KINGSTON, Jamaica; December 23, 2021: Jamaica has been downgraded from a Level 3 to a Level 2 designation by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in recognition of the country's efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 effectively. This new classification places the destination in a risk category lower than that of more than 70 per cent of countries worldwide.

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has expressed his delight at this new classification, noting that it will undoubtedly positively affect the number of visitors travelling to the island from the United States during the Winter Tourist Season.

"We are extremely proud that the CDC has once again lowered its COVID-19 Travel Recommendations ranking to a Level 2 ranking, indicating that COVID-19 contraction level is moderate. In recent months Jamaica has been classified at Level 3 (COVID-19 high), and Level 4 (COVID-19 very high) as many Caribbean islands and other countries are unfortunately still ranked today," said Bartlett.

"It is undoubtedly a show of confidence in the destination and the strict health and safety policies we have in place, particularly within the Tourism Resilience Corridors. I commend our health authorities and the Jamaican people for their efforts to reduce COVID-19 infection and hospitalisation rates, which bodes well for our risk assessment rankings," he added.

Under the CDC update, which was made yesterday, US citizens should be fully vaccinated before travelling to destinations which have the Level 2 designation. The CDC suggests that unvaccinated travellers who are at an increased risk of developing severe illnesses from COVID-19 should avoid unnecessary travel to these locations.

A Level 3 country, on the other hand, has a high COVID-19 prevalence, and travellers must ensure that they are fully vaccinated prior to travel. Unvaccinated travellers should abstain from unnecessary travel to these locations.

“We encourage visitors to continue to keep Jamaica in mind when making their vacation plans and to take comfort in the fact that their visit will be safe. With relatively high vaccination rates and extremely low infection rates, the island continues to be a very safe place for visitors and workers alike,” said Bartlett.

Jamaica is on track to receive over 1.5 million visitors by the end of 2021. With a strong start to the Winter Tourist Season, tourism officials also anticipate that the country will reach pre-pandemic levels of arrivals by the third quarter of 2023.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Wednesday, December 22, 2021: Against the background of tourism being the backbone of the recovering Jamaican economy, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has made an impassioned plea for the protection of the industry.

As the tourism industry strengthens its resilience against the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister Bartlett said Jamaica had been recognized as one of the fastest recovering countries in the world and the fastest-growing tourism destination in the Caribbean.

Speaking today at a breakfast appreciation function for workers at Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport (SIA), Minister Bartlett noted that there were ominous signs of COVID-19 variants and made an impassioned appeal for everyone to safeguard the industry and the national economy by helping to manage the pandemic by getting vaccinated and following the safety protocols.

“I have travelled to more than ten of the largest and most important destinations for tourism as well as for trade and international financing in the last six months and in every instance the message is the same, vaccinate,” he said.

At the same time, the tourism industry was resisting “spouting gloom and doom about the industry with every strain of the virus that comes along because we have been through a few already and in each instance, the industry has bounced back and we have seen even stronger growth.”

Minister Bartlett underscored that tourism was the catalyst driving economic activities across all sectors. “Because tourism is such a huge driver of consumption, it energizes all the productive sectors across the country,” he noted while citing as an example the construction boom in real estate that is being driven the Airbnb tourism subsector.

With tourism doing its part in bringing in the visitors and creating the demand, Minister Bartlett urged the productive sector to do their part in meeting the supply side.

“It is not our job to make sure we are supplying those needs that the visitor has; manufacturers must manufacture what the industry wants, agriculture must provide the agricultural needs; it is not the industry’s responsibility to do that, our job is to bring the visitors here and we do that,” he affirmed.

The Tourism Minister said, “Our records show that the last five days after the start of the winter season have been absolutely phenomenal for us.” He agreed with Chief Executive Officer of MBJ Airports Ltd., Shane Munroe that Jamaica was now seeing pre-COVID-19 arrivals.

Mr. Munroe noted that for the 13^th consecutive year Sangster International Airport, with over 8,000 workers and more than 80 percent of businesses there owned by Jamaicans, had been voted the number one airport in the Caribbean by the World Travel Awards – the leading authority that recognizes and rewards excellence in travel and tourism.

Mr. Munroe said by direct input, “this airport has pumped over US$200 million into the local Jamaican economy.”

As MBJ continues to make significant investments, the MBJ Airports CEO said a new project was coming on stream shortly to expand the departure retail area “with 50 percent more retail space, better seating, natural lighting and an overall improvement in the passenger experience.”

Joining Minister Bartlett and Mr. Munroe in celebrating the airport workers for their tremendous support were Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Mrs. Jennifer Griffith; Director of Tourism, Mr. Donovan White; and Jamaica Tourist Board Regional Director, Mrs. Odette Dyer.

Chief Operations Officer of MBJ Airports Ltd., Peter Hall headed the list of workers receiving special awards for their contribution to the success and smooth operation of visitors passing through the Montego Bay airport.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; December 17, 2021:  Jamaica secured several major accolades yesterday (December 16) during a special World Travel Awards Winners Day presentation in Dubai. Jamaica was named the 'World's Leading Cruise Destination,' 'World's Leading Family Destination,' and 'World's Leading Wedding Destination' for 2021 by the World Travel Awards, the global authority that recognizes and honours excellence in travel and tourism.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett was on hand to accept the coveted awards. “It is an honour for Jamaica to receive these accolades, which represents the strength and resilience of our tourism sector. It has indeed been a challenging two years, but we have risen above the adversities, using creative means to ensure that destination Jamaica remains top of mind in the travel market. All our hardworking stakeholders have toiled together and it is wonderful that Jamaica and our industry leaders are being recognised in this way by such an esteemed organization,” said the Minister. 

Several Jamaican based tourism entities also secured major awards as Sandals Resorts International was named ‘World's Leading All-Inclusive Company,’ while its Beaches Resorts secured the title of ‘World's Leading All-Inclusive Family Resort Brand.’ Island Routes Caribbean Adventures was also named ‘World's Leading Caribbean Attraction Company.’

Fleming Villa at GoldenEye has been named the ‘World's Leading Luxury Hotel Villa.’ Round Hill Hotel & Villas has been dubbed the ‘World's Leading Villa Resort.’ The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC), based at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Jamaica, secured the award for the ‘World's Leading Tourism Initiative.’

In the buildup to the Winners Day Jamaica was recently named the ‘Caribbean's Leading Destination,’ ‘Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination,’ the ‘Caribbean's Leading Adventure Tourism Destination,’ and the ‘Caribbean's Leading Nature Destination’ for 2021, while the Jamaica Tourist Board was named the ‘Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board.’

Several Jamaican tourism entities also secured major awards including Club Mobay at Sangster International Airport, which has been named the ‘Caribbean's Leading Airport Lounge’ for 2021 while Sangster International Airport has been named the ‘Caribbean's Leading Airport.’

The Historic Naval Dock in Port Royal has been named the ‘Caribbean's Leading Tourism Development Project’; Port of Montego Bay selected ‘Caribbean's Leading Home Port’; and Port of Falmouth voted ‘Caribbean's Leading Cruise Port.’ Dunn’s River Falls was named the ‘Caribbean's Leading Adventure Tourist Attraction.’

The World Travel Awards was founded in 1993 to recognize, reward, and celebrate achievement in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries. Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognized worldwide as the pinnacle of industry achievement. This year, the World Travel Awards marks its 28th anniversary, and its annual conference is widely regarded as the most prominent and thorough in the field. Each year, the World Travel Awards Grand Tour travels worldwide, recognizing excellence in each continent through a series of regional gala ceremonies that culminate in a Grand Final at the end of the year.

1.6 Million Visitors and US$ 2 billion in earnings Projected by Yearend

KINGSTON, Jamaica; December 14, 2021:  Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett says data indicates that the island is set to have a strong Winter Tourist Season, with a steady inflow of tourists, which should enable the destination to end 2021 with an excellent showing of 1.6 million visitors and over US$2 billion in earnings.

“I am delighted to announce that our research shows that Jamaica will have a strong and lucrative Winter Tourist Season. I am extremely grateful that despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, our tourism industry is showing rapid signs of recovery. Hotels and attractions have reopened, most of our tourism workers are back on the job, and visitor arrivals continue to surge,” said Minister Bartlett. 

The season, which begins on December 15, should see similar occupancy levels to 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the island), with the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) projecting an average of 65 per cent occupancy in hotels across the island. Based on recent data, the demand for Jamaica is also 38 per cent of 2019, against the world demand of 24 per cent.

According to data secured via GDS – the platform travel agents use to book travel – Jamaica is currently at 61 per cent of 2019 levels compared to 28 per cent globally, for international air passengers.

“This turnaround would not be possible without the united approach taken by our committed tourism stakeholders, both within the public and private sectors, who have worked tirelessly to get tourism back on track. I wish to express my sincere appreciation to our dedicated frontline workers, hoteliers, ground transportation providers, craft vendors, attractions and airport workers, and the many others who have contributed to tourism’s recovery,” said the Minister. 

Bartlett also disclosed that his Ministry is focused on harnessing tourism’s full potential to advance Jamaica’s economic recovery by reimagining the industry using the Tourism Blue Ocean Strategy as a guide.

“Our approach to shift our focus away from head-on competition and instead redraw industry boundaries and operate within that new space will help us to meet our growth targets of five million visitors, five billion dollars in earnings and five thousand new rooms by 2025,” he said. 

“We are redefining the industry around products and interactive experiences. In addition to making music a more prominent and inclusive part of the visitor experience, we are creating programs to get more visitors out of hotels to enjoy community-based experiences. We are strengthening the links between tourism and other productive sectors and extending the benefits of tourism to communities across the island. This will allow more Jamaicans to benefit from tourism,” he added. 

Several major investments in the tourism product will further fuel the sector’s recovery. “New and existing investors are set to spend close to US$2 billion over the next two years, which will result in the addition of 7,500 new rooms and more than 20,000 full-time and part-time jobs,” the Minister outlined.

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.