KINGSTON, Jamaica; June 20, 2022: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has been invited to participate in a high-level panel discussion on ways to future-proof the international tourism industry to enable it to withstand global shocks, at the Commonwealth Business Forum 2022, being held in Kigali, Rwanda.

On Wednesday June 22, Minister Bartlett will join several other global thought leaders to discuss “Sustainable Tourism and Travel.”

The other confirmed panellists include Gibraltar’s Minister for Business, Tourism and the Port, Hon. Vijay Daryanani; Founder and CEO, Space for Giants, United Kingdom, Dr. Max Graham; CEO, Rwandair, Rwanda Yvonne Makolo; CEO, Africa Wildlife Foundation, Kenya, Kaddu Sebunya; and Vice Chairman, Luxmi Tea, India, Rudra Chatterjee.

Minister Bartlett underscored that the forum is well-timed.  “This discussion is quite timely in light of all the challenges that are facing the global economy in general as well as industries such as tourism. It is the coming together for discussions such as this that will help us find suitable solutions to protect our destinations and our economies.”

The panel discussion will focus on how Commonwealth countries will ensure that the efforts towards industry recovery and growth will prioritise environmental sustainability and conservation, among other key areas.

The Minister noted that “the tourism industry will only be sustainable if we continue to take proactive steps to ensure that we foster tourism development that meets the current needs of tourists, the tourism industry and host communities without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Following his stop in Rwanda, Minister Bartlett will travel to Lisbon, Portugal on Monday June 27 to attend the 2022 United Nations Ocean Conference. Co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya and Portugal, the Conference will focus on, among other things, shared solutions to boost the recovery of the tourism sector that are anchored in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs. Prime among them will be - “Scaling up ocean action based on science and innovation for the implementation of Goal 14: Stocktaking, partnerships and solutions.”

The discussions will also surround “promoting and strengthening sustainable ocean-based economies, in particular for Small Island Developing States and Least developed Countries.”

Minister Bartlett will be the Keynote Speaker during the Sustainable Coastal and Marine Tourism Launch Event, which has been convened by the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel) as well as an official side event, convened by the Ocean Panel, the Government of Jamaica and the Stimson Center.

Minister Bartlett left this island today, (Monday June 20), and is slated to return on Saturday July 2, 2022.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; June 17, 2022: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that the Tourism Workers Pension Scheme (TWPS) now has over five thousand members, and over 15,000 potential applicants.

The scheme is expected to benefit thousands of persons employed in the Tourism Sector, both directly and indirectly, and will require mandatory contributions by employees and employers alike.

Updating Parliament in his 2022/23 Sectoral Debate Closing Presentation in Parliament recently, Minister Bartlett announced that the Board of Trustees for the Tourism Workers Pension Scheme met recently to review the scheme’s performance since its launch in January.

Minister Bartlett said the Board indicated that the scheme now has some 5,500 members, adding that the majority of those members have so far paid nearly $90 million into the fund. Mr. Bartlett also noted that these developments occurred since February of this year, and that there are some 15,000 employees “pending to become members” of the Pension Scheme.

Mr. Bartlett said he is anticipating that adding the new pool of funds that will be created from the Scheme will be a gamechanger for the country’s economy.

The Minister said he estimates that the figure will be between “$400 billion to $500 billion as the Scheme matures,” adding that he expects more than 350,000 tourism workers to be engaged in the programme. Mr. Bartlett assured that “this will be a gamechanger in terms of the pool of capital that will be made available for development of infrastructure and other businesses.”

In the meantime, Mr. Bartlett emphasized that the Pension Scheme “is not just a plan to provide social security, but also a strategy for the economic security of the country” adding that it will allow for the growth of the economy when the domestic savings become a key pool of funds for investment and there will be less of a need for the country to go beyond its shores to borrow money.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; June 15, 2022: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has indicated that 2022 will be a historic year for the tourism sector, with record arrivals and groundbreaking agreements.

In his 2022/23 Sectoral Debate Closing Presentation in Parliament yesterday (June 14), Mr. Bartlett pointed out that having eclipsed the one million-visitor mark in May, the Ministry’s projections for 3.2 million visitors in 2022 are on track, and Summer 2022 will be the best summer in the history of tourism in Jamaica.

The Minister said “at the end of May, we surpassed the one million-visitor mark for this year, and we are well on our way to achieving our 2022 projections of total visitor arrivals of 3.2 million and total revenue of US$3.3 billion.”

The Tourism Minister outlined that this figure is just “US$400 million shy” of the pre-pandemic 2019 figure, adding that it is an indication that “by early 2023 we would have been back to 2019 records” and moving beyond that by the end of the year.

He stressed that “well before 2024, we will have 4.5 million visitors” and earn US$4.7 billion for Jamaica in gross foreign exchange revenues.

Mr. Bartlett pointed out that Jamaica is “seeing excellent signs of recovery”, reiterating that the tourism industry is driving the country’s post-COVID-19 economic resurgence. He noted also that “Jamaica is leading the Caribbean” as it relates to flight bookings, adding that “arrival figures from the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) signal that the sector is proving its resilience and a return to pre-pandemic performance is on the horizon.”

He further noted that for February to May of 2022, “we are seeing record arrivals out of London,” adding that in February alone, “Jamaica saw its highest number in UK arrivals in the country’s history with a record of 18,000 visitors coming to Jamaica.”

Mr. Bartlett highlighted that “preliminary data from the Planning Institute of Jamaica revealed that stopover arrivals (January to March 2022) increased by 230.1 percent to 475,805 visitors, and cruise passenger arrivals totalled 99,798 when compared to the same period last year.”

Meanwhile, Minister Bartlett underscored that “Emirates Airlines, the largest airline in the Gulf Coast Countries (GCC), is selling seats to Jamaica” adding that “this arrangement, a historic first for Jamaica and the Caribbean, opens gateways from the Middle East, Asia and Africa to our island and the rest of the region.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica; June 13, 2022: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has warned tourism stakeholders to desist from charging individuals seeking to secure jobs in the sector. Noting that it is tantamount to scamming, Minister Bartlett said “nobody is to pay an agent or any intermediary for any recruitment opportunity for work in the tourism sector at this time.”

Speaking at the official handover of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) tools to players in the tourism sector at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel recently, Mr. Bartlett said he has heard of cases where potential workers were being charged up to $200,000 by recruiters.

Stopping short of calling the act criminal, Minister Bartlett noted that anyone caught partaking in this activity will be treated as scammers, adding that “the law will take its course.”

Mr. Bartlett also noted that there is high demand for Jamaican workers not just locally, but globally, adding that the tourism sector has a responsibility to ensure that its workers are not being scammed in the process.

Minister Bartlett then handed over the DRM tools to tourism stakeholders, which included the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Plan Template and Guidelines, and a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) Template and Guidebook. He encouraged them to take the DRM tools to the next level of innovation and convert the information into applicable and physically useful action. He noted that converting the information into action builds capacity and boosts resilience. The Minister reminded the stakeholders that resilience is the “ability for us to respond quickly and well, to recover fast, and grow afterwards.”

As part of the Ministry’s initiative to develop and implement comprehensive strategies to build resilience, the DRM Plan Template and Guidelines, and the BCP Template and Guidebook for the tourism sector, were developed. The primary objective of the DRM Plan is to provide clear guidance to the management and staff of tourism entities on the basic infrastructure and operating procedures required to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from hazard events or emergency situations; while the BCP Guidebook provides guidelines to tourism entities on creating the BCP to enhance risk reduction and recovery strategies.

In the meantime, Executive Director of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Camille Needham, after receiving a batch of the DRM tools, said “the JHTA is fully committed to a sectorial approach to issues like the management of natural and anthropogenic hazards and climate change and their impacts.”

Adding that the sector’s high dependence on natural resources and climate-based activities is also what makes it vulnerable, Mrs. Needham said the JHTA appreciates the importance of resilience and sustainability as a strategic priority for the tourism industry. She stressed that “tourism risk management is critical for our analysis, assessment, treatment, and monitoring of the risks faced year after year.”

Executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Dr. Carey Wallace, Acting Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Richard Thompson, and Executive Director of the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), Mr. Wade Mars, were among the stakeholders who participated in the event.

The function ended with the presentation of certificates to participants in the recently concluded BCP Training Programme facilitated by the TEF.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; June 09, 2022: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says that his ministry has made it a priority to re-imagine the local tourism sector by creating strategic policies, programmes, and initiatives that can aid in building the resilience and increasing the capacity of local small and medium-sized tourism enterprises (SMTEs) to earn more.

Speaking yesterday (June 08) at the Tourism Enhancement Fund’s Business Development Information Session for SMTEs at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, the Minister said, "We called this gathering and brought all these stakeholders here today to understand the need that we see for building resilience and capacity for our small and medium-sized players who are at the heart of tourism."

"Eighty percent of the value of tourism experiences worldwide is driven by small and medium enterprises. The unfortunate fact is that less than 20% of the returns from tourism go to this sector. So, as we rebound and reimagine, we are bringing a new dynamism to the process, and we are trying to rebalance that anomaly. We want you [SMTEs] to get a larger share of the tourism dollar," he added.

Bartlett noted that the Ministry and its public bodies are offering support to the SMTEs and hospitality workers using three pillars: international certification through the Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation; financial support through businesses such as the Jamaica National Bank and the EXIM Bank; and marketing through the Jamaica Tourist Board.

In providing an update on the lending arrangements with the EXIM Bank and Jamaica National, the Minister stated that, "we put $1 billion into the EXIM Bank. They have unlended $1.5 billion to 620 partners who have taken up loans, and they still have $500 million to unlend because it’s a revolving scheme. What it means is that you pay back, and that’s good. We also put $200 million with Jamaica National with the menu of products that they offer, including the TEF 5x5x5, and that has produced results where $900 million has been unlended, and they still have capacity to lend again because it revolves."

As part of increased efforts to boost the competitiveness of the local tourism product and to offer support to budding SMTEs, Bartlett shared that the Ministry of Tourism will be developing an innovation-based tourism incubator (ITI). The initiative, led by the Tourism Enhancement Fund, will support entrepreneurs in converting innovative ideas into viable businesses.

"We are investing in ideas through the innovation incubator that we have established. We have $31 million in this year’s budget to do just that – to go and mine ideas and find young people all across Jamaica with ideas because tourism is driven by ideas,” said the Minister.

The Business Development Information Session for SMTEs is an initiative of the Tourism Linkages Network, a division of the TEF, which was executed with key partners such as the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ); EXIM Bank; Jamaica Manufacturers & Exporters Association (JMEA); Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC); Jamaica National Bank Small Business Loans; and the Companies Office of Jamaica.

The session brought together key business development experts in collaboration with the TEF, and will highlight the products and services available to SMTEs to facilitate their expansion, such as: competitive business loans; GOJ Financing Facilities; Vouchers to assist SMTEs with technical needs; Effective business marketing; Business Development Grants; Product testing services (to ensure products meet market requirements); and Product standardisation services (to ensure products meet market requirements).

KINGSTON, Jamaica; May 20, 2022: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has welcomed the return of Jamaica’s premier music festival, Reggae Sumfest to the island’s calendar of events.

Underscoring its importance, Minister Bartlett said: “Events, festivals, exhibitions, meetings and conventions are huge traffic builders; they are drivers of visitors to destinations and so we encourage and support events of this nature.”

He pointed out that “Reggae Sumfest is known to be the greatest reggae show in the world. Jamaica is its birthplace, so we are excited to be partners in this to make sure that more and more people come to us.”

This year being Jamaica’s 60th anniversary of independence, he anticipated that “our Diaspora is going to be here in great numbers but we’re also using the opportunity to open new markets and the good news is that with the Emirates now selling seats to Jamaica we’ll be able to get people from Asia, North Africa, the Middle East and so on to come to us through some North American gateways for Reggae Sumfest and other events later down the road.”

Speaking at the launch of Reggae Sumfest 2022 at the Iberostar Hotel in Montego Bay yesterday (May 19), Minister Bartlett said the festival was being supported by the Ministry of Tourism through the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), with the expectation of it boosting visitor arrivals during its staging at Catherine Hall in Montego Bay from July 18 to 23.

Sumfest was last held physically in 2019 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’re very happy to be associated with it again this year; the recovery is critical and in recovering we want to do it better and bigger,” said Mr. Bartlett who noted that enquiries were being received from as far as the Middle East.

He said bookings for the months of June and July were very good and this was supported by Montego Bay Chapter Chairman of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, Nadine Spence who said feedback from hotels for the Sumfest period indicated that “bookings are steady and surpass the same period last year.”

Minister Bartlett used the occasion to reinforce the Government’s commitment to the entertainment industry, pointing out that plans were being pursued for the development of a Tourism Entertainment Academy adjacent to the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

He stressed that $50 million had already been earmarked by the TEF to get it started and on completion the facility will be marketed as an attraction for visitors to experience Jamaica’s authentic high quality cultural offerings. Programmes developed for the Academy are expected to increase employment opportunities for professionally trained and skilled artistes.

Dubai, UAE; May 15, 2022:  Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (right) and Chairman of the World Free Zones Organization (WFZO), H.E. Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, discuss logistics for the Caribbean's first World Free Zones Organization Annual International Conference and Exhibition (AICE), which will be hosted by Jamaica from June 13-17, 2022, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

Minister Bartlett and Director of Tourism, Donovan White met with the WFZO Chairman and other key conference planners in Dubai recently to discuss conference activities, legacy projects, resilience and sustainability as well as institutional capacity building support for Jamaica and the Caribbean.

The World Free Zones Conference will be attended by over 1,500 participants, including world leaders, CEOs and investors worldwide. Conference delegates include operators in more than 3,000 free zones from across the world, representing over three million companies.

The meeting was held on behalf of Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill and the Jamaica organizing committee headed by the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA).

In 2019, Jamaica won the bid to host the 2021 staging of the AICE, but the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The conference is being held under the theme ‘Zones: 2022 Your Partner for Resilience, Sustainability and Prosperity’.

Kingston and Montego Bay now available for booking on Emirates Airlines System

DUBAI, UAE; May 10, 2022: In a historic first for Jamaica and the Caribbean, Emirates Airlines, the largest airline in the Gulf Coast Countries (GCC), is now selling seats to Jamaica. This arrangement opens gateways from the Middle East, Asia and Africa to Jamaica and the rest of the region.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett made the announcement today following high-level meetings between Jamaica’s tourism officials and a team from Emirates Airlines led by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority and Chairman & Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group, at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai.

This groundbreaking agreement is a major outcome of Jamaica’s debut participation in the Arabian Travel Market, which runs from May 9-12, 2022.

According to Minister Bartlett: “This is a major initiative for Jamaica as it is opening the Middle Eastern gateway from Asia and North Africa. It is the first time that Destination Jamaica has been entered into the ticketing system of a GCC airline and gives the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) significant leverage to negotiate direct flights to the destination.” Discussions began in October 2021 when Minister Bartlett and Director of Tourism, Donovan White made their first visit to Expo 2020 Dubai.

Both Norman Manley and Sangster International Airports are now listed in the airline system, with ticket pricing available accordingly.  Flights are offered with options including JFK, New York, Newark, Boston and Orlando.  One option goes through Malpensa, Italy, allowing access to the European market as well.  Importantly, the flights are being sold by Emirates Holidays.

Minister Bartlett’s trip to Dubai is part of a mega marketing tour to further boost growth in the island’s tourism industry, which includes stops in New York, Africa, Canada, Europe and Latin America, with breaks in between.DUBAI, UAE; May 10, 2022: In a historic first for Jamaica and the Caribbean, Emirates Airlines, the largest airline in the Gulf Coast Countries (GCC), is now selling seats to Jamaica. This arrangement opens gateways from the Middle East, Asia and Africa to Jamaica and the rest of the region.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett made the announcement today following high-level meetings between Jamaica’s tourism officials and a team from Emirates Airlines led by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority and Chairman & Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group, at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai.

This groundbreaking agreement is a major outcome of Jamaica’s debut participation in the Arabian Travel Market, which runs from May 9-12, 2022.

According to Minister Bartlett: “This is a major initiative for Jamaica as it is opening the Middle Eastern gateway from Asia and North Africa. It is the first time that Destination Jamaica has been entered into the ticketing system of a GCC airline and gives the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) significant leverage to negotiate direct flights to the destination.” Discussions began in October 2021 when Minister Bartlett and Director of Tourism, Donovan White made their first visit to Expo 2020 Dubai.

Both Norman Manley and Sangster International Airports are now listed in the airline system, with ticket pricing available accordingly.  Flights are offered with options including JFK, New York, Newark, Boston and Orlando.  One option goes through Malpensa, Italy, allowing access to the European market as well.  Importantly, the flights are being sold by Emirates Holidays.

Minister Bartlett’s trip to Dubai is part of a mega marketing tour to further boost growth in the island’s tourism industry, which includes stops in New York, Africa, Canada, Europe and Latin America, with breaks in between.

New York, USA; May 4, 2022: In his first address at the United Nations General Assembly today (May 4), Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett urged global tourism leaders to take decisive steps to ensure that people remain at the heart of tourism recovery globally. 

In his keynote address, during the high-level thematic debate on tourism under the theme, ‘Putting sustainable and resilient tourism at the heart of an inclusive recovery,’ Minister Bartlett said, “people must be considered and consulted. People must be included and involved. People must be at the heart of the policies, programmes and practices, because people are and will always be the foundation and heartbeat of our societies, structures, systems and sector.” 

The high-level roundtable presentations included Minister of Tourism of Spain, H.E. Ms. Maria Reyes Maroto Illera; Chairman of the Committee of Tourism Development under the Government of Tajikistan,H.E. Mr.Tojiddin Jurazoda; Minister of Tourism for Honduras, H.E. Ms. Yadira Esther Gómez; and Minister of Environment and Tourism of Botswana, H.E. Ms. Philda N. Kereng. 

Tourism recovery and resilience were central to Minister Bartlett’s presentation, and he highlighted that: “It is necessary to develop short, medium and long-term strategies to boost tourism's resilience and increase its sustainability during times of crisis and beyond.”

“The growth and stability of Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs) underpin the survival of the sector. In this regard, Jamaica continues to deliver critical assistance to SMTEs that constitute 80% of the tourism experiences delivered to our visitors,” he added.

Minister Bartlett also called for a full debate on resilience-building through funding for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to facilitate the even recovery of the global tourism sector.  

“The issue of supply chain disruptions in terms of goods and services and human capital have made the prospects of an equitable recovery challenging. We urge a full debate here at the UN and relevant agencies on the challenges to recovery, with a focus on resilience-building through funding for SIDS who are highly tourism dependent but weakly resourced,” the Minister expressed.

Like other countries, Jamaica was hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the national economy declined by 10.2 per cent, and tourism ended the year with an estimated loss of a staggering US$2.3 billion. The phased re-opening of the tourism sector began in June 2020, and by the end of 2021, the island welcomed 1.6 million visitors and earned US$ 2.1 billion. Additionally, some 80% of the tourism workforce are back at work.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; April 29, 2022: Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett yesterday (April 28) joined an esteemed group of high achievers in the international travel and hospitality industry, with his induction into the prestigious Global Travel Hall of Fame.

The Global Travel Hall of Fame, formerly dubbed The British Travel and Hospitality Hall of Fame, “recognizes the highest achievers in the travel, hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors.” Inductees are also hailed as having not only “achieved phenomenal business success but have also inspired and shaped those around them.” Minister Bartlett is the first Caribbean tourism leader to receive this honour.

The elaborate induction ceremony was held at The Chesterfield Hotel in London. The British Travel and Hospitality Hall of Fame was acquired by Jacobs Media Group in 2014. However, the event was later forced to take a break during the COVID-19 pandemic and was subsequently renamed.

Minister Bartlett said he was “humbled by the recognition” which follows a stream of other worldwide industry awards bestowed upon him. “It is really a humbling experience to be recognized in this manner and to be included as a member of such as revered group, more so because it recognizes not just my own contribution to the sector, but the fact that Jamaica stands out as a prime example of what can be achieved in tourism,” expressed Minister Bartlett.

He has also given credit to the team that he leads in the Ministry of Tourism and its public bodies, describing members as “very dedicated and hardworking public sector workers who appreciate the significance of what they do to the success of tourism and its important contribution to the Jamaican economy.” Minister Bartlett also lauded tourism stakeholders across the island for their contribution and support as partners in developing the sector over the years.

Minister Bartlett’s awards include being named the Caribbean’s Leading Personality for Outstanding Services to Tourism at the 23rd World Travel Awards in 2016 and the Caribbean Tourism Minister of the Year at the Caribbean Travel Awards in 2017.

In 2018 the Pacific Area Travel Writers’ Association (PATWA) named Mr. Bartlett Minister of the Year for Sustainable Tourism. In 2019 he was presented with the TRAVVY Awards inaugural Chairman’s Award for Global Tourism Innovation for the development of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC). He also received the prestigious Gusi Peace prize from the Gusi Foundation in 2020.

Earlier this month Minister Bartlett was also named among 50 global icons of travel and tourism “who have innovated and created new benchmarks in the travel, aviation, tourism, hospitality and allied sectors.”

Under his leadership, Jamaica has seen its all-important tourism industry bouncing back from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic and on its way to equaling pre-pandemic record figures for arrivals and earnings.