by which persons in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean may travel to the African continent,” Minister Bartlett stated.

There has also been extensive cooperation between Jamaica and Africa in the era of tourism resilience. In February, Jamaica hosted an African Caribbean Tourism Summit as part of the historic Global Tourism Resilience Conference in Kingston.  In addition, the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC), which is headquartered in Kingston, is looking to expand its satellite network in Africa.  Currently, there is one centre in Africa, which is located at Kenyatta University in Kenya. However, there have been initial talks with Nigeria and Botswana.

The African Tourism Investment Summit, being held from April 3-5, 2023, attracts hundreds of ministers, mayors, investors, private equity firms, venture capitalists, decision makers, international buyers and travel professionals to focus on African tourism, investment trends, industry challenges and opportunities. The event is part of Africa Travel Week.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Monday, April 3, 2022:  Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett will today (April 3) join government ministers, finance executives and administrators from South Africa, Botswana, Spain and Sierra Leone on a Ministerial Roundtable titled: “Developing a Sustainable Tourism Industry in Africa by Integrating Cultural, Environment, Good Governance and Social Concerns”. The roundtable is one of the highlights of the African Tourism Investment Summit being held from April 3-5, 2023, in Cape Town, South Africa, under the theme: “Revitalizing Investment in Sustainable Tourism on the African Continent”.

Minister Bartlett, who left the island on Saturday (April 1), has been invited to speak at the highly anticipated summit in his capacity as a well-respected global thought leader on tourism resilience and development. The event is also an opportunity for the tourism minister to explore expansion of the Global Tourism Resilience & Crisis Management Centre’s (GTRCMC) satellite network in Africa, enhance cooperation in the areas of travel and hospitality between Jamaica and South Africa, and engage with the Ministers of Tourism of several African countries who will be attending the summit.

“The Government of Jamaica has been actively working to strengthen ties between Jamaica and the continent of Africa in the areas of travel, trade and investment. From a tourism perspective, Africa is the new frontier and Jamaica and, in fact, the wider Caribbean, are particularly interested in tapping into this new market.  Another important area of cooperation is tourism resilience. We already have a GTRCMC satellite centre in Kenya and we look forward to expanding this important Africa Network,” Minister Bartlett noted. 

“With the strong historical and cultural association between Jamaica and Africa, it is strategic to collaborate and strengthen our tourism cooperation. The summit will provide this opportunity,” he added.

The African Tourism Investment Summit attracts hundreds of ministers, mayors, investors, private equity firms, venture capitalists, decision makers, international buyers and travel professionals to focus on African tourism, investment trends, industry challenges and opportunities. The event is part of Africa Travel Week.

Minister Bartlett will return to the island on April 7, 2023.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Monday, April 3, 2023:  Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has thrown down the gauntlet against disorderly behaviour, especially in resort areas. “I want to say very loudly that Destination Assurance is fully predicated on public order. And the Ministry of Tourism and the tourism sector stand squarely behind the Ministry of National Security to secure and ensure public order in the public spaces of Jamaica,” he declared.

The Minister stressed, “We repudiate and we absolutely have disdain for a view or a practice, in fact a philosophy,  that suggests that because of class, colour, race, creed or economic station, you should be excused from good public conduct.”

His comments to the St. James Destination Assurance Council (DAC) at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on Thursday, March 30, 2023, drew sustained applause from the crowd. “I believe that Jamaica’s future is doomed if we have, on any side, political or otherwise, religious or otherwise, purveyors of thought that continue to give the impression that you must be excused because you’re poor, for poor behaviour and for disruptive and disorderly conduct,” the Tourism Minister continued.

Minister Bartlett said no argument about the historic process “and the fact that we are a creature of some historic experience should excuse us from the responsibility to ensure that each and every individual has the right to access public space with freedom and peace.”

Minister Bartlett said people travel to fulfil the five passions points of food, shopping, health and wellness, entertainment and sports, and knowledge; however, there are elements of assurance that a destination must give to a visitor to ensure confidence to visit, stay and return after their vacation.  

On the question of harassment, he said people want to know that when they move around, they can do so with confidence, ease and respect for their rights and their person. They also want to be assured that they will not be abused either because of their class, colour, race or their orientation.

He said Destination Assurance, therefore, calls for a team of competent people to ensure that the touch points that will enable a visitor to have a safe, secure and seamless vacation, are in place. Tourism of itself could not do it, said Minister Bartlett, “because we don't exist as an entity unto ourselves. We only exist because all the key players in these many activities that I mentioned are doing a good job, and that is very critical.”

Accompanied by the Minister of National Security, Hon. Horace Chang,  representatives of the Ministry of Tourism and its public bodies as well as the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, Urban Development Corporation, St. James Municipal Corporation and the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Minister Bartlett undertook a marine and land tour of Montego Bay prior to the DAC meeting.

The boat toured the coastline from Pier1 to Dead End Beach, where there are plans to construct a boardwalk.  There was also a walk-through of Montego Bay’s newest mixed-use commercial development – the US$10 million Harbour City complex now under construction. The complex, which is slated  to be completed in June of this year, will comprise 54 shops, including restaurants and studio apartments for Airbnb rental. It will also be Montego Bay’s first commercial complex with roof parking and a sky pool. The officials also visited the Old Fort and Montego Bay craft markets, the Cultural Centre and other sections of downtown Montego Bay.

The tourism capital is also to benefit from the Tourism Product Development Company’s (TPDCo) spruce up program. TPDCo will be working with the security and fire services as well as the municipal corporation to clean and prepare areas that could become centres of excellence. There are also plans to incentivize users of public spaces, commercial and otherwise, to ensure the creation of a culture of public order within the tourism spaces of Montego Bay.

The tour is part of an islandwide destination assurance drive by the Ministry to ensure that Jamaica’s tourism product remains first class and that the country can maintain its competitive advantage in the global marketplace.

NEGRIL, Hanover, Monday, March 27, 2023: The Ministry of Tourism has begun national public consultations ahead of presenting its Destination Assurance Framework and Strategy (DAFS) to Parliament for approval as a White Paper.

Destination Assurance is seen by Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett as key to the future of Jamaica’s tourism success. “It is a promise to visitors that assures an authentic, safe and seamless vacation experience, which is respectful to the community and environment,” he stated. The strategy is the blueprint that will guide the Ministry and our partners to ensure continuous improvement in the delivery and management of quality throughout the tourism value chain.

The first set of consultations took place in Negril at two meetings on Thursday, March 23, 2023.  First, with members of the Negril Destination Assurance Council, tourism stakeholders, and public and private partners at the Boardwalk Village followed by a town hall meeting with members of the public from Hanover and Westmoreland at the Negril Community Centre.

Referring to lessons taught by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Bartlett said, “We are looking at the holistic approach to tourism and a big part of it is that people travel to enable a high level of happiness and satisfaction. They go to destinations where they feel safe, secure and they have a seamless experience.”

He said approval of the White Paper “will make Jamaica the first country in the world to have a Destination Assurance Policy” and the consultation was towards that objective “because that policy can’t be promulgated without the input of you who are the players.”

Stressing that they needed to appreciate their role and responsibility in delivering on Jamaica’s brand promise, Minister Bartlett underscored, “We don’t want anyone anywhere in the world to second guess the integrity of the promise that when you come to Jamaica you will have a safe, secure, seamless vacation.”

In that vein, he said public order was critical “because tourism cannot function in chaos and disorder” and everyone had a role to play. “I think the country has to get to the point where we recognize the importance of public order, not just as a security requirement but as a means of enabling a stable and cohesive society where people feel free to move around, to operate without being molested and unduly disturbed by their neighbour,” declared Minister Bartlett.

He said this was not about tourism but about Jamaicans and their neighbours having a society “in which the rules that govern how we interact are respected and maintained.”

The Destination Assurance Policy will be placing special focus on reducing instances of visitor harassment and poor solid waste management practices. With its promulgation, the Ministry of Tourism through its relevant public bodies intends to launch a programme in each resort area for the re-socialization and skills upgrading of informal operators in the tourism sector and the formalization of the activities of persons who are trained and empowered with skills.

The strategic push will be supported by a strong legislative agenda, including amending the Tourist Board Act, the Travel Agency Act and their accompanying regulations. “In this way, the Government will modernize the provisions of these Acts, strengthen enforcement provisions, and improve our tourism product,” said Minister Bartlett.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Friday, March 24, 2023: Jamaica's vibrant cultural capital, Kingston, beat out 152 entrants from 28 nations to be selected Best Creative Destination for 2023 by the jury of the 9th Creative Tourism Awards.

The award was recently presented to the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, by Caroline Couret, Director of the Creative Tourism Network®, on behalf of the International Committee, on the margins of ITB Berlin, the world's leading travel trade show, in Germany.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett described the win as a major accolade for Kingston, which has steadily been gaining traction as a cultural and music destination. “Kingston is the unquestioned cultural heart of Jamaica and the Caribbean. We have been taking aggressive steps to position Kingston as a vibrant urban tourism destination. As a result, we are seeing a growing number of travellers choosing Kingston for its many culinary, music, art, sport and cultural offerings,” noted the Tourism Minister. “There is a good reason why Kingston was designated a UNESCO Creative City,” he added.

Minister Bartlett heaped praises on the Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Senator Delroy Williams and the wider Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) for the excellent job they are doing to transform Kingston into a Destination City. “They have been doing a phenomenal job of positioning Kingston as an appealing destination city that attracts visitors through its history, culture and entertainment. Visitors get to experience a Jamaica that is so much more than sun, sea and sand,” said the Minister.

Created by the Creative Tourism Network®, an organization for the development and promotion of creative tourism worldwide, the Creative Tourism Awards aim to reward companies, projects, and destinations worldwide that encourage all forms of artistic and creative tourism. The jury that selected Kingston for the award comprises global experts in the fields of tourism marketing and creative economy.

In recognizing Jamaica’s capital as a Best Creative Destination, the jury highlighted the following values of Kingston:

·         The support for artists, artisans, creatives and entrepreneurs in developing their practice and showcasing their work in a sustainable way.

·         The empowerment of persons from marginalized communities to leverage their creativity, be a part of the creative development of Downtown Kingston and build profitable businesses.

·         The effort to regenerate the urban environment of Downtown Kingston, using art to improve the space in which people live, work and play as well as where they think, invent and create.

·         The approach focusing not only on the destination but also on the people to make the travel experience more authentic and rewarding.

The Kingston nomination was submitted by Kingston Creative, a non-profit organization whose primary goal is to transform Downtown Kingston into a city tourism destination using art, culture and technology.

Plans Too for Lucea

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Saturday, March 24, 2023: Both the Hanover parish capital, Lucea, and the popular resort of Negril are being earmarked for major development to enhance them as tourist towns.

With key hotel developments currently underway east and west of Lucea, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says much is in store that will make this area rival other existing resorts.

Construction is underway on the 950-room expansion of Grand Palladium Resorts as well as the new 2000-room Princess Jamaica Resort. Also, work is expected to commence shortly on construction of the Viva Wyndham Resort in Hanover.

Further details on these developments will be known when Minister Bartlett makes his Sectoral Presentation in Parliament on April 18. Meanwhile, he has also signalled that one of Lucea’s historical treasures, Fort Charlotte, is to receive attention and play an important role in marine life in the west.

On Thursday (March 23), Minister Bartlett, accompanied by Permanent Secretary Jennifer Griffith, Senior Advisor and Strategist Delano Seiveright and other senior personnel from the Ministry, toured the two hotels and the old fort from which an aged canon seemingly stands guard over the town.

The two-day tour of tourism entities and attractions in Hanover and Westmoreland is part of an island wide destination assurance drive to ensure that Jamaica delivers on its brand promise to visitors, which assures an authentic, safe, and seamless experience that is respectful towards the community and the environment.

Minister Bartlett echoed announcements made by Prime Minister Andrew Holness in his budget presentation, noting that “Negril is one of our premier tourist destinations and in need of a major injection of resource support to realize its full potential. Within the upcoming fiscal year, the Government will present a comprehensive development plan which will include an international airport, a public beach park, a craft village and, with the help of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a restored Royal Palm Reserve.”

As a fast-growing town, Negril is without any major commercial, industrial or civic complexes and “the Prime Minister has tasked the Factories Corporation of Jamaica (FCJ) with developing an urban centre for the resort town like that of Morant Bay. Land strategically located in the centre of the town has been identified and consultations started with the relevant stakeholders regarding its use. Soon Negril will be the jewel of Jamaica and the Caribbean,” added the tourism minister.

Additional infrastructure developments that will benefit Negril tremendously are the recently announced bypass road arrangements from Hopewell and Lucea, which will ease traffic congestion and make for faster travel time, as well as significant upgrades to the water and sewage systems.  These major projects will start this financial year.

DISCOVERY BAY, St Ann, Jamaica; March 20, 2023: With the local hotel room-stock set to grow by 20,000 new rooms over the next five to ten years, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has welcomed a resurgence of the villas sub-sector.

Crediting the COVID-19 pandemic for bringing about a revival in villas for visitor accommodation, Mr. Bartlett said “Jamaica is now leading the way in providing new and exciting villa experiences for tourists across the region.”

His disclosure came as he gave the keynote address at the official opening of the $1.3 billion Bengal Cove Villas development in Discovery Bay over the weekend. He told the directors that he was very proud of what they were doing and that “I have more of these types of properties to open along this coast all the way to St Mary.”

Dubbing the north-eastern coastal region development as “the Jamaican Riviera”, he said discussions were underway “with some other people who are coming up with some other programmes for places like Robin’s Bay and Oracabessa and we’re going to be encouraging more and more Jamaicans to participate in this very important sub-sector of the industry.”

Mr Bartlett told the directors of Bengal Cove Villas that they were part of a growing segment of the accommodation sub-sector in Jamaica, citing that last year 29 percent of the approximately 3 million stopover visitors that came to Jamaica were in what he termed “the shared economy” pioneered by entities such as Airbnb.

He also underscored the democratization of the accommodation sub-sector and that a large group of people with varied size homes, apartments and villas “are now inserted in the tourism value chain, broadening therefore the range of participants in the industry, but more importantly providing slices of the pie for a larger number of Jamaican people.”

In a word of advice to persons venting concerns, he implored them to band together to reap greater rewards from the industry.

Regarding hotel room-stock, Minister Bartlett said Jamaica was going into a very important phase in its development as a country in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) “and right now on the cards, 20,000 new hotel rooms are to be built in Jamaica over the next five to ten years.”

He expressed concerns however, at approvals taking long periods to be finalized and underscored that “we need to develop that efficiency in construction that allows for us to start and complete projects in a time frame that allows for a fiscal cycle that is manageable.” While stating that the rules must be adhered to, he said central to this was the development orders, requirements for the administrative arrangements and the applications when they come in, “but more importantly we have to be more pointed in terms of the requirements to fulfil what is needed to enable fast approval.”

Minister Bartlett also implored those persons who he said might be a little anxious “and perhaps even a little disingenuous in terms of their comments about how things are going, to realize that the achievements of Jamaica and the growth that we have enabled did not come without some disruptions, and human capital disruptions is part of it.”

In this regard he pointed to the global tourism and travel industry losing seven million workers during the pandemic and the difficulty being faced in getting them back.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Wednesday, March 8, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, was today honoured with a “Lifetime Achievement Award For Promotion of Sustainable Travel & Tourism” by the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) International Travel Awards. The coveted award was presented to Minister Bartlett at the PATWA World Tourism & Aviation Leaders’ Summit at ITB Berlin in Germany.

The PATWA International Travel Awards recognize individuals and organizations that have excelled and are involved in the promotion of tourism from different sectors of the travel trade such as aviation, hotels, travel agencies, tour operators, destinations, government bodies, tourism ministries and other service providers related directly or indirectly to the industry.

Thanking PATWA for the recognition, Minister Bartlett said, “I am honoured and humbled to receive this Lifetime Achievement Award. I am passionate about tourism and I am equally passionate about the sustainable development of tourism.  It is the only way that the industry can be leveraged as a catalyst for economic growth and the transformation of communities and nations.” He added that: “For long-term success tourism must be economically viable, socially inclusive and environmentally friendly. This award is proof that my advocacy is getting traction and has not fallen on deaf ears.”

As one of the world’s leading tourism ministers, Mr. Bartlett has become a powerful voice and tireless advocate for global tourism resilience and sustainability. Most recently, he was inducted into the Global Tourism Hall of Fame and received the Travel Pulse award for Global Tourism Innovation.

Additionally, he is the Founder and Co-Chair of the Global Tourism Resilience & Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) headquartered at the University of the West Indies, Mona, which is dedicated to conducting policy-relevant research and analysis on destination preparedness, management and recovery due to disruptions and crises that impact tourism.

Under his leadership, tourism has been positioned as a catalyst for sustainable and inclusive growth, through job creation, Public Private Partnerships (PPPS), wealth creation and community transformation. Minister Bartlett also co-edited the book: Tourism Resilience and Recovery for Global Sustainability and Development: Navigating COVID-19 and the Future,’ with GTRCMC Executive Director, Professor Lloyd Waller.

Minister Bartlett is currently attending ITB Berlin, the world´s biggest travel show and convention, which attracts thousands of tourism professionals and key players from the global travel industry. The event runs from March 7-9, 2023 under the theme: “Open for Change.”

In keeping with continued efforts for tourism recovery, while in Germany, Minister Bartlett and a high-level Ministry of Tourism delegation will hold bilateral meetings with other government representatives as well as meet with key tourism partners and investors.

The Minister will be the keynote speaker and a panellist during the “New Narratives for work in travel” ITB session. He will also give the keynote address at a Global Travel & Tourism Resilience Council event, titled: “Celebrate Global Tourism Resilience Day.”