Tourism Minister Also Set to Travel to Toronto and New York

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Tuesday, September 30, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, left the island today (September 30) for London, England, where he will participate in a series of high-level meetings and events at Jamaica Travel Market 2025, which runs from October 1–3, 2025.

The Jamaica Travel Market is a dedicated travel trade event organized by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) to facilitate business between Jamaican tourism suppliers and international buyers, fostering growth and investment in Jamaica's vibrant tourism sector.

Minister Bartlett’s schedule in London will include back-to-back B2B meetings with buyers and Jamaican suppliers on Thursday, October 2, before joining partners for a networking luncheon. Later that afternoon, he will hold talks with Jules Ugo, CEO of W Communications, Jamaica’s UK-based public relations agency. This will be followed by a major engagement with the TUI Group, where Bartlett will meet Phillip Iveson, Director of Accommodation Product & Sourcing for Markets + Airline, and Jill Thompson, Head of Product & Ancillaries, TUI UK, to explore growth opportunities for Jamaica in the UK and wider European markets. The evening will close with a cocktail reception and the prestigious Platinum Celebration Awards Dinner.

On Friday, October 3, the Minister’s agenda continues with additional B2B meetings, before receiving an update from the Director of Tourism on Jamaica’s future outlook. He will then engage with partners over a Jamaican Barbecue luncheon, before departing the tradeshow later that afternoon.

“The UK remains one of our strongest source markets,” Minister Bartlett said ahead of his departure. “Jamaica Travel Market gives us the chance to strengthen relationships with our partners, showcase the resilience of our tourism sector, and ensure that Jamaica stays top of mind for travellers,” he added. 

Following his London engagements, Minister Bartlett will travel to Toronto, Canada, on October 5, to attend the Jamaica Tourist Board’s Edith Baxter Memorial Awards Gala and conduct several key media engagements. “The Canadian market continues to be vital for us. My discussions with media and partners in Toronto will focus on expanding airlift and positioning Jamaica as the destination of choice for Canadian visitors,” he noted.

The final leg of the Minister’s travels will take him to New York on October 10 for the American Friends of Jamaica’s (AFJ) Hummingbird Gala at The Plaza Hotel. Two distinguished Jamaicans will be honoured: Jason Henzell, Founder of BREDS Foundation and Chairman of Jakes Hotel, who will receive the International Humanitarian Award, and Josef “Joe” Bogdanovich, Founder and CEO of DownSound Entertainment Limited, who will receive the International Achievement Award.

“It will be a proud moment to celebrate the impact of two Jamaicans who have made tremendous contributions in tourism, entertainment and community development,” Minister Bartlett said.

The Tourism Minister is expected to return to the island on Sunday, October 12, 2025.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Tuesday, September 30, 2025: Promoting Jamaica as a ‘love destination,’ the Ministry of Tourism is seeking to increase the island’s share of the lucrative global wedding services market, which is projected to reach US$368 billion by 2030. 

With destination weddings comprising one of the fastest growing segments and increasing by 40% over the last five years, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett is looking to professional wedding planners for support stressing that “it is time for us to start positioning ourselves to secure a bigger share of that US$368 billion.” He wants weddings to double their current contribution to arrivals and earnings in Jamaica.

Minister Bartlett outlined that Jamaica is targeting 8 million visitors by 2030 and being “confident that we are well positioned so to do,” he expressed his belief that “this trend presents an unprecedented opportunity for our tourism sector to diversify and strengthen our economic foundation, while showcasing the natural beauty and cultural richness that make Jamaica truly special.”

Speaking at the just concluded two-day Jamaica Bridal Expo at the Montego Bay Convention Centre over the weekend, Minister Bartlett told bridal suppliers, travel advisors, tour operators and trade media that their expertise, creativity and commitment to excellence would determine how successful the country capitalizes on the growing market.

“We recognize that success in the destination wedding market requires seamless collaboration … and this expo provides the perfect platform for forging those partnerships and creating the comprehensive packages that modern couples demand,” he told the attendees.

Minister Bartlett said the Bridal Expo was a celebration of love, the human intelligence that cannot be replicated by mechanical intelligence “because love is born of emotion and only human beings, not machines, can have emotions.” He told the destination wedding promoters that “we want the world to know that Jamaica is the place where that vibe is, where that emotion is the strongest.”

Emphasizing that “we want to drive weddings as a major part of the offerings in Jamaica,” Mr. Bartlett told the bridal expo audience that like them, Jamaica was looking beyond their source market of North America and was going heavily into India, Central and South America.

Minister Bartlett promised that “Jamaica is going to develop an unmatched wedding advantage and we’ll be looking closer at how to incentivize that area and how to provide more support for our partners who are in the wedding business.”

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Monday, September 29, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that the Tourism Action Club (TAC) initiative in high schools and tertiary institutions locally is being leveraged as an important platform to foster human capital development in the tourism industry, especially in the areas of management and customer service.

Minister Bartlett has underscored that TAC students have access to programmes offered through the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation (JCTI), and once successful, they are certified by the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) with an internationally recognised Associate Degree in Customer Service as well as the HEART/NSTA Sixth Form Pathway II Programme (SFP2P). 

The Minister made the announcement while addressing over 230 TAC members from some 24 clubs across the island, during the World Tourism Day 2025 Youth Forum at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on Friday, September 26, 2025. Minister Bartlett said “all of this is to build out a new cadre of tourism workers with the capacity and stackable credentials to take their place in the highest levels of employment.” 

Mr. Bartlett said while the forum was designed to commemorate World Tourism Day, (September 27) under the theme ‘Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,’ “I want you to focus a lot more on transformation because it is the final product which enables us to grasp the real importance and value of the industry itself.” He awakened the minds of the students to the fact that Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril were all once sleepy villages before tourism transformed them into the important and bustling tourism and commercial centres they are today. He also cited Treasure Beach and the importance of Falmouth because of cruise tourism.

“In terms then of the geophysical areas and the transformational power of tourism, that’s evident, but what does it do for people,” Minister Bartlett questioned, as he went on to point out that “it creates wealth and it allows you to create ideas into meaningful, practical elements and products that have a value and a price.”

He maintained that given Jamaica’s assets, “our job must be to build the capacity of our people to add value and to do more and to achieve more, and that’s what our new transformational programme of ‘Local First’ is intending to do.”

Minister Bartlett said it was recognized that sustainability was only meaningful if buttressed by three critical elements which he listed as: a full recognition of the value of the environment and enabling it to be a source of the well-being of people; conversion of the assets of the environment into economic realities for prosperity; and the creation of a community that is conducive to growth and development, while fostering the continued well-being of the people.

He underscored therefore, that “in talking about sustainability and transformation, we’re talking about the environment, the people and the communities.” 

State Minister Hamilton to Chair New Task Force and Lead Cruise Tourism Portfolio

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Thursday, September 25, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, today announced the establishment of a high-level Local First Task Force, a new strategic body that will spearhead efforts to build local capacity, strengthen linkages, and ensure that the benefits of tourism are more inclusively shared across the Jamaican economy.

The announcement came during a one-day strategic pre-retreat meeting of the Ministry of Tourism’s heads of divisions and public bodies, where Minister Bartlett commended the senior team for their continued hard work and outlines the charge for the new term.

“Jamaica is at a critical inflection point in tourism. With stopover arrivals nearly matching our population size, we must reconfigure to ensure that local stakeholders have the capacity and opportunity to thrive,” said Minister Bartlett. “The Local First Task Force is designed to strengthen our people, empower our communities, and create an industry of makers, not takers—ensuring that the wealth of tourism is retained within Jamaica’s economy,” he added.

Minister Bartlett further outlined that the Task Force will be chaired by newly appointed Minister of State, Hon. Tova Hamilton, who will also lead the Ministry’s cruise tourism portfolio and oversee legislative and regulatory review.

Regarding this mandate, Minister Bartlett expressed, “I am delighted to welcome Minister Hamilton to her first major assignment. She brings strong political acuity and deep legal expertise that will be invaluable in shaping a framework of order, structure and innovation for Jamaica’s tourism sector. I look forward to her leadership in ensuring local stakeholders are placed at the heart of our growth agenda.”

Responding to the announcement, Minister Hamilton affirmed her commitment to the task ahead: “My role is not to disrupt or duplicate; it is to complement the agenda that has been set. The work that has been programmed will continue, and my focus will be on adding value, where my specific responsibilities can advance the vision of a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient tourism sector. My assigned focus areas are clear and targeted, designed to add value in ways that strengthen our industry, empower our people and safeguard Jamaica’s reputation as a premier destination.”

The Local First Task Force will comprise: Hon. Tova Hamilton – Chair; Professor Lloyd Waller, Executive Director, Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC); Jessica Shannon, Chief Experience Officer (CXO) at Sandals Resorts International; Wilfred Baghaloo, Partner, Deals, PwC Southern Caribbean; John Byles, Executive Deputy Chairman of Chukka Caribbean Adventures; Astley Henry, Senior Director of Strategic Planning, Performance and Project Management at the Ministry of Tourism.

The Task Force will be supported by a pool of senior tourism officials, including: The Minister of Tourism, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Jennifer Griffith and the Heads/Executive Directors of all tourism public bodies.

Minister Bartlett explained that the focus will be on creating new frameworks for financing, regulation, and capacity building to strengthen Jamaica’s tourism value chain. This includes expanding the role of the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation (JCTI) to prepare the workforce, developing innovative financing mechanisms for small and medium tourism enterprises, and reinforcing Jamaica’s reputation as a safe, secure and seamless destination.

“Our sector has shown resilience, bouncing back to achieve nearly 4.5 million visitors and US$4.6 billion in earnings just three years after the pandemic. With the leadership of Minister Hamilton and the collaboration of our public and private partners, I am confident that Jamaica will surpass its ambitious goals for sustainable, inclusive, and transformative tourism growth,” Bartlett said.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Wednesday, September 24, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has announced plans to fuel major expansion in the island’s vibrant tourism sector as the Ministry of Tourism seeks to boost Jamaica’s share of the lucrative global tourism market.

In a wide-ranging address to local and foreign media during a special Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) 2025 media breakfast, at Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort & Spa yesterday (September 23), Minister Bartlett articulated the overall strategy to build on the successes of the industry to date, and plans now in train to achieve robust growth.

Focus was placed on the critical areas of human capital development, boosting safety through destination assurance, expansion of the villa sector and enhancing the tourism product. He said the capacity of workers was being built “to enable them to have an environment that is conducive to productivity.” In that regard, Jamaica now requires investors developing 500 or more hotel rooms to also build housing for their workers.

Minister Bartlett said government was keen on building infrastructure to enable the carrying capacity for the sector “so that we don’t have a situation of over-tourism in Jamaica” because while it is desirable that tourists feel happy when they come here, “most of all we want our people to feel comfortable at all times to be the best host for our visitors when they arrive.”

He outlined plans to increase the number of airports locally, while enhancing existing ones, stressing that Jamaica was the first country in the Caribbean to have facial recognition at its airports to enable seamlessness. Minister Bartlett expressed that in light of ongoing strategic interventions by the government to boost national security: “Jamaica is now the safest destination in the Caribbean.”

Minister Bartlett posited however, that “all these things that I am talking about is not about tourist, it’s about the people of Jamaica because they must first be happy and comfortable so that our tourists can be happy and comfortable.” Mr. Bartlett was upbeat that “it’s a whole new and exciting moment for the development of Jamaica’s tourism sector.”

On the matter of investment, Minister Bartlett said 2,000 new rooms were currently under construction and ground is to be broken for another 3,000 rooms at a higher price point, with several new high-end brands being introduced. He added that Montego Bay is to have the first casino zone along the Elegant Corridor.

“We’re going to be zoning our country in a short while so that there are specific areas for specific zone activities. The South Coast around Treasure Beach will be zoned for low density villa type development throughout,” Minister Bartlett expressed. “We’re looking also at expanding the villa offerings as more and more high-end offerings are coming on stream,” he noted.

Additionally, a new destination will be established in the eastern parish of St. Thomas. Similarly, “we’re redefining Portland to make Port Antonio the high-end destination within Jamaica. We have moved already to realign the highway, we’re going to be making over a new township within the area and we’re going to be expanding the cruise facilities there and enable more boutique vessels to come into the Port Antonio area so as to build out again, the higher end of the cruise business,” he explained. Mr. Bartlett said the entire area from Oracabessa to Port Antonio is to be zoned for regular and high-end villas.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Tuesday, September 23, 2025: Jamaica has secured its position as the Caribbean’s most connected destination, achieving record-breaking global linkages while advancing an ambitious agenda for inclusive and sustainable tourism growth.

With year-end arrivals projected at 4.5 million — comprising 3.1 million stopover visitors and 1.4 million cruise passengers — Jamaica now boasts direct connections to over 55 international gateways, strengthening its global reach and setting a new regional benchmark. This unprecedented connectivity is fuelling both visitor growth and broader economic development.

“Jamaica’s rapid expansion in airlift is more than just a milestone for tourism; it’s a catalyst for national transformation,” said Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett. “Our vision is clear — tourism must work for all Jamaicans. These investments are creating opportunities for small businesses, communities, and workers, ensuring the benefits of growth are shared equitably across the island,” he added.

Speaking at a special Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) 2025 media breakfast today (September 23), Minister Bartlett underscored that historic investments are underway to modernize Jamaica’s tourism backbone. The US$274 million Montego Bay Perimeter Road, now 60% complete, will relieve chronic congestion, open new corridors for commercial activity, and create smoother travel experiences for citizens and visitors alike.

Additionally, in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Jamaica is expanding key segments of the North Coast Highway. This project will widen critical stretches from two to four lanes, improving access to premier destinations like Montego Bay and Ocho Rios and strengthening economic links between coastal communities.

“These landmark projects aren’t just roads — they are gateways to greater opportunity,” Bartlett emphasized. “By enhancing connectivity, we’re laying the foundation for tourism that drives jobs, investment, and shared prosperity,” he expressed.

Jamaica’s push for inclusivity extends beyond infrastructure to the very heart of the tourism workforce.

• More than 20,000 workers have been certified through the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation, strengthening service standards and employability.

• The Tourism Workers Pension Scheme continues to expand, providing financial security for thousands of industry professionals.

• The Destination Assurance Framework and Strategy has been rolled out to ensure quality, safety, and accessibility across tourism offerings.

These initiatives are designed to make tourism a true engine of social mobility, providing tangible benefits for individuals and communities.

As Jamaica solidifies its standing as a global tourism leader, the country is positioning itself for sustainable growth well into the next decade. Upcoming projects and policies will focus on technology-driven services, green investments, and deeper community partnerships, ensuring that tourism remains resilient and inclusive.

“Connectivity is just the beginning,” Bartlett noted. “With every new flight, every new road, and every trained worker, we’re building a tourism industry that reflects Jamaica’s spirit — vibrant; world-class; and committed to shared success,” he explained. This initiative positions Jamaica not just as a destination to visit, but as a model for inclusive tourism development in the Caribbean and beyond. 

Hon. Tova Hamilton Joins Leadership Team as State Minister, Signalling Continuity and Renewal

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Monday, September 22, 2025: Jamaica’s tourism industry is entering a bold new era of record growth, global influence, and innovation as Hon. Edmund Bartlett begins his fourth term as Minister of Tourism. Joining him is Hon. Tova Hamilton, who steps into the role of State Minister, bringing new perspectives and energy to one of Jamaica’s most vital sectors. 

Minister Bartlett, Jamaica’s longest-serving tourism minister, having previously served from 2007–2012, 2016–2020, and 2020–2025, has overseen a period of unprecedented expansion. Since 2016, visitor arrivals have soared to historic highs, as in 2024 Jamaica welcomed some 2.9 million stopover visitors and 1.25 million cruise passengers, generating US$4.3 billion in earnings. These milestones have cemented tourism’s role as a cornerstone of the economy, directly benefiting local businesses and communities islandwide.

Momentum continues into 2025, with preliminary figures pointing to another record-breaking year as Jamaica remains on track to surpass last year’s earnings. This demonstrates the sector’s resilience and adaptability amid consequentially shifting global trends.

The timing of Minister Bartlett’s return is especially fitting, as it coincides with the observance of World Tourism Day (WTD) 2025 on September 27. Established by United Nations Tourism (UN Tourism), WTD highlights tourism’s impact on culture, communities, and economies worldwide. This year’s theme, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” reflects the sector’s commitment to driving environmental protection, social equity, and economic resilience. 

“I am deeply honoured to once again serve the people of Jamaica as Minister of Tourism,” said Minister Bartlett.

“As we enter this new chapter, my focus is not only on maintaining our record-breaking performance but on ensuring that tourism’s success is felt in every community. Together, we will drive innovation, foster sustainability, and create opportunities that transform lives for generations to come.”

Hon. Tova Hamilton, an attorney-at-law with extensive experience in entertainment and tourism, brings a fresh perspective to the Ministry. As a former Deputy Executive Director at the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), she has a deep understanding of both policy and practice. Her constituency of Trelawny Northern is one of the region’s leading cruise tourism destinations.

“Coming from a parish that thrives on tourism, I understand firsthand the sector’s power to change lives,” said Minister Hamilton. “I am ready to work alongside Minister Bartlett to position Jamaica as the premier world-class destination in the western hemisphere.”

Minister Bartlett praised the contributions of outgoing State Minister Hon. Delano Seiveright, noting that the transition reflects the Government’s commitment to both continuity and renewal in tourism governance.

“This new dispensation of leadership underscores the Government’s commitment to continuity and renewal in tourism governance, ensuring stability while introducing fresh perspectives to sustain Jamaica’s global competitiveness in the industry,” Bartlett added.

Looking ahead, Minister Bartlett’s first week back sets the pace for Jamaica’s tourism strategy, with activities designed to advance sustainable growth and deepen stakeholder engagement.  These include:

• Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) 2025 – Jamaica’s premier tourism marketplace, connecting local suppliers, international buyers, and media partners to secure contracts, stimulate investment, and expand market reach for brand Jamaica.

• One Day Strategic Retreat – Senior Tourism leaders and technocrats gather to align public bodies activities, set priorities, accelerate flagship projects, and determine the best way to allocate resources to foster sustainable, inclusive tourism growth.

• World Tourism Day Youth Forum – Builds on the foundation of the Tourism Action Clubs by deepening youth engagement and fostering the next generation of tourism leaders dedicated to innovation and sustainability.

• Global Tourism Leadership Webinar – Positions Jamaica as a global voice in sustainable tourism, promoting international collaboration and best practices.

• Jamaica Bridal Expo – Showcases Jamaica as the Caribbean’s leading wedding and romance destination, fuelling growth in high-value niche markets.

As Jamaica steps into this new era of tourism leadership, the Ministry remains dedicated to building a globally competitive, sustainable sector that delivers prosperity and opportunities for all Jamaicans. 

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Monday, September 22, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that the island’s tourism sector is to be repositioned to ensure Jamaicans benefit from a greater share of the lucrative industry, while contributing to its growth over the next five years. Envisioning a renaissance of the sector, Minister Bartlett said the year ahead “is going to be a seminal year in which we are going to be seeing new approaches to tourism.”

This revelation was made as he addressed the opening event for the Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) 2025 trade show at Harmony Beach Park Sunday night (September 21). The three-day event officially begins today at the Montego Bay Convention Centre with 160 buyers from across the major global tourism markets interfacing with Jamaican sellers of hotel rooms and attractions. 

On the cusp of achieving the strategic growth targets of five million visitors in five years and earning US$5 billion in his last term, Minister Bartlett said going forward: “We are going to be seeing new approaches to tourism; this year will see the widest level of consultation in tourism history that we will have as we seek to chart and look at the new path forward in this new era.”

He anticipates the next five years to be a period of “serious growth, development, inclusive tourism and a new vista for involvement of the local Jamaicans in the rich, lucrative and elongated value chain of tourism.”

The Minister noted that this 2030 goal is buoyed by the fact that “tourism has worked for us as a driver of the economy. We want it to work more for the people of Jamaica and so the new concept of ‘Local First’ will begin to be formulated within this era.” He said policies will be developed and legislative and regulatory arrangements put in place to enable it. 

Minister Bartlett expressed sincere appreciation to former Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism, Hon. Delano Seiveright for having played “a pivotal role in repositioning tourism for us over the last nine and a half years.” Mr. Bartlett stressed that in his new role as Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Mr. Seiveright is poised to play an even greater role in strengthening partnerships “and linking tourism; industry and commerce; agriculture and the creative industries together.” This, connection he said, will now begin to be fully realized “because it's a joined-up government that is going to enable us to see tourism not being an entity unto itself, as it is not, but as an integral part of a process that enables the connections of varying elements coming together in a seamless way to create a product with a price and a value.” 

Mr. Bartlett also welcomed the addition of Hon. Tova Hamilton, who now assumes the role of State Minister. “I am delighted to welcome State Minister Hamilton to the Ministry of Tourism in her new capacity. I look forward to working closely with her as we continue to advance Jamaica's tourism sector by driving sustainable development and inclusive growth for the benefit of our entire nation,” Bartlett expressed.

He told the JAPEX attendees that their partnership was going to make tourism more beneficial for the people of Jamaica than it has ever been in the history of the industry.

He asserted in looking at the new tourism landscape and where the new tourists will be coming from: “It is said that in the next 15 to 20 years, 1.5 billion more tourists are going to be traversing the world, adding to the 1.4 billion that we have now. So, we're talking about 10 years from now, 3 billion tourists will be travelling across the world” and “our job is to be right in the middle to say to them, there's only one place to go, and that is Jamaica.”

With that in mind, “our mission, therefore, is to develop the products around the passion points of our visitors, the reasons for them to travel. Let's make it happen right here in Jamaica.”

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Monday, August 25, 2025: With the Caribbean being the most tourism-reliant region worldwide, where the industry contributes some 22% of gross domestic product (GDP), and supports 2.75 million jobs, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett says factors that threaten the sustainability of the industry must be tackled urgently.

At the same time, he is delighted that the region has been recovering from the disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and adverse weather conditions. He told hundreds of travel advisors yesterday (August 24) that: “In 2024, the region saw a strong tourism rebound, with a 6.1% increase in international tourist arrivals compared to 2023, reaching 34.2 million. This also represented a 6.9% increase over pre-pandemic levels in 2019.” To underscore the impact, he pointed out that the region suffered a 65% decline in visitor arrivals in 2020. 

Giving an overview of tourism in the region in a keynote address at the 4th Annual American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) Caribbean Showcase, at Sandals South Coast, Minister Bartlett also pointed to the resilience of the industry, supported by the fact that “despite these challenges, the Caribbean achieved the fastest recovery of any region worldwide.”

That notwithstanding, Minister Bartlett is concerned that the region continues to face challenges. “Our tourism-reliant economies make us susceptible to internal and external shocks. We are more vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters, including rising sea levels, more frequent and intense hurricanes, and coral reef degradation,” he underscored. 

Other threats including geopolitical factors, ongoing instability in key source markets, as well as high costs and limited intra-regional travel options have also been underlined by Minister Bartlett as threats to regional tourism, as he issued a call that: “We must confront sustainable tourism practices more urgently than ever before.”

Noting that several ministers of tourism were attending the ASTA gathering, he said essentially, “the Caribbean’s strength lies in its unity” and by working together with harmonized policies, “we can enhance connectivity, standardize quality across the region, and create seamless travel experiences that encourage visitors to explore multiple islands, unlocking new opportunities for growth and cultural exchange.”

Among the other ministers of tourism in attendance were Deputy Prime Minister of St Lucia, Hon Dr. Ernest Hilaire; Hon G.P. Ian Gooding-Edghill of Barbados; Hon Carlos James of St Vincent & the Grenadines and Hon Adrian Thomas from Grenada. Minister Bartlett said their presence “demonstrated a unique spirit of cooperation, moving us from competition to ‘copetition’ within the region.” He said COVID-19 had taught a lesson that “we compete at our own peril and we ‘copete’ at our own glory; we become better, stronger if we ‘copete’ moving forward.”