KINGSTON, Jamaica; Wednesday, October 22, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, is urging all tourism stakeholders, industry partners and visitors across the island to take every necessary precaution as Tropical Storm Melissa continues its slow approach toward Jamaica.

Minister Bartlett noted that while the weather system’s path remains uncertain at this time, the Ministry is working closely with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, and other relevant agencies to ensure the sector’s preparedness and safety.

“Resilience has long been at the heart of Jamaica’s tourism success,” Minister Bartlett said. “We have learnt from experience that preparedness is the foundation of recovery. As Tropical Storm Melissa approaches, I urge all our stakeholders, including hoteliers, attraction owners, transportation operators, and our hospitable tourism workers, to initiate their internal disaster risk management systems and ensure that safety remains the top priority,” he added. 

“In anticipation of the system’s arrival, the Ministry’s Tourism Emergency Operations Centre (TEOC) will move to activation at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. This will ensure continued coordination between key agencies and industry partners to safeguard the tourism sector,” Minister Bartlett explained.

“Our ability to respond swiftly and effectively to crises is what continues to set Jamaica apart as a world-class destination,” Mr. Bartlett stressed. “Let us remain calm, vigilant, and united in our efforts to protect both our people and our industry. By preparing now, we ensure that Jamaica remains strong, safe, resilient and ready to continue thriving moving forward,” Bartlett noted. 

He underscored that the Ministry continues to monitor updates from the Meteorological Service of Jamaica and encourages all tourism entities, citizens and visitors to do the same, adhering to official guidance as conditions evolve.

TORONTO, Canada; Thursday October 8, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, has announced that initial discussions have started to have the Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation (JCTI) and Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) collaborate to develop comprehensive training and certification programs for tourism professionals across Jamaica. 

This groundbreaking partnership will aim to strengthen the capabilities of Jamaica's tourism workforce by providing world-class professional development opportunities that align with international industry standards. The collaboration will leverage TMU's extensive expertise in hospitality and tourism education alongside JCTI's deep understanding of the Caribbean tourism landscape.

“This partnership represents a significant milestone in our commitment to building a highly skilled, globally competitive tourism workforce,” said Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett. “By working with Toronto Metropolitan University, we're bringing internationally recognized training standards to Jamaica while ensuring our programs reflect the unique strengths of Caribbean hospitality.”

This announcement follows a tour and meeting with the Minister and his team and TMU Executives at the University on Tuesday October 7, 2025.

While in its infancy, the collaboration will look at developing specialized training modules in areas including customer service excellence and sustainable tourism practices. Tourism workers at all levels—from frontline staff to management—will have access to certification programs designed to enhance their skills and career advancement opportunities.

“We are ensuring human capital development at the highest level for our workers who are at the heart of tourism. When they are trained and certified it will not only professionalize the sector, but it will allow them to earn and demand more,” added Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett.

TMU brings decades of experience in tourism education and has established itself as a leader in innovative, practice-based learning. The university's Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management is renowned for its industry partnerships and commitment to excellence in education.

“We are looking forward to collaborating with the Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation to create meaningful learning opportunities for tourism professionals,” said one TMU representative. “This partnership allows us to share knowledge and best practices while learning from Jamaica's rich tourism heritage and innovative approaches to hospitality.”

Both institutions are committed to ensuring the development of a successful programme. This collaboration underscores Jamaica's ongoing commitment to tourism excellence and workforce development as critical pillars of the nation's economic growth strategy.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Wednesday, October 8, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, says Jamaica is aiming to welcome 600,000 Canadian visitors annually and generate US$750 million in tourism earnings by 2030.

The goal comes as the destination experiences a 22 per cent increase in Canadian airlift capacity for the upcoming winter season.

The new key performance indicators (KPIs) were announced during the minister’s address at the Edith Baxter Memorial Award, which recognises individuals who have made a substantial contribution towards the positive advancement of Jamaica’s tourism industry.

“Canada represents one of our most important and fastest-growing source markets,” said Bartlett. “The substantial increase in airlift capacity this winter demonstrates the strong confidence our airline partners have in Jamaica’s appeal to Canadian travellers. We are committed to building on this momentum to achieve our 2030 vision of 600,000 Canadian visitors and three-quarters of a billion dollars in tourism revenue.”

Donovan White, director of tourism, maintained that with the continued strengthening of the country’s trade partnerships, it will be possible to achieve the new targets.

The JTB says the destination’s diverse tourism product, from all-inclusive resorts to boutique properties, authentic cultural experiences and adventure tourism offerings, continues to resonate strongly with Canadian travellers.

“These targets are not merely aspirational—they are achievable,” Bartlett emphasised. “With our expanded airlift, continued investment in tourism infrastructure and Jamaica’s unmatched destination appeal, we are well-positioned to capture a larger share of Canadian outbound travel over the next five years.”

The Jamaica Tourist Board says it will intensify its marketing efforts in Canada, focusing on digital engagement, travel trade partnerships and consumer-facing campaigns that showcase the island’s authentic experiences and value proposition.

Currently, Jamaica has welcomed 485,000 visitors to its shores. This is 15,000 less than the 500,000 target set for 2025.

As Jamaica welcomes the winter season with enhanced connectivity, the tourism sector anticipates strong performance from the Canadian market, setting the foundation for sustained growth toward the 2030 targets.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Tuesday, October 7, 2025: Jamaica has secured several prestigious awards on the international stage with the destination winning 45 major awards at the 2025 World Travel Awards Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony, held on October 4 in St. Lucia. Jamaica captured 29 regional awards and 16 national prizes.

Jamaica was again named the Caribbean’s Leading Destination for the 19th consecutive year with the Jamaica Tourist Board winning the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board award for the 17th year in a row. The country was also named the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination 2025, with the Port of Ocho Rios being named the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Port 2025 and the Port of Montego Bay being named the Caribbean’s Leading Home Port 2025. Jamaica was also named the Caribbean's Leading Family Travel Destination 2025.

In lauding the remarkable achievement of destination Jamaica and its tourism stakeholders, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett said: “I am very pleased to see the hard work and dedication of the tourism team being recognised and rewarded internationally. It is truly heartening to see Jamaica consistently perform at a very high level despite the challenges faced by the destination in recent times. This performance is testament to the resilience and commitment of Destination Jamaica and our remarkable tourism stakeholders.” 

Bartlett added that: “As we enter a new chapter in the development of tourism in Jamaica, as Minister I feel blessed to share in these achievements and encourage all our tourism players to build on this track record of outstanding performance as we continue to enhance our tourism product. Congratulations to the entire tourism team!” 

In the accommodation sub-sector, Sandals Resorts International received several awards, being named the Caribbean's Leading Hotel Brand 2025. Sandals Dunn’s River was named the Caribbean's Leading Luxury All-Inclusive Resort 2025. Similarly, Sandals Montego Bay was named the Caribbean's Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2025 and Jamaica's Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2025, while Sandals South Coast was named the Caribbean's Most Romantic Resort 2025. Sandals Negril was named Jamaica's Leading Adult-Only All-Inclusive Resort 2025 and Sandals Royal Caribbean was named Jamaica's Leading Resort 2025. Beaches Negril secured the award as Jamaica's Leading All-Inclusive Family Resort 2025. 

Half Moon also walked away with two awards, securing the titles of the Caribbean's Leading Hotel 2025 and Jamaica's Leading Villa Resort 2025. Likewise, Princess Grand Jamaica was named the Caribbean's Leading New Resort 2025, while Princess Senses The Mangrove was named the Caribbean's Leading Water Villa Resort 2025.

GoldenEye was also among the big winners, securing the Caribbean's Leading Boutique Resort 2025 award, while GoldenEye Villa was named the Caribbean's Leading Luxury Hotel Villa 2025 and Jamaica's Leading Luxury Hotel Villa 2025. 

Additionally, The Tryall Club was awarded the Caribbean's Leading Hotel Residences 2025. The Caribbean's Leading Luxury Private Villa 2025 and Jamaica's Leading Luxury Private Villa 2025 awards both went to Malatai Villa. Round Hill Hotel & Villas won multiple awards, being named the Caribbean's Leading Villa Resort 2025 and Jamaica's Leading Luxury Resort 2025, while One-Bedroom Suite at Round Hill Hotel and Villas was named Jamaica's Leading Hotel Suite 2025. 

The Montego Bay Convention Centre retained the title of the Caribbean's Leading Meetings & Conference Centre. Sangster International Airport, and Club Mobay at Sangster International Airport were named the Caribbean's Leading Airport 2025 and the Caribbean's Leading Airport Lounge 2025 respectively.

One of the night’s biggest winners was GO! Jamaica Travel, taking home four awards, the Caribbean's Leading Destination Management Company 2025, Caribbean's Leading Tour Operator 2025, Caribbean's Leading Travel Agency 2025 and Jamaica's Leading Travel Agency 2025. 

Island Routes walked away with the Caribbean's Leading Adventure Tour Operator 2025 award. Chukka Caribbean Adventures won the Caribbean's Leading Destination Experiences 2025 award, while Chukka Ocean Outpost was named the Caribbean's Leading Adventure Tourist Attraction 2025. The Rose Hall Great House Tour was named the Caribbean's Leading Tourist Attraction 2025.

Other winners on the night included Island Car Rentals which received the Caribbean's Leading Independent Car Rental Company 2025 and Jamaica's Leading Car Rental Company 2025 awards. 

Jamaica's Leading Beach Resort 2025 award went to Excellence Oyster Bay and Strawberry Hill was named Jamaica’s Leading Boutique Hotel 2025. S Hotel Kingston copped the prize for Jamaica's Leading Business Hotel 2025, while S Hotel Montego Bay was awarded Jamaica's Leading Hotel 2025. Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall was named Jamaica's Leading Conference Hotel 2025.

LONDON, United Kingdom; Friday, October 3, 2025: Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Edmund Bartlett, is targeting an ambitious new goal of attracting 500,000 visitors from the United Kingdom (UK) by 2030, underscoring the country’s strategic commitment to strengthening its position in one of its most important source markets.

Speaking at the platinum celebration awards during Jamaica Travel Market, Minister Bartlett outlined the government’s forward-looking vision to significantly boost arrivals from the UK – a market that has shown steady recovery and growth following the global pandemic.

“The United Kingdom holds a deeply rooted connection with Jamaica, through our shared history, culture, and vibrant diaspora,” said Minister Bartlett. “Our goal of reaching half a million UK visitors annually by 2030 is bold but also reflects the growing appetite among British travellers for the authentic Jamaican experience.”

The Minister highlighted a multi-pronged approach to reaching the 500,000-visitor target, including expanding airlift from major UK cities; deepening partnerships with UK-based tour operators and travel agents; and using targeted digital and in-market campaigns tailored to UK audiences.

The strategic plan will also include leveraging Jamaica’s strong diaspora in the UK to encourage multi-generational travel and investing in destination development to offer new and immersive experiences for visitors.

Minister Bartlett emphasized that while the UK is currently Jamaica’s third-largest source market, “the time is ripe to accelerate our efforts and claim a greater share of outbound travel from the UK – especially among experience-driven travellers, repeat visitors, and first-time explorers looking for sun, culture, and connection.”

The push to reach 500,000 UK arrivals is part of the Minister’s broader strategy of welcoming 8million visitors and earn USD10billion, which positions tourism as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth and community development. 

“With more UK visitors comes greater opportunity for jobs, for investment, and for showcasing Jamaica to the world,” Bartlett added. “We are not just increasing numbers – we are expanding possibilities for Jamaicans across the island.”

UK arrivals to Jamaica have rebounded significantly post-pandemic, bolstered by increased flight frequency and rising demand. British travellers consistently rank Jamaica as the top Caribbean destination for its music, food, natural beauty, and warm hospitality.

“We are encouraged by the upward trend and are putting the right strategies in place to sustain and grow it,” said Donovan White, Director of Tourism. “This new target aligns with our renewed marketing push across the UK and source markets in general.”

Last year UK arrivals grew by 11% with 230,783 visitors arriving in Jamaica. continued growth in airlift for 2026 and beyond is also expected as our partners confidently increase rotations.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Wednesday, October 1, 2025: The Ministry of Tourism and its public bodies have recorded another major milestone in the drive to foster human capital development, as the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation (JCTI), a division of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), has facilitated the certification of two locally-trained senior chefs, currently employed by one of the island’s leading hotel chains. 

The JCTI works in partnership with international accreditation bodies, such as the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI)  to certify trained tourism workers, with the latest being two employees from the Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara resorts in Montego Bay who came out on top of the JCTI sous chef development programme. 

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has identified human capital development as a critical plank in developing the tourism sector, with one of the goals being to staff the industry up to the highest levels with home-grown talent.

Congratulating the two latest achievers, Minister Bartlett said the programme “is showing the signs of fruition that we really want and we have already certified over 20,000 competent workers who needed the certification for mobility in their respective organizations, and also to improve their earning within the sector. This also facilitates their portability or ability to move from one country to the other as professionals.”

St. Hilda’s High School past student, Mernel Casey who topped the training class in two assessments, has been rewarded with a promotion to Hyatt’s Executive Sous Chef and her co-worker, Shamanda Barnes, has moved up to being Chef de Cuisine. Minister Bartlett outlined that “all three sous chefs at the Hyatt properties are now Jamaicans, while normally these roles would be filled by expatriates.”

Ms. Casey believes that cooking chose her “from a little girl making cookies for my nieces and nephews, and they always enjoyed it.” Feeling the passion, she embraced home economics and cooking at school, studying at both Brown’s Town Community College and the Montego Bay Community College. She later embarked on her career path as a dining room supervisor before transitioning to the kitchen.

Similarly, a graduate of St. James High School, Shamanda’s journey took her to Kenilworth HEART Academy in Hanover and after vocational training she started out as a kitchen help for eight years before being employed as a cook at Hyatt Zilara. She now basks in being elevated to the role of Chef de Cuisine. Reflecting on her achievement, she admits that “for me that journey has been wonderful for the growth, the development and the knowledge that I have accumulated.”

Hyatt’s Human Resources Manager, Betty Ann Brown said the two ladies were among eight pioneer staffers chosen by the hotel chain to participate in the JCTI certification programme and have come out on top, rightfully earning their promotions.

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.