KINGSTON, Jamaica; December 13, 2021: Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett says current trends indicate that post-COVID-19 international travellers will prefer "sustainable" destinations, making this pandemic an opportunity for global leaders to transition their tourism industries by creating policies that balance economic growth with social and environmental concerns.

"The sector must find ways to answer: how increasingly scarce natural resources can be prudently managed; how economic growth can be aligned with the social and economic needs of local populations and communities; as well as the preservation of the natural environment," said Minister Bartlett. 

"Tourism development strategies and practices must be increasingly designed with the view of promoting more resource-efficient initiatives that are aligned with goals of sustainable consumption and production. Understanding the volatile and difficult environment within which they operate, we have come to terms with the fact that reducing the number of raw materials, energy, production, operating and disposal costs will increase the sector's bottom line," he added. 

The Minister made these remarks yesterday during the just concluded Global Citizen Forum staged in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. Mr. Bartlett was participating in a high-level panel discussion on “Cross Border Collaborations: From Periphery to the Core.”

The Minister also used the opportunity to provide an update on the recovery of Jamaica's tourism sector and the measures that have been taken to ensure the industry is safe and committed to generating benefits for all involved in the value chain. 

"We are well aware that the road to recovery will be very daunting, and we are also cognizant that tourism is a resilient sector that has bounced back from adversities. We are now in full recovery mode, which the Blue Ocean Strategy will guide," said the Minister. 

A Blue Ocean Strategy is defined as the simultaneous pursuit of differentiation and low cost to open up a new market space and create new demand. It is about creating and capturing uncontested market space, making the competition irrelevant. It is based on the view that market boundaries and industry structure are not a given and can be reconstructed by the actions and beliefs of industry players. 

"A Blue Ocean Strategy will see our Ministry pursuing enhanced value-creation, through product differentiation and diversification, which will allow Destination Jamaica to be more sustainable, appeal to new markets and stimulate new demand," said Bartlett. 

"Resetting Jamaica's tourism also requires the identification and establishment of innovative policies, systems, protocols, and standards that will assure our visitors a safer, secure, and seamless experience while building out a new national tourism model based on a diversified portfolio of unique and authentic attractions and activities, which draw heavily on Jamaica's natural and cultural assets and ensure that more locals can participate in and benefit from the tourism sector," he added.

The Global Citizen Forum was hosted by Ras Al Khaimah's ruler, Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, and welcomed over 450 dignitaries worldwide to the Emirate. It was held in collaboration with the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority to reimagine a new momentum for human mobility.

FALMOUTH, Jamaica; December 10, 2021: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has revealed that the much-anticipated Tourism Workers Pension Scheme will be introduced on January 1, 2022. Legislation giving effect to the scheme was approved by Parliament some two years ago, but implementation was delayed with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister Bartlett announced the new implementation date yesterday (December 9) at the official opening of the 444-suite Ocean Eden Bay hotel. He said the introduction of the scheme is now possible as the industry is recovering, adding that the safety of the workers and their social protection are of paramount importance.

Mr. Bartlett said the thinking behind the pension scheme was to ensure that “the workers of our industry can have an opportunity to look forward to a future that will secure them and their families.”

“We are back on track and have concluded arrangements with the fund manager Sagicor and fund administrator Guardian Life. Come January 1st some 350,000 tourism workers can begin registration, for a sound and worry-free financial future,” he expressed.

The Tourism Workers Pension Scheme is a defined contributory plan supported by legislation and will require mandatory contributions by workers and employers. Prior to the pandemic, several sensitization sessions were held with tourism workers island-wide to get feedback and to explain how the scheme will work.

“The pension scheme will require mandatory contributions by workers and employers. It covers all workers ages 18-59 years in the tourism sector, whether permanent, contract or self-employed. Benefits will be payable at age 65 years or older,” Minister Bartlett outlined.

He explained that initially, for 2022, the contribution will be 3% of gross salary to be matched by the employer, and 5% thereafter. The Government of Jamaica will provide $1 billion to seed the fund.

“A key feature of this pension scheme is that it will allow workers to move around within the industry, taking their benefits, without being penalized or losing any of their contributions,” Minister Bartlett expressed.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; December 10, 2021: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has been invited by organizers of the Global Citizen Forum (GCF) to speak at the high-level event in his capacity as an “avid visionary with an exemplary commitment to inspiring a better world” and to share his mission with the GCF community of governments, international organizations, civil society and global citizens.

The highly anticipated global event will take place under the theme, “The Future in Motion” in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), from December 12-13, 2021.  It will be hosted in partnership with the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority and will feature powerful discussions from global leaders and heads of state on some of the most pressing challenges humanity is facing today.

“It is an honour to have been invited to participate in this important global forum. It is critical given the upheaval of the last two years that we come together to discuss themes of global importance,” said Minister Bartlett. He noted that “the future is in motion like never before. However, it is a synergy of both movement and recovery of economies, societies, travel and so much more.  It is critical that as we move forward, we do so with careful deliberation and execution to ensure a more sustainable, inclusive and connected global society.”

Minister Bartlett will participate in a plenary session on “Cross Border Collaborations: From Periphery to the Core”, which will look at how countries on the periphery can meet the needs of their people and address global challenges such as the current pandemic or pre-empt ongoing crises like an environmental climate disaster.

Encouraging important conversations about the new momentum of human migration, GCF will feature insightful presentations and powerful discussions on pioneering initiatives for sustainable migration, technology’s role in creating a net-zero carbon world, space travel as a new frontier for humanity, redefining human connection, and empowering the future of global citizenship.

Among the confirmed and invited speakers for this year’s edition are the Hon. Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda; Hon. Philip Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia; Hon. H.E. Jean Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge, Prime Minister, Democratic Republic of Congo; H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Republic of Ghana, among other heads of state, philanthropists and global leaders.

Following the GCF, Minister Bartlett will travel to Amman, Jordan, where he will meet with His Excellency Al Fayez, Minister of Tourism for Jordan and other tourism partners, including representatives of Royal Jordanian Airlines, to discuss investments and increased cooperation between Jamaica and the Middle East. He will the return to the UAE where he will attend the World Travel Awards Grand Final Winners Day 2021 in Dubai as well as meet with tourism partners to follow up on investment and new market opportunities first broached while in the Middle East in October.

Minister Bartlett left the island today (Friday, December 10) and is slated to return on Saturday, December 18, 2021.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; December 9, 2021: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has announced that his Ministry will implement a special Winter Tourist Season Capacity Building Support Programme for the island's craft traders. The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) is spearheading the initiative, which will provide grants to licensed craft vendors to assist them in preparing for the anticipated influx of tourists during the Winter Tourist Season, which begins on December 15.

Bartlett and a team of key officials from the Ministry and its public bodies, including the TEF, kick-started their engagements and consultations with the craft vendors to sensitize them about the programme, during a meeting with craft representatives, in Ocho Rios earlier today (December 9, 2021).

It was also emphasised that prior to today’s meeting representatives of the Port Authority of Jamaica, Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), the Jamaica Vacations Limited (JAMVAC) and other tourism entities had met to review the dispatch system at cruise ports to ensure that COVID-19 compliant and TPDCo certified craft markets across the resort areas are able get more traffic from cruise visitors to secure well needed tourism earnings.

"Our craft traders play a very critical role in the tourism value chain. Therefore as the tourism industry is rebounding, with data indicating that we will have an influx of visitors from our key markets such as North America and Europe, following our recent major marketing blitz, we want to ensure that they are fully prepared to reap the benefits," said Minister Bartlett.

"I am therefore happy to announce that we will be providing financial assistance to the 651 licensed craft vendors across the island to help them build capacity to meet the increasing demand for craft items. We understand that their industry has been relatively inactive for most of the year due to COVID-19 restrictions. Therefore, we know that these funds will go a long way in helping them to get back on their feet," he added.

Since August 2021, Jamaica has welcomed 16,237 cruise ship passengers across a total of 10 different cruise calls, according to the Jamaica Tourist Board. The rebound of cruise has significantly impacted the craft industry, with trips to the markets being included in cruise itineraries.

"Just recently, we had three buses filled with cruise visitors to the Ocho Rios Craft Market, six buses at the Pineapple Craft Market and five buses to Olde Market from the Emerald Princess Cruise ship. So, we know that there will continue to be a steady inflow of customers for the craft vendors, with cruise returning to all major ports across the island," said the Minister.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; December 3, 2021: Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett has emphasised that Jamaica is restructuring the tourism industry to ensure that more of the earnings from the sector go to the small and medium tourism enterprises.

The Minister made the comment yesterday during a Ministerial Debate on Policies to Foster Tourism for Rural Development during the 24^th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly in Madrid, Spain.

"There are inequities we know to exist in those who are the real providers of tourism experiences and those who are the beneficiaries of the tourism spend. Globally, 80 per cent of tourism is driven by the small and medium players, but only 20 per cent of the returns go to them. We have to rebalance that asymmetry, and I think that the policy that Jamaica has adopted in this regard will go a long way in enabling this rebalancing," said Bartlett.

He added that research has shown that people travel to experience culture not traditionally found in the resort areas but in rural communities. Therefore the Ministry will be focusing heavily on leveraging community tourism experiences, especially those focusing on the country's rich biodiversity.

"We have developed a programme to drive community tourism through the very rich biodiversity which Jamaica has. We have more than 30,000 species of plants which generate for us enormous nutraceutical values. It is the rural folk that provides for us the herbs and spices and the paramedical applications that are so useful for health and wellness," he said.

Bartlett added that this would be done using three main methods. These methods include capacity development of the people to organize and set up structures that will allow them to benefit from corporative activities; secondly to broaden their scope and perspective to develop more indigenous products; and thirdly to set up financial arrangements to give smaller players access to finance.

"We have put J$1 billion into our EXIM Bank that is on-lend to small and medium tourism enterprises. That funding is provided to them at some 4% interest over five years with a maximum amount of J$25 million," he said.

"Another key aspect is marketing, and we have provided the marketing arrangements in what we call Village Tourism.  Within this village structure, we are establishing artisan villages and the purpose of that is to allow the artisans to operate in situ," he added. 

The discussion was moderated by Sandra Carvao, Chief, Market Intelligence and Competitiveness, UNWTO.

Panellists included H.E. Mr Ricardo Galindo Bueno, Vice Minister of Tourism, Colombia; H.E. Dato' Sri Nancy Shukri, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Malaysia; and Hon. Ms. Sofía Montiel de Afara, Minister - Executive Secretary, National Secretariat of Tourism (SENATUR), Paraguay.

Also on the panel were H.E. Mr Simon Zajc, State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, Slovenia; H.E. Mrs Maria Reyes Maroto Illera, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Spain; Hon. Dr Damas Ndumbaro, Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Tanzania; and H.E. Ms Özgül Özkan Yavuz, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Turkey.

The World Tourism Organization's General Assembly is the body's main gathering. Delegates from UNWTO Full and Associate Members, as well as representatives from UNWTO Affiliate Members, attend its ordinary meetings every two years.

Minister Bartlett is expected to return from Spain on December 5, 2021.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; December 1, 2021: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett was elected by acclamation as the new Chairman of the esteemed Organization of American States (OAS) Inter-American Committee on Tourism (CITUR), during a meeting of the Integral Council for Development (CIDI) yesterday.

“I am very happy to have been chosen for this very important role, which will help move the tourism industry forward, during this on-going pandemic. I thank the members for their faith in me and look forward to continuing the process of working with each member state in the months to come,” said Bartlett.

“I pledge to enhance engagement with all delegations to guarantee that the Americas area not only survives but thrives in the post-pandemic era and beyond,” he added.

In his acceptance remarks, he also urged the region to "not accept what was nor what is but what must be" to address the pandemic's difficulties and heal and thrive. As a result, the Americas will have a strong tourism sector, which will provide more jobs and economic well-being for its citizens.

Minister Bartlett urged the Member States to work together for the recovery and future of tourism, emphasizing the need for innovation and investment in priority products and people. He also complimented his Vice Chairs from Ecuador and Paraguay.

Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, and the United States are all members of CITUR, the most prestigious tourist organization in the Americas.

The meeting took place in Madrid, Spain, on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations World Tourism Organization’s General Assembly, which Minister Bartlett is also actively participating in.

The Organization of American States is the world's oldest regional organization, dating back to the First International Conference of American States in October 1889 to April 1890 in Washington, D.C. The International Union of American Republics was established at that summit. The stage was set for weaving a web of provisions and institutions that became known as the inter-American system, the world's oldest international institutional framework.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; December 1, 2021: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI), a vital partner of the Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation (JCTI), has agreed to publish a special training case study focusing on Jamaica. The decision was made because, since the partnership began four years ago, over 8,000 Jamaican tourism workers have received professional certification.

This was announced during a meeting in Madrid earlier today with Ed Kastli, Vice President of International Sales at AHLEI. Noting that 1 million jobs remain open in the United States market for tourism workers, Minister Bartlett underscored that this partnership remains valuable as Jamaica continues to focus on human capital development across the tourism sector.

“AHLEI published COVID-19 guidelines and protocols in March 2020 for the hotels and restaurants, which were shared with us at the Ministry of Tourism for conversion into training programmes to ensure the safety and security of our tourism workers and visitors,” he explained.

The JCTI is a division of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), a public body of the Ministry of Tourism. The JCTI is tasked with facilitating the development of Jamaica’s valuable human capital and supporting innovation within the tourism sector.

“Tourism is central to Jamaica’s national development. One key goal of the programmes and activities of the Ministry of Tourism and our public bodies is to create jobs that redound to an improved quality of life for the average Jamaican,” Minister Bartlett expressed.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; November 30, 2021: Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett has emphasised that Jamaica’s tourism sector will cross a major threshold in its recovery tomorrow (December 1) with the Montego Bay Cruise Port set to welcome its first cruise ship since the re-opening of the local cruise industry. In welcoming the return of cruise to the tourism Mecca he underscored that “it will mark the return of operations to all the island’s major cruise ports.”  

The conquest-class cruise ship heading to the island is Carnival Glory, operated by Carnival Cruise Line. The vessel has a maximum capacity of 2,980 passengers and 1,150 crew members.

“I am delighted to welcome cruise back to the tourism capital of Jamaica – Montego Bay. I am certain that this will be a welcome move for our stakeholders, especially our small and medium tourism enterprises, who earn significantly from cruise passengers. We certainly look forward to welcoming Carnival passengers to our shores and assure them that this will be a memorable but very safe experience,” said Bartlett.

The return of cruise to the second city is being managed by the Port Authority of Jamaica, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) and the Jamaica Vacations Limited (JAMVAC).

"Within the Resilient Corridors, travellers will be able to tour facilities and participate in pre-arranged excursions. Our first objective was, and continues to be, instilling confidence in travellers. We want our visitors to feel comfortable and secure when they visit us while also ensuring that their experiences are enjoyable and that our vivid Jamaican personality shines through," Bartlett stated.

Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise line, recently committed to sending 110 or more cruises, by its various brands, to the island between October 2021 and April 2022. The announcement followed discussions between Minister Bartlett, local tourism officials, and senior Carnival Corporation executives during recent meetings. The meetings formed part of a major marketing blitz, which saw the Minister and his team visiting the main tourism source markets of Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom and the emerging market of the Middle East.

Carnival Cruise Line is an international cruise line with its headquarters in Doral, Florida. The company is a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; November 29, 2021: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett departed the island yesterday to attend the twenty-fourth session of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly, which will take place in Madrid, Spain, from November 30 to December 3, 2021.

The General Assembly will focus on innovation, education, rural development, and tourism's role in inclusive growth. Additionally, the programme includes the approval of proposed amendments to the UNWTO Affiliate Membership Legal Framework, the UNWTO Students' League finals, and the appointment of the UNWTO Secretary-General for the period 2022-2025. 

“The event will also feature a Video Competition, which includes two categories: Exceptional Tales of Tourism Resilience and Tourism Promotion and the Decade of Action. The General Assembly is the UNWTO's principal gathering and the venue for Member States to adopt the UNWTO's biennial work program and budget for 2022-2023,” the Minister outlined.

All of the approximately 159 member states are expected to be in attendance in Madrid for the General Assembly, which is the supreme organ of the UNWTO. Its ordinary sessions are held every two years and are attended by delegates of the Full and Associate Members.

“The General Assembly is the most critical meeting of senior tourism officials and high-level private sector representatives worldwide. It is the principal gathering of the UNWTO and meets to approve the budget and programme of work and debate ‎topics of vital importance to the tourism sector,” Minister Bartlett explained.

Minister Bartlett is slated to return to the island on December 5, 2021.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; November 25, 2021:  Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that in a bid to boost the tourism sector, Jamaica will be targetting three million cruise ship visitors by 2025.

Earlier today, he made this declaration during the Jamaica Vacations Limited (JAMVAC) Executive Management and Board Retreat, hosted at Royalton Blue Waters in Trelawny.

"Our intention is to ensure that Jamaica gets 3 million cruise passengers by 2025.  We have built out the infrastructure, and we are going to do further work in the marketplace in order to accomplish this important objective," said Bartlett.

"The energy that both the Jamaica Tourist Board and JAMVAC will be putting into the market will be to position Jamaica, not just as a Caribbean destination of choice, but a destination that is attractive to people in Europe in particular, as well as Asia and the Middle East," he added.

Bartlett noted that JAMVAC would continue working closely with the Port Authority of Jamaica, the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), and the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) to achieve this goal.

The welcome news comes amid reports that the cruise sub-sector, which re-opened in August, has been steadily growing. The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) has reported that cruise passengers totalled 8,379 from 5 ships for the months of August and September, relative to none during the corresponding period of 2020. The PIOJ also outlined that Real Value Added for the Hotels & Restaurants industry was estimated to have grown by 114.7% for the July to September period of 2021, when compared to the same period for 2020.  Stopover visitor arrivals for the months of July and August 2021 increased by 293.3%, over the same period for 2020.

JAMVAC is a public body of the Ministry of Tourism and was founded in 1978. It oversees the Ministry’s airlift and cruise portfolios.  Its mandate is to create the conditions for Jamaica's visitor numbers to grow at a faster rate.  It also aims to provide, protect, and increase airlift capacity on both scheduled and charter routes by collaborating with existing and potential new carriers to ensure adequate capacity on each route.  Furthermore, it markets directly to cruise agents, solicits calls to Jamaican ports from cruise lines, and ensures that passengers' onshore experiences are always at their best.

JAMVAC is governed by a Board of Directors, chaired by Bertram Wright, and Joy Roberts is the current Executive Director.