Dubai, UAE; February 18, 2022: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, is calling for a more collective and inclusive approach among countries globally to overcome the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, particularly in relation to vaccine access.

Speaking during a Global Tourism Resilience Forum at EXPO2020 Dubai on Thursday (February 17), Mr. Bartlett said countries have generally “not learned to respond together to global actions” citing the pandemic “as a good example of this”.

“Initially, we all came to understand that we have to rely on science to tell us exactly what this phenomenon is. Then we all came to understand that we needed to… get, analyse and use data to guide a set of actions,” he noted.

Mr. Bartlett said out of these actions evolved protocols, and thereafter, vaccines resulting from scientific research.

He pointed out, however, that while vaccine development has been a notable achievement, equitable distribution is yet to materialise.

“So, we have a situation where 10 per cent of the world had 80 per cent of the vaccines, and even today, when several strains have come and gone [with the possibility of] more to come, a sizeable portion of the world is still less than 20 per cent [vaccinated],” the Minister lamented.

Mr. Bartlett maintained that the rate of economic recovery and return to normality are conditional on the level of vaccination and the extent to which COVID-19 protocols have been applied.

“So, where we find that the drive for ‘my recovery’ supersedes the drive for ‘our recovery’, the world has been set back… and that’s the real issue. What we really want to see out of this [effort] is that resilience building for recovery should not be selfishly [undertaken]… because we all will recover if everyone is included in the recovery process,” he emphasised.

Source:  Jamaica Information Service (JIS)

Dubai, UAE; February 17, 2022: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, on Thursday (February 17) launched Global Tourism Resilience Day during EXPO2020 Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Day, which is the brainchild of Mr. Bartlett, will be observed annually on February 17.

The observance forms part of the thrust to heighten global tourism stakeholder awareness and actions towards strengthening the industry’s capacity to address and recover quickly from crises and shocks, such as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and fortifying its resilience and sustainability.

The launch, which was addressed virtually by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, took place at the DP World Pavilion and formed part of the itinerary for Jamaica’s delegation, headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, which is participating in the global expo from February 16 to 20.

Mr. Holness said that the global tourism industry’s emergence from the fallout caused by COVID-19 is a “critical determinant” of the overall pace of economic recovery worldwide, particularly among the most tourism-dependent regions, including the Caribbean.

He noted that while the magnitude of COVID-19 is unprecedented, “there will, no doubt, be other significant challenges that the industry will face, including those posed by climate change”.

“This necessitates a posture that understands the various threats to the industry and the need for a proactive approach to enhancing readiness and capacity to meet the challenges of the present and the future,” the Prime Minister said.

Mr. Holness cited several important lessons emerging from the pandemic, among them the need for greater and more active commitment to behavioural changes among all stakeholders to reduce environmental, social, and human health risks.

He said it is anticipated that more tourists “will opt for sustainable destinations in the post-COVID era”, and destinations failing to reorient themselves towards meeting the demands “are likely to be left behind”.

“The increased demand for a more sustainable brand of tourism, presents an opportunity to prioritise the responsible use of natural resources, the preservation of the assets of the host countries and the strengthening of local involvement and participation in the tourism value chain,” the Prime Minister said.

He noted that the task of resilience-building is especially urgent for regions and subregions with a high degree of tourism dependence, and committed support to “any engagement, initiative or project that seeks to bring intellectual, scientific, innovative, and entrepreneurial minds and energies together for the purpose of sharing and exchanging more resources to solve common problems facing the industry”.

In this regard, Mr. Holness said the convening of a conference at the expo focusing on tourism resilience “is, perhaps, now more fitting than at any other point in the history of the tourism industry”.

He noted that the conference, which took place following the GlobalTourism Resilience Dayclaunch on Thursday, is an “important initiative” and praised the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre for conceptualising and coordinating the event.

“I’m confident that policy, ideas, strategies, frameworks, and models of tourism resilience building will be identified to aid current efforts towards recovery [and] chart our positive future for the industry, and the millions of global citizens whose lives and livelihoods depend on tourism,” Mr. Holness said.

Mr. Bartlett, for his part, noted that many countries have experienced various types of disruptions from which they have not recovered.

“We want focus on capacity-building, primarily for small highly tourism-dependent nations that are vulnerable to many disruptions but are weakly resourced to respond effectively to it,” he said.

He urged industry stakeholders to leverage Global Tourism Resilience Day “to make that statement that the world will now have a chance to predict, mitigate, manage, recover, and recover quickly and then thrive after disruptions”.

Source:  Jamaica Information Service (JIS)

AMMAN, February 20, 2022 Ministers of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett and Hon Najib Balala arrived in Amman to meet with Minister Al Fayez of Jordan to inaugurate the Global Tourism Resilience and Disaster Management Centre -MENA at Middle East University to be referred to as the Taleb Rifai Centre under the leadership of Professor Salam Almahadin, President of the University.  The agreement was signed at a ceremony held on the University’s campus with all Ministers present and a large contingent of travel sector leaders.  This is the sixth such satellite Centre to open, an initiative of its Co-Chairs, Edmund Bartlett and Dr. Rifai.

The GTRCMC has also successfully launched at Expo 2020 in Dubai, a multi-tier, international campaign to build resilience in the global travel industry through expansion of the Global Tourism Resilience and Disaster Management Centres, the publication of a book on Tourism Resilience, the delivery of the Tourism Resilience Declaration and Fund plus the announcement of an annual day of recognition, Feb 17 as Global Tourism Resilience Day.

The GTRCMC model requires partnership with an outstanding institution of higher learning, namely a well-situated university with scope inclusive of management, research, innovation, civics, policy creation and international development.  Middle East University is an outstanding partner and will be the regional driver for further expansion in the Middle East and North Africa.  Opened in 2005, MEU has 9 faculties, 24 departments, 185 professors, 5,000 students, 26 undergraduate and 9 Master degree subjects.

The University will host the Taleb Rifai Centre and strive to constantly deliver an academically rigorous environment that will identify solutions and communicate widely.  The University will seek funding to conduct research and develop policies in tourism resilience and crisis management, provide capacity building for the tourism sector as well as any related sectors, and provide tool­ kits and guidelines on tourism resilience. It will utilize its professional relations with other universities across the region and beyond to establish bilateral, multilateral projects and exchange programs,” explained Professor Almahadin.

In Dubai, on February 17, the GTRCMC signed and launched partnerships with Canadian and Bulgarian schools of higher learning.  In Toronto, George Brown College has 7 academic centres and school locations. It is located on the traditional territory of the Mississauga’s of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples. The College’s sharing of this land exemplifies the treaty between people who learn, work and live in the community with each other.

In Bulgaria, the 100-year-old University of National and World Economy which is the oldest and largest school of economics in Bulgaria and South-east Europe was the selected partner under the tutelage of MP and former Tourism Minister, Nikolina Angelkova.  UNWE has 8 faculties, 34 departments, 500 lecturers, 43 bachelor’s degree programs and 88 Master degree specialties with 41 PhD programs available for 22,000 students and is located in the heart of Sophia.

“The students at all these universities are critical to the program’s success, in that it starts with research, understanding and developing the regional risk profile, recommending best practices to influence policy-making based on empirical data and other success-based programs,” Minister Bartlett elaborated.  “It’s a 5-step program starting with the youth: research, evaluate, mitigate, respond and recover,” stated the Hon Edmund Bartlett, Co-Chair of the GTRCMC.”

His Excellency, Minister Al-Fayez of Jordan, added, “We welcome the inception of the Taleb Rifai Centre here at the Middle East University. We trust that this initiative will play a key role in delivering resilience, robustness and agility to the tourism industry which is one of the most important sectors in the Jordanian economy through its 13% contribution to GDP.”..//..

The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, headquartered in Jamaica, at the University of the West Indies (Mona campus), was the first academic resource centre dedicated to addressing crises and resilience for the travel industry of the region. The GTRCMC assists destinations in preparedness, management, and recovery from disruptions and/or crises that impact tourism and threaten economies and livelihoods globally. Since its inception in 2018, several Satellite Centres have been launched in Kenya, Canada, Jordan, and Bulgaria. Others are in the process of inscription in Costa Rica, Nigeria, Spain, Greece, and Ghana. gtrcmc.org

International Tourism Investment Corporation Ltd, a London-based company which owns ITIC, facilitates challenging dialogue between tourism industry leaders and stakeholders on the sustainable development of tourism and travel and collaborate with governments, investors and project owners to create joint ventures that invest in developing innovative tourism and travel facilities, infrastructure and services that benefit all stakeholders, especially the host countries and their peoples. Itic.uk

The Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council established in 2016 by the Jacobs Media Group with the goal of improving travellers’ confidence, the Council is a public private platform bringing together industry leaders and government to address preparedness, crisis management and resiliency through thought leadership delivered via media and dedicated events. resiliencecouncil.com

For more information please contact, Laurie Myers at laurie.myers@jacobsmediagroup.com or telephone/What’s App +1949742-9648

KINGSTON, Jamaica; February 14, 2022: Jamaica’s drive to secure a share of the lucrative tourism market in the Middle East, takes a key step forward today with Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett commencing a series of engagements with major decision makers and travel partners in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Minister Bartlett will follow up on investment and new market opportunities first broached while in the Middle East in October, 2021.

“Over the past two years Jamaica and Dubai have forged a very strong bond allowing for the creation of linkages that have been paving the way for a meaningful tourism partnership,” says Minister Bartlett who departed the island for Dubai on Saturday to fulfil a series of official engagements over the next few days in the UAE. Among his high-level engagements are meetings with Jordan’s Minister of Tourism, His Excellency Al Fayez and decision-makers of Royal Jordanian Airlines.

Minister Bartlett’s tight schedule also includes the World Travel Awards event being held today (February 14), travel to Abu Dhabi tomorrow for crucial discussions with representatives of Etihad Airways, officials from the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority; bilateral meetings on Wednesday and Thursday with the Dubai Tourism Authority, Emirates Airlines and investors, and on Friday, February 18, a special Jamaica Day programme at the Dubai Exhibition Centre.

High on Minister Bartlett’s agenda is the launch by the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) of ‘Global Tourism Resilience Day’ on February 17, 2022, the day before Jamaica Day celebrations at Expo 2020 Dubai. Minister Bartlett is founder and Co-chair of the GTRCMC, which will inaugurate the recognition of the annual day to highlight the need for destinations to build their capacity to respond to international crises and disruptions.

The GTRCMC, which is based at the University of the West Indies, Mona, will host a Global Tourism Resilience Forum to mark the occasion. The event will be chaired by Executive Director of the GTRCMC, Professor Lloyd Waller. Among the speakers are Prime Minister, the Most Hon Andrew Holness, the Hon Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya, who will both join virtually, as well as several Ministers of Tourism, who will highlight best practices for global tourism resilience and recovery.

Minister Bartlett will participate in a panel discussion on: “Enabling Resilience and Sustainability to Accelerate the Recovery of the Global Tourism Industry.” During the event, the Minister and Prof. Waller will also officially launch their book entitled: “Tourism Resilience and Recovery for Global Sustainability and Development: Navigating COVID-19 and The Future.”

Other Jamaican participants include Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon Kamina Johnson-Smith, who will participate in a panel discussion under the theme: “How are Women Central and Contributing to Transforming the Global Tourism Industry and Increasing its Resilience?” while Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts, Adam Stewart will participate as a panellist on the topic: “Building Resilience to Attract Investments in the Global Tourism Industry: The New Challenges and Issues.”

“Our tourism partners in the Middle East have truly embraced the GTRCMC conceptualized by Jamaica and during this week the centre will be launching the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regional satellite centre of the international GTRCMC, located at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Jamaica,” Minister Bartlett revealed. 

“This new GTRCMC-MENA regional centre will be located at the Middle East University in Jordan. This is a signal honour for Jamaica. The importance of the GTRCMC-MENA is borne out in the fact that it will cover Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, UAE, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Mauritania and by extension, broaden the scope of the centre’s influence,” Minister Bartlett added.

Minister Bartlett, who is accompanied by Director of Tourism, Donovan White, is slated to return to the island on February 22, 2022.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; February 03, 2022: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that approximately 10,000 persons have already registered for the ground-breaking Tourism Workers Pension Scheme since its launch on January 1, 2022.  

"We reviewed the performance within the first month of the implementation of the pension Scheme, and I am proud to announce that so far approximately 10,000 workers have registered, by way of application, for membership in the scheme," said Bartlett.

"The most crucial part of all this is that in addition to the outstanding work that Guardian Life, which administers the Scheme, has been doing in recruiting persons, is the excellent work that Sagicor is doing in terms of building the Fund, and we are pleased to announce that $43 million has been earned by the fund since we placed it in their management," he added.

The Tourism Workers Pension Scheme is a defined contributory plan supported by legislation and requires mandatory contributions by workers and employers.

It is designed to cover all workers ages 18–59 years in the tourism sector, whether permanent, contract or self-employed. This includes hotel workers and people employed in related industries, such as craft vendors, tour operators, red cap porters, contract carriage operators, and workers at attractions. Benefits will be payable at age 65 or older.

The Government of Jamaica has committed J$1 billion to seed the Scheme so that immediate benefits can accrue to qualified pensioners. Sagicor Life Jamaica manages the Fund and Guardian Life Ltd is the administrator.

The Tourism Workers Pension Scheme is arguably the most significant human capital development initiative in the history of Jamaica's tourism sector. It will allow thousands of tourism workers to look forward to a financially secure retirement and is expected to benefit some 350,000 employees in the tourism sector immediately.

A vital feature of this pension scheme is that it allows workers to move around within the industry, taking their benefits without being penalised or losing any of their contributions.

"We are excited that the scheme has started on a very good note and that the response from the workers has been good. We want to urge more tourism workers to support this important initiative. Please get onboard and register for the Scheme so that we can meet the target of getting 350,000 workers, employers, self-employed people, and any other group connected to the sector to enroll,” Minister Bartlett expressed.

“I commend the companies that are already involved in the Scheme, and I encourage the other employers to get onboard as well. This Scheme makes a statement about a government that truly cares for the people of the country," said the Minister.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 28, 2021:  Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, is encouraging members of the Diaspora to invest in the local tourism sector, which continues to drive Jamaica's economic recovery.

Speaking yesterday during the 'Let's Connect with Ambassador Marks' online series, Bartlett noted that: "We have a Diaspora with enormous wealth, experience, capabilities, talent, skill, and connectivity with communities. We need to be investing in capital formation and new enterprises in Jamaica so that Jamaica can build its capacity to respond to the demand that tourism brings."

He disclosed that one key sector that needs investment is agriculture. He also shared that Jamaica has not been able to produce the required agricultural supplies in the numbers, volume, consistency and at the price point required to supply the hotels.

"The next element that we are moving in on very strongly is to build out the capacity of Jamaica in this current and post COVID-19 period to deliver more on the demand of tourism. We argue that tourism is an extractive industry because we have not been able to supply the agricultural demands of the industry," said Bartlett.

"It is important that the highest level of production and output be available at all times. When that is not so, it must be had regardless, and therein lies the problem of leakages within the economy. We bring together the potential for increasing the production patterns within our country, which has to be driven by investments or public-private partnerships. So, we also need investments in the manufacturing of various goods that are utilized in the industry," he added.

"When we look at other services, such as energy, communication, financial, insurance, health, and transportation, billions of dollars are spent on transfers of visitors from airports to hotels and attractions. Investment is also needed in attractions because tourism fulfils the passions of people, and they travel to do just that," said the Minister.

During his presentation, he also disclosed that the Jamaican Government will be targeting more high-end investments in the sector.

"I think we have reached the level in room count for mass tourism, and we are moving now to high-end. So, it will be lower density and higher-end, with higher average daily rates and stronger input on value-added," he said.

He also announced that Jamaica would be pioneering Global Tourism Resilience Day in Dubai in the coming weeks, endorsed by major international stakeholders.

"Jamaica is also suggesting to the world that on the 17th of February, starting this year, the world should pause and reflect on the critical importance of building resilience. So, we will be establishing in Dubai, during Jamaica Week, the first-ever Global Tourism Resilience Day. We have had the endorsement of the great gatekeepers of tourism in the world – UNWTO, WTTC, PATA, and the OAS," he said.

'Let's Connect with Ambassador Marks' enables members of the Diaspora to communicate directly with the Ambassador about mutually beneficial issues and to stay informed about the Government's policies and programmes, as well as the Embassy's activities. Jamaican Ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks is occasionally joined by various distinguished guests, including government ministers, US government officials, key players in various local and international organizations, and prominent members of the Jamaican Diaspora.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 27, 2022: Jamaica's Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has offered condolences to the family of Dr. Jean Holder, who was regarded by many in the Caribbean as the "father of regional tourism development."

"Jamaica is proud to have had an association with this great Caribbean man from Barbados, and we are all in his debt. On behalf of the Government of Jamaica, we offer our condolences to his widow, children and the many other key partners, stakeholders and extended family that have embraced and encircled him during his lifetime. May his soul rest in peace," said Bartlett.

Born in Barbados, Dr. Jean Holder spent more than three decades of his professional life developing and enhancing the tourism industry, which has now become the primary source of foreign exchange and economic growth in the region.

Holder, who represented his country for 14 years, was widely known as the face of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) for three decades. By the end of his tenure, the CTO became the region's largest tourism marketing and development organization, with 34 Caribbean states and several national, regional, and international private sector travel and tourism organizations and firms as members.

"Dr. Jean Holder is indeed an iconic Caribbean man who has transcended the region into the global space. He has served tourism as a real giant, and we are all the better for it. On his shoulders, so many of the leading Caribbean entrepreneurs, administrators, planners, thinkers, and even ministers have stood as we chart a path to make the Caribbean one of the leading destinations in the world. We mourn his passing, but we glory in his legacy, " said the Minister.

Along with his career in tourism and the Foreign Service, Holder made substantial contributions to Barbados' cultural development. He was the founding chair of the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA), which he co-founded in 1973 with other prominent Barbadian artists.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 24, 2022: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that Jamaica is undergoing its biggest hotel and resort development boom in any one year, with 8,000 additional hotel rooms in various stages of development and planning, the majority being led by European investors.

Minister Bartlett explained that a total of $2 billion will be invested to bring the 8,000 rooms onstream, resulting in at least 24,000 part-time and full-time jobs and at least 12,000 jobs for construction workers.

Given the magnitude of the investments, Bartlett has expressed the need for seamless coordination, led and anchored by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, as well as multi-ministerial cooperation. Prime Minister Holness and Minister Bartlett are scheduled to participate in several ground-breaking ceremonies in the coming weeks and months.

"We are delighted with the developments in the local tourism industry, which will undoubtedly have a positive effect on the economy and directly benefit thousands of Jamaicans. Indeed, tourism is a supply chain industry that spans multiple economic sectors, including construction, agriculture, manufacturing, banking, and transportation," said Bartlett.

At least 12,000 construction workers, multiple building contractors, engineers, project managers, and a variety of other specialists will be necessary to assure the timely completion of these projects. Additionally, thousands of tourism workers must be trained in areas such as management, culinary, housekeeping, tour guides, and reception, " he added.

Properties currently under construction include the 2,000-room Princess Resort in Hanover, which will become Jamaica's largest resort, and another nearly 2,000 rooms in the multifaceted Hard Rock Resort development, which should consist of at least three other hotel brands. Additionally, just under 1,000 rooms are being built by Sandals and Beaches in St. Ann.

Plans are also underway for the Viva Wyndham Resort north of Negril to have a total of 1,000 rooms, the new RIU Hotel in Trelawny with approximately 700 rooms, and a new Secrets Resort in the Richmond area of St. Ann with around 700 rooms. Bahia Principe has also announced massive expansion plans, by its owners, Grupo Piñero, out of Spain.

Bartlett recently returned from FITUR, the world's most important annual international travel and tourism trade show, in Madrid, Spain. While there, he participated in a series of high-level meetings with primarily Spanish investors, many of whom own resorts in Jamaica.

Bartlett, who was accompanied by Delano Seiveright, Senior Advisor and Strategist, pointed out that: "To successfully finish major investment projects in record time, an all-hands-on-deck, joined-up government and private sector approach is required."

"Environmental considerations and collaboration with local stakeholders are also prominent in the developments. Minister Bartlett has tasked the Tourism Enhancement Fund's Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation to take strategic steps to ensure that current effective worker training and certification programs are expanded in collaboration with hoteliers who have pledged to work closely with the government on this issue," added Seiveright.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 21, 2022: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has announced that Jamaica and Spain will craft a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on various aspects of tourism development and economic transformation.

The announcement follows a meeting with Spain's Minister of Industry, Trade, and Tourism, Hon. Reyes Maroto, earlier today at FITUR, the world's most significant annual international travel and tourism trade show now underway in Madrid, Spain. In addition to the Dominican Republic, which is this year's FITUR Partner Country, FITUR brings together almost a hundred countries with seventy official representations.

"I am very pleased to announce that Jamaica and Spain will develop a memorandum of understanding for collaboration in various areas of tourism development. Minister Morato and I today had extensive discussions regarding various areas of recovery and the reimagining of tourism as a driver of economic growth and transformation," said Bartlett.

"We discussed the role of the United Nations World Tourism Organization as a critical institution for securing the academic and practical applications necessary to redevelop the new tourism that will enable small countries and small and medium-sized players to have a more equitable experience and to recover much of the lost revenue," he added.

Bartlett also used the opportunity to invite Minister Morato to Jamaica's first-ever Global Tourism Resilience Day, scheduled for February 17th, 2022, at the World Expo in Dubai. The day will focus on the ability of countries to build capacity to respond to international and global shocks and be able to predict with greater certainty their responses. It will also aid countries in understanding and mitigating the effects of these shocks on their development, but most importantly, it will help them manage and recover quickly after these shocks.

"Jamaica is indeed a thought leader in this area, and we are committed to working with all our partners to build a stronger, more effective, and resilient world that can respond better to shocks that will come as we continue on this journey of life," expressed Bartlett.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 20, 2022: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett had brief discussions in Spain today with President of the Dominican Republic (DR), His Excellency Luis Abinader and other top DR officials to strengthen tourism relations. This will in part result in a new level of multi-destinational tourism aimed at redefining how tourism functions in the region.

The move comes as Minister Bartlett and a small team attend FITUR, the world's largest annual international travel and tourism tradeshow, currently being held in Madrid, Spain.

"Jamaica and the Dominican Republic will enter a new era of ‘co-petition,’ that is, collaboration and cooperation in tourism development rather than the traditional competition that has been a feature of the pre-COVID tourism arrangements in the Caribbean. The country's President is here at FITUR for an entire week along with Minister David Collado, the Minister of Tourism, and the commitment is for us to work together to build tourism in the region," said Minister Bartlett.

The leaders also discussed the possibility of launching a multi-destination marketing campaign, one of three legacy outcomes from the November 2017 United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) global conference in Montego Bay, which urged Caribbean governments and the private sector to collaborate to advance regional integration through the promotion and harmonization of legislation on air connectivity, visa facilitation, and product development.

"Leading this programme is an exciting feature of the way forward for tourism in the Caribbean, and the essence of this will lead, in fact, to a level of multi-destination tourism that will redefine the way tourism functions in the region. But more importantly, it will set the stage for expanding the market within our area to meet the larger and more exciting players within the global industry and attract the mega-airlines that bring long-haul passengers into the Caribbean," Bartlett explained.

We are excited about the prospects of a new era for tourism development, and Jamaica and the Dominican Republic are at the centre of this," he added.

Bartlett also shared that debt management and funding were also at the heart of the discussions he had at FITUR to help stakeholders who were hardest hit by the pandemic to rebuild. He spoke to the President of Banco Popular, Ignacio Alvarez, which is the largest tourism bank in the Caribbean, to discuss elements of debt management in a sector that is hugely affected by credit arrangements because of the pandemic and the halt in economic activity within the tourism space for over a year.