Bartlett to Represent Jamaica at State Funeral for Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

KINGSTON, Jamaica; September 19, 2022: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has been invited to participate in the much-anticipated Tourism EXPO Japan 2022 tradeshow, where he will seek to facilitate crucial discussions as part of efforts to tap into the Asian market.

The all-inclusive travel trade event, known as: "One of the world’s largest Travel Trade Exhibitions,” will take place from September 22 to September 25, 2022 and gather key players from the world’s tourism industry and travel-related business fields. It is expected to offer several opportunities, including business meetings, and direct business-to-business and business-to-customer promotions.

Mr. Bartlett said he is looking forward to the opportunity to leverage the positive relationship that exists between Jamaica and Japan, to foster tourism cooperation as well as to promote Jamaica at the travel trade show.

“Tourism EXPO Japan 2022 will provide a very crucial platform for Jamaica to forge key partnerships as we seek to tap into the lucrative Asian market,” Minister Bartlett said.

He underscored that: “We have been laying the foundation for growth in arrivals out of the Asian market over the last few years. So, our participation in this important event is quite timely as we seek out new and emerging markets in the post-COVID-19 era, as part of our drive to boost arrivals and earnings in order to surpass our pre-COVID record levels,” he added.

During his trip Minister Bartlett is slated to meet with several senior government officials and business interests, including Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Shunsuke TAKEI; Mr. Hiroyuki Takahashi, Chairman of the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) and Chairman of Japan’s tourism bureau, JTB Corporation; and Senior Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Ms Sachiko Imoto.

The Tourism Minister also indicated that he is looking forward to discussions and the sharing of insights that will come out of the expo. Mr. Bartlett will also represent Jamaica at the State Funeral for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The former PM, the longest-serving leader in modern Japan, was fatally shot on July 8.

While in Japan, Minister Bartlett will also participate in the 9^th Edition of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre’s (GTRCMC) Virtual Edmund Bartlett Lecture Series. The event will be among the major activities for Tourism Awareness Week (TAW) 2022, which runs locally from September 25 to October 1. The theme for the week will be consistent with the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) theme for World Tourism Day, which is being observed on September 27th under the theme: “Rethinking Tourism”.

Other activities include a Thanksgiving Church Service on Sunday, September 25; Style Jamaica Runway Show on Monday, September 26; a Tourism Opportunities Visionary Symposium on Tuesday, September 27; a youth forum on Wednesday, September 28; a special virtual Knowledge Forum on Thursday, September 29; the official launch of the Innovation-Based Tourism Incubator on Friday, September 30; school speaking engagements from Monday, September 26 to Friday, September 30; and a youth poster competition.

Minister Bartlett left the island today, (Monday September 19), and is set to return on Wednesday, September 28, 2022.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Wednesday, September 14, 2022: Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has reiterated his call for governments across the Caribbean to implement a multiple entry visa regimen as he pushes for the establishment of a multi-destination tourism framework in the region.

Minister Bartlett, who has been a strong advocate for the move, was participating in the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Caribbean Aviation Day multi-destination tourism panel discussion in the Cayman Islands today (Wednesday, September 14).

While underscoring the tremendous potential to enhance tourism competitiveness within the region, Mr. Bartlett said “governments must work closely to examine the issues of tourism costs, air connectivity, the harmonization of visa policies, airspace usage, and pre-clearance arrangements.”

He explained that “one possibility that can be effectively explored is that of adopting measures that would enable tourists to travel more conveniently to and among the countries within a region, such as visa waivers for select countries or a multiple entry visa.”

In reiterating his position and calling on regional governments to lead the charge, Minister Bartlett stressed that the establishment of such a visa framework, and by extension multi-destination tourism, would be beneficial to both citizens and tourists alike.

He said “overall, more locals will become engaged in the tourism value chain, small and medium-sized businesses will enter the market providing more goods and services, more persons will be employed, and more revenues will be generated for governments.”

Adding that several destinations in the Americas have already begun to explore multi-destination arrangements, he highlighted that “Jamaica currently has four multi-destination arrangements. These include arrangements with the governments of Cuba, The Dominica Republic and Panama and another in the pipeline with the government of the Cayman Islands.”

Meanwhile the Tourism Minister also called on the private sector to get involved, suggesting that “regional governments and the private sector will need to collaborate more closely to advance market integration by fostering and harmonizing legislation on air connectivity, visa facilitation, product development, promotion and human capital”

Mr. Bartlett added that this approach would be a part of a broad-based strategy to boost tourist arrivals, noting also that incentivising and organising may also prove useful in bringing the multi-destination framework to fruition.

He said, “governments are also urged to explore incentives and strategies to strengthen regional carriers; enhance intra-regional travel; and through joint airlift agreements, increase linkages between regional and international-based airlines as part of a broad-based strategy to boost tourist arrivals.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Tuesday, September 13, 2022: Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett is now in the Cayman Islands for a series of high-level engagements, including the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Business Meeting and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Caribbean Aviation Day Event.

The 24-member CTO is regarded as the Caribbean’s tourism development agency comprising Dutch, English, French and Spanish territories and agencies from both the public and private sectors. Mr. Bartlett believes the meeting comes at a very crucial time in the recovery process for the region.

Minister Bartlett says: “The CTO Business Meeting which is being hosted in the Cayman Islands is very important for the region at this time as recovering from the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic requires all Caribbean tourism partners working together to rebuild stronger and to ensure that our destinations are more resilient.”

He stressed the need for unity of purpose in the recovery effort. “Each tourist destination has its own goals but in many global markets, the Caribbean is seen as one and only through ‘coopetition,’ collaborating while competing, are we going to achieve regional growth objectives,” Minister Bartlett added.

The conference is the first major in-person event for the CTO since the onset of COVID-19. In addition to attending the Board of Directors Meeting, the Council of Ministers Meeting and the CTO Annual General Meeting, Minister Bartlett will also participate with other Ministers in IATA Caribbean Aviation Day activities tomorrow, September 14th.

Minister Bartlett, who left the island today (September 13), said: “We’re looking forward to the IATA Caribbean Aviation Day as it will bring together key players who are essential to us growing tourism through multi-destination packages that will offer international travellers a real Caribbean experience on their vacation.”

Minister Bartlett will also participate in a special panel discussion on Multi-Destination Tourism as part of the day’s activities. He noted that he will take the opportunity to continue to push for the establishment of a multi-destination framework in the region, for which he has long advocated.

 “Establishing a multi-destination arrangement will require that willingness and commitment on the part of countries across the region to coordinate marketing, product development and investment strategies as one region, while continuing to develop their unique attractions,” he said.

 “Crucial to this process is dialogue, therefore this discussion will be very timely and I look forward to participating in this important initiative as we seek to move the process forward,” Minister Bartlett added.

The agenda also includes a discussion on: “Challenges and Priorities for Air Transport in The Caribbean.” There will also be a session on: “Transforming Regional Connectivity: The Role of the Private Sector in Financing Intra-Regional Travel.”

Participants in the Caribbean Aviation Day activities will include top management of the airline and tourist industry in the region, as well as government ministers, aeronautical authorities, international aviation experts, members of the diplomatic corps, media, among others.

Minister Bartlett, who is being accompanied by Director of Tourism, Donovan White, is slated to return to the island on September 16, 2022.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; September 2, 2022: Jamaica secured several major accolades at this year’s staging of the World Travel Awards Caribbean & The America’s Gala, held earlier this week at Sandals, Montego Bay.

Jamaica has been named the Caribbean’s Leading Destination 2022, for the 16th straight year. Jamaica also copped the award for Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination 2022, Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board 2022, for the 14th year in a row and Caribbean’s Leading Nature Destination 2022. 

In accepting the awards, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett said, “the accolades are proof of the resilience of Jamaica’s tourism sector and its committed stakeholders,” adding that “the prizes are also an indication that despite the challenges of the last two years, visitors to our island still see us as the place to visit.” Minister Bartlett said he is “proud that Jamaica’s tourism offerings have again been recognised and awarded for the quality experience they provide.”

Meanwhile, several Jamaican based tourism entities also received awards at the event held on August 31. They include Dolphin Cove, which was named the Caribbean's Leading Adventure Tourist Attraction 2022; Sangster International Airport, named the Caribbean's Leading Airport 2022; Club Mobay at Sangster International Airport received the title of Caribbean's Leading Airport Lounge 2022; Port of Falmouth, Jamaica was named Caribbean's Leading Cruise Port 2022, and the Montego Bay Convention Centre - Caribbean's Leading Meetings & Conference Centre 2022.

Round Hill Hotel & Villas was named the Caribbean's Leading Villa Resort for 2022; Historic Naval Dockyard, Port Royal, Jamaica received the Caribbean's Leading Tourism Development Project award for 2022 and GO! Jamaica Travel was named the Caribbean's Leading Tour Operator, the Caribbean's Leading Travel Agency, and Caribbean's Leading Destination Management Company.

Sandals South Coast secured the title of Caribbean's Leading Honeymoon Resort 2022; Half Moon - Caribbean's Leading Hotel 2022; Margaritaville Caribbean secured the title of Caribbean's Leading Entertainment Venue 2022, Port of Montego Bay was awarded as the Caribbean's Leading Home Port 2022 and Jamaica Inn was designated the Caribbean's Leading Luxury All Suite Resort 2022.

Island Routes Caribbean Adventures was named Caribbean's Leading Adventure Tour Operator 2022, Rockhouse, Jamaica secured the award for Caribbean's Leading Boutique Hotel 2022, Sandals Resorts International copped the award for Caribbean's Leading Hotel Brand 2022 while GoldenEye was named the Caribbean's Leading Boutique Resort 2022.

Additionally, the Tryall Club in Montego Bay; Island Car Rentals; and Fleming Villa @ GoldenEye rounded out the night receiving Caribbean's Leading Hotel Residences, Caribbean's Leading Independent Car Rental Company and Caribbean's Leading Luxury Hotel Villa 2022 awards, respectively.

Jamaica and its tourism entities received some 26 awards.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Friday, September 2, 2022: Jamaica and the South American nation of Paraguay are set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at building regional tourism and boosting growth in the hospitality industries in both countries.

The announcement was made as Minister Bartlett held bilateral talks at the Montego Bay Convention Centre with Paraguay’s Minister of Tourism, Her Excellency Sofía Montiel de Afara. “Jamaica and Paraguay have enjoyed fraternal relations for a long time and we think now that tourism offers an opportunity for the deepening of that relationship between our two countries,” said Mr Bartlett. He saw the talks as also making a statement of collaboration.

With all tourism destinations now engaged in devising strategies for recovery from the devastating fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister Bartlett stated that: “We know that recovery for tourism is not linear, we know also that to attempt to recover alone is a futile one; we are convinced that we can recover together, stronger and better and that it will inure to the economic development not just of the Americas but more specifically, to our individual countries.”

The tourism ministers noted that there were several areas under consideration for the MOU, such as building the capacity of small and medium tourism enterprises, which Mr. Bartlett stressed, constitute more than 80 percent of tourism entities globally. The aim, he said, was to look at building capacity, enabling greater levels of creative output from these enterprises “but more so for them to be able to manage better and be able to contribute to the economic value chain and enrich their own experience.”

Multi-destination tourism was also identified as a critical component to enable a larger flow of visitors from far-flung destinations and the need to harmonize protocols on border controls and health to facilitate seamless movement between the cooperating countries. Air connectivity was also identified as a key area for attention.

Also included in their discussion was collaboration in the training and development of the human capital, as a large number of tourism workers from various areas have not returned to the jobs they held prior to the pandemic and there was the critical need to bolster the industry’s labour force. “The Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation (JCTI) will play a role with our partners in Paraguay in enabling training and certification of a number of key workers,” said Minister Bartlett.

Minister Montiel expressed pleasure at being in Jamaica and said her country would be keen on having Minister Bartlett chair a working group to fine-tune the MOU that he hopes will be signed when he takes up an invitation to visit Paraguay.

Speaking through an interpreter, Minister Montiel said: “It is important for us to have this type of meeting because it is not alone that it’s going to work, it’s together between the Americas.” She said the invitation to Minister Bartlett was also “to work as tourism families on innovations and capacity building.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica; September 2, 2022: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has welcomed the announcement by Spirit Airlines that it will be introducing nonstop flights from Connecticut to Montego Bay, Jamaica. This will be the only nonstop flight arrangement between Connecticut and Jamaica.

Minister Bartlett, in welcoming the news, said “this is connecting the Diaspora in a stronger way.” He also noted that “Hartford, Connecticut is a centre of Diaspora activities where third and fourth generation Jamaicans are very well established,” adding that they will not have to drive for miles to board a flight to visit Jamaica.

Reiterating his excitement, the Tourism Minister also stressed that the “Tristate area is strengthening,” referring to it as “the bread and butter area for tourism out of the United States.”

Spirit Airlines’ new service from Connecticut to Montego Bay will commence just in time for the start of the 2022/23 Winter Tourist Season.

The new route will operate out of Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Connecticut, with the first flight slated to arrive at the Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay on December 15, 2022. The service is expected to operate four times per week.

Minister Bartlett noted that the flight is a “welcome addition to our airlift arrangements as we continue our drive to further boost the flow of US visitors to Jamaica through the addition of new gateways and greater seat support. Our tourism sector is rebounding at a very brisk pace, with record arrivals and greater visitor spend. So, this new service will also help to enhance these numbers and will increase arrivals into our tourism Mecca, Montego Bay.”

“Furthermore, Connecticut has a vibrant Jamaican Diaspora and on the flip side many Jamaicans trek to Connecticut for business and family engagements, they will all no doubt fully utilize this convenient service,” he added.

Sending congratulations to the team that has made the new arrangement a reality, Minister Bartlett said he is also excited about the partnerships that have been developed.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Thursday, September 1, 2022: Jamaica and Kenya have agreed to collaborate in the area of tourism in a bid to strengthen the hospitality sectors in both countries. Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has revealed that the partnership between both countries will entail collaboration between the Montego Bay Convention Centre and the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Kenya.

The agreement came out of talks yesterday (August 31) between Minister Bartlett and Chief Executive Officer of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nana Gecaga. The centre is owned by the government of Kenya. Ms Gecaga who is niece to Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, is also a well-known businesswoman and works primarily in international marketing and tourism.

With both countries having a keen interest in MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) tourism, the high-level talks were conveniently held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, a public body of the Ministry of Tourism. Mr Bartlett said one of the key points in the talks was intended to be “a movement when we begin to codify, if not solidify the connection between the Montego Bay Convention Centre and the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.”

Underscoring the importance of making the connection, he said: “We are the location in the Caribbean for big meetings, exhibitions and incentive activities, as Kenya is in Eastern Africa, so we think that synergy exists and that collaboration will inure to the benefit of all.”

Ms Gecaga sees the twinning of the two convention centres as a tangible step in achieving that objective.

“I think definitely there’s a lot of synergies that can take place,” she said and pointed to the need for Jamaica to be part of an association that would pave the way for it hosting major award ceremonies and other events. She said this would allow for a partnership in which Kenya bids for a major convention with a key factor being the ability to offer Montego Bay as a rotating host.

Among other proposals, she identified were, having an exchange programme and being proactive in creating events.

Having been to Jamaica previously, she lauded the country’s hospitality as “outstanding” and admitted that: “When leaving to head back to the States, I remember crying! It’s the only place that I’ve cried when I left.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica; August 19, 2022: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has underscored that the outstanding performance of the tourism sector as outlined in the latest report by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) highlights the fact that tourism is driving Jamaica’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery.

This as he welcomed the PIOJ’s report which indicates that the tourism sector has contributed significantly to the country’s economic growth in the second quarter of the year. The PIOJ yesterday (August 18) announced that the economy grew by 5.7% during the April to June quarter of 2022, compared with the same period in 2021, with the tourism and hospitality sector contributing substantially.

The PIOJ reported that the Real Value Added for Hotels & Restaurants grew by an estimated 55.4%, reflecting a sharp increase in visitor arrivals from all main source markets, and that for April–May 2022 total Foreign National arrivals was 399,310 visitors, representing an increase of 110.0% relative to the corresponding period in 2021.

Minister Bartlett stressed that “the figures from the PIOJ highlight the fact that the tourism industry is driving Jamaica’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery,” adding that “the results are a clear indication of the resilience of the sector, which is rebounding steadily.”

As he embraced the news Minister Bartlett met with representatives of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and other industry stakeholders, including members of the Tourism Recovery Task Force, today (August 19), for a mid-year review of the sector.

It was also outlined that visitor spend is currently outpacing 2019 Levels. According to Jamaica Tourist Board figures, length of stay is back to the 2019 levels of 7.9 nights and more importantly the Average Spend per Visitor has increased from US$ 168 per night to US$ 182 per person per night.

Minister Bartlett notes that “this simply means that the tourism sector is generating more foreign exchange per visitor. So, there is more money circulating in the wider economy and this benefits various players in the industry, such as attractions, the transportation sub-sector and artisans, thereby creating greater economic impact.” 

During the meeting, it was highlighted that since reopening in June 2020, Jamaica has welcomed over 3.5 million (3,556,394) visitors as at July 2022. Likewise, year-to-date the island has welcomed over 1.7 million visitors (1,714,956), an increase of 139.4% over the same period in 2021.

There was also an estimated increase of 10% in visitor arrivals for July 2022 compared to the same period in 2019. With increased arrivals month-over-month, Minister Bartlett said “we remain optimistic that our performance figures will return to 2019 pre-COVID record levels by 2023.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica; August 12, 2022: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has expressed that the renewal of human capital will be crucial to fuelling the sustainable and accelerated growth of the tourism sector, and the Jamaican economy overall.

Minister Bartlett believes that this can only be achieved in the post-COVID-19 era through the introduction of a robust framework to facilitate the revitalisation of the human capital in the tourism sector and address key labour market challenges. The Minister made the disclosure during his keynote address at the Mico Centennial International Education Symposium hosted by The Mico University College Alumni Association (MOSA) in collaboration with The Mico University College, at the Jamaica Pegasus on Thursday, August 11, 2022.

Minister Bartlett indicates that the process of addressing such challenges is being led by the recently established Tourism Labour Market Committee, which forms part of the expanded Tourism Recovery Task Force. Earlier this year, the Task Force was restructured to include six committees in order to address several COVID-19 related issues within the sector and guide its full restoration.

The reorganised Task Force, which was first established to increase vaccination levels among tourism workers, also focuses on issues such as creating a conducive legislative and regulatory environment, boosting marketing and investment, as well as enhancing synergies with the entertainment sector.

In expounding on the role of the Tourism Labour Market Committee and its benefits to the recovery process, Minister Bartlett noted that it is necessary to “identify solutions to address some of the traditional constraints to the mobility of the country’s tourism workforce, fill workforce gaps through skill development and training, and raise the overall prospects and attractiveness of the tourism sector as a career option for persons seeking high-skilled, high-paying jobs.”

He expressed that the Committee will aid the sector in responding to new labour market trends. “Several trends are impacting the skills needed to perform competently in tourism-related jobs, such as digitalization and virtualization, the demand for sustainable behaviours and practices, the growth of non-traditional segments, the changing demographics of international travellers, changing lifestyles and consumer demands,” he explained.

The Tourism Minister outlined that while traditionally the tourism sector has enjoyed one of the highest rates of labour mobility of any segment of the economy, “it is equally true that many of the opportunities taken up by our citizens are those that require low skill and offer limited prospect for economic mobility,” adding that the Committee is seeking to address situations like these.

He also noted that this type of intervention will foster continued growth through “strategies that will ensure that the right people with the right skills are available to meet the growing demand for diversified human capital.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica; August 10, 2022: Jamaica and the Cayman Islands have initiated discussions to facilitate collaboration on tourism, in order to leverage the strong historical ties and synergies between both nations to boost their tourism sectors. Among the areas being examined for cooperation are multi-destination tourism, airlift, enhancing border protocols, rationalizing airspace as well as resilience building.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett made the disclosure during a meeting today (August 10, 2022) with members of a special delegation from the Cayman Islands, led by Hon. Christopher Saunders, Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance & Economic Development and Minister of Border Control & Labour and Hon. Kenneth Bryan, Minister of Tourism & Transport. 

Minister Bartlett revealed that special focus will be placed on multi-destination tourism adding that he will be meeting with key players in the industry in Cayman next month.

He said he believes “the meeting in Cayman with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), in September, could be the steppingstone for coalescing our position on elements of multi-destination tourism,” noting also that he would be “more so looking at airlift and airline collaboration.”

In the same breath, Minister Bartlett said he is “ready to work with Cayman to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Cayman Islands in relation to multi-destination tourism” adding that “Jamaica has already signed four similar agreements with Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama.”

He explained that in developing the framework the Ministry of Tourism is seeking to “include the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and Belize, from this side of the Caribbean.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Bartlett has made a call for players in the private sector to develop a special tourism package, with an attractive price, that can be presented to the market to promote multi-destination tourism and enhance the regional tourism product. He said the issue will be further explored at the next meeting of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) in October this year.

The CHTA will host the 40th edition of its flagship trade event Caribbean Travel Marketplace in San Juan, Puerto Rico from October 3 to 5.

In describing the concept of a possible package, Mr. Bartlett explained that: “If you buy a trip to Jamaica for US$ 50 that US$ 50 takes you into Cayman and into Trinidad” adding however that “that in itself would be an interesting and challenging task because we would then have to look at price differentiation in relation to what the product offering is.” Such packages he feels will help to fuel the development of multi-destination tourism across the region, adding that it is “not beyond us.”