MONTEGO BAY, St. James; August 15, 2019: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has indicated that Jamaica is taking note that the potential global economic downturn and sargassum phenomena are real threats to the tourism industry.

"We recall the recession of 2008 that impacted economies globally and recognize the need to strategize in light of data and trends. Despite this global recession, Jamaica's tourism grew by an average 3.5% and we will need to learn from those lessons," said Minister Bartlett.

There is general concern that the global economy may be on the verge of a slight downturn and possible recession. There is also concern regarding sargassum, which is a type of seaweed that can negatively impact tourist destinations when washed up on shore. 

Minister Bartlett said, “The possibility of a global economic downturn can have a devastating impact on not only Jamaica’s tourism but the region’s tourism. Coupled with this potential threat is now the impending influx of sargassum on our shores. What this means is that we must act decisively and swiftly to collaborate on the best way forward to get ahead of these threats.” 

Minister Bartlett was speaking at a meeting with members of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) today at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, to discuss the threat of sargassum on the island’s tourism. The meeting included senior officials from the Ministry and its agencies, key hotel stakeholders and President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourist Association.

“This meeting with our hotel partners is critical as we seek ways to develop economic resilience. These threats have the potential to negatively impact our livelihoods given the fact that the Caribbean is so heavily dependent on tourism.

Last year, the Caribbean welcomed 29.9 million visitors and contributed 40% of the region’s GDP but if we do not act, we could see our growth in arrivals and earnings go down,” added Minister Bartlett.  

Minister Bartlett also used the opportunity to have partners from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) make a presentation on their suggested strategy to cut off the sargassum prior to it reaching our shores and to get feedback from hoteliers.

President of the JHTA, Omar Robinson also highlighted the need to urgently identify solutions to “mitigate against any potential fallout this could have on our tourism product.” 

Minister Bartlett added that as it relates to sargassum, “The Global Tourism and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCM) is leading the charge to collaborate and conduct research to come up with workable solutions. Earlier this week, the GTRCM also met with the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, to explore future collaboration regarding research on the sargassum challenges faced by the Caribbean towards identifying solutions.”

Minister Bartlett, through the GTRCM, recently spearheaded a regional sargassum forum which included mechanical engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Precision Engineering Research Group; and noted researchers from the University of the West Indies, Mona and the GTRCM. 

On October 9 and 10 of this year, the GTRCM will host a second summit with leading researchers geared towards climatic disruptions with a focus on sargassum.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; August 14, 2019: In the past six years, some 3900 youth have benefitted from the Tourism Enhancement Fund’s (TEF) Summer Internship Programme (SIP), which introduces participants (between 16-25 years) to the world of work and assists them with gaining professional experience. 

This year’s internship programme gave some 649 high school and tertiary students the opportunity to intern in tourism and non-tourism fields at 90 private and public sector entities across the island. In addition, TEF collaborated with Jamaica Association for the Deaf to place 10 hearing impaired students.

Speaking to a packed house at the programme’s closing ceremony, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett told the interns that their postings would have given them a “very practical and hands on appreciation  of the many moving parts that must come together seamlessly to create the tourism experience that we sell to the world.”  The ceremony took place today at the Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston.

Noting that some interns may have wondered in the process how significant their jobs were to tourism, Minister Bartlett explained the five pillars essential to tourism growth (new products, new markets, new investments, development of human capital and new partnerships) and the importance of partnerships  that bring the many moving parts of tourism together.

“You may wonder why you went to a paramedical facility to work. Because we are involved in creating three key S’s that are important to those five pillars – safety, security and seamlessness. So, to enable safety and have an understanding of safety you now have to go where the providers of safety reside. And it’s not just the police but the hospitals,” said the Tourism Minister, noting that health security is a critical part of the Destination Assurance that makes Jamaica a place where people want to go to.

“So we need trauma centres and we need proper clinics, trained nurses that can respond quickly and the best doctors. We also need the best equipment for medical care.  So you see just within the sphere of medicine – another moving part – how we are securing the safety of our visitors,” Minister Bartlett continued. 

He pointed out that the providers of security and the creation of a seamless system through connectivity were equally important to tourism’s proper functioning and success.

“These are what cause tourism to happen and so therefore when we do these summer internship programmes it is to expose you to these areas that are not in the hotels where traditionally you see tourism. We deliberately didn’t post you at hotels for that purpose  so you understand how broad, how extensive, how inclusive tourism is; how deep and wide the value chain of tourism is; and how when you train in all these various disciplines you are really preparing yourself to give service,” he said.

He noted that the focus of SIP is customer service and service excellence, which is part of the broader policy of the Ministry of Tourism concerning human capital development and as part of professionalizing the tourism sector through the Ministry’s educational arm, the Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation.

This year, interns were taken through formal training in customer service, business and office etiquette and leadership development with special focus on Guest Service Gold Tourism for which they will be certified. This certificate course was offered in partnership with the American Hotel and Lodging Educational institute (AHLEI).

NEW YORK, NY – August 12, 2019 – Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett has extended an invitation to actress Kerry Washington and her family to come to Jamaica for a family getaway during her next shoot break. The Minister, who was special guest at the Jamaica Independence gala, had high praises for the Emmy and Golden Globe nominated American born actress, who is of Jamaican descent.

She was honoured with an ‘Artistic Achievement Award’ at Jamaica’s 57th Independence Black Tie Gala, held at the Hilton Westchester Hotel in Rye, New York on Saturday, August 10. While Ms. Washington was unable to attend in person to accept the award, Minister Bartlett conveyed the special invitation to Kerry by way of her parents and lauded her for the contribution she has made as part of the Jamaican Diaspora, which has helped to propel and promote Jamaica not just in the United States but globally.

Mr. Bartlett told the gathering that Ms. Washington through her trailblazing artistic endeavours has made a significant contribution not only to tourism in Jamaica but by extension brand Jamaica.

In a letter read by her parents, Ms. Washington noted her appreciation for the award and was humbled to have been considered for the recognition. She thanked the organizers, expressing regret that she was unable to attend in person to accept the award, reiterating that “I AM JAMAICAN” to enthusiastic applause. 

Kerry’s career took flight in 2004 when she appeared as Della Bea Robinson, the wife of musician Ray Charles, in the biopic Ray.  She won “Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture” for Ray at the NAACP Image Awards in 2005. Washington is best known for her portrayal of Olivia Pope in the ABC TV drama Scandal – that has earned her several Emmy, Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and Golden Globe nominations. She is also known for portraying lawyer/academic Anita Hill in the 2016 HBO film Confirmation, which she executive produced under the banner of her production company Simpson Street. Last year, Washington starred on Broadway in ‘American Son,’ which is now a motion picture to premiere on Netflix in fall of 2019.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; August 9, 2019: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, leaves the island today to meet with the United Nations’ division of partners and other potential tourism investors in New York.

In outlining the significance of the meetings with these stakeholders, Minister Bartlett said, “The visit to New York is to accomplish a number of things. Among them is my meeting with the United Nations’ division of partners to discuss the relationship with the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCM) and our strategic development, particularly in areas of climate change and seismic disruptions.”

The GTRCM is dedicated to assisting with preparedness, management and recovery from disruptions and crises that impact tourism and threaten economies and livelihoods. Just this week, President of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, accepted an invitation to be Honorary Co-Chair representing Africa.

“I will also be having a series of discussions with potential investors in the area of shopping to look at the building out of mega shopping facilities in Jamaica. One of these discussions will be with one of the largest developers of shopping malls in the United States (U.S) and there is strong interest in building out such a facility in Montego Bay,” Minister Bartlett added.

While in New York, Minister Bartlett will also speak at the Jamaica Independence Black tie Gala. The Jamaica Independence Gala, which is organized by the the Jamaica Independence Gala Society, is an annual event for celebrants from the business, ecumenical and organizational communities to celebrate Jamaica's Independence.

In acknowledging the importance of the event, Minister Bartlett said, “I am delighted to speak at this significant gathering which forms part of the Independence celebration activities for the Diaspora and will bring focus to the great work being done by nonprofit organization, Food for the Poor.

This staging of the Gala will also honour acclaimed U.S actress Kerry Washington and our very own Byron LaBeach, the distinguished Olympian of the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games.”

The Minister will also participate in a series of interviews with TravAlliance and Recommend Magazine as well as a live interview with Good Day New York. The focus of the interviews will be to highlight the successes of Jamaica’s tourism industry; give an update on product development; and look at the work of the GTRCM, especially as it relates to the issue of Sargassum.

Minister Bartlett returns to the island on August 13, 2019.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – August 8, 2019: President of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, has accepted Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett’s invitation to be Honorary Co-Chair (representing Africa) of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCM).  

President Kenyatta joins the esteemed ranks of Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, former President of Malta, as GTRCM honorary co-chairs.

The announcement was made yesterday, at a press briefing hosted at the offices of the Jamaica Tourist Board, New Kingston, by Kenya’s Minister of Tourism and Wildlife, the Hon. Najib Balala.

Kenya’s Tourism Minister was in Jamaica as a member of a Kenyan delegation, headed by President Kenyatta, on a three-day State visit.

The announcement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Governments of the two countries on Monday to broaden cooperation in tourism. Among the many areas listed in the framework for cooperation are the promotion of safe, ethical and sustainable tourism; collaboration on addressing risk related to tourism resilience and crisis management, through research and development, policy advocacy and communication management, and training and capacity building; and the establishment of a satellite centre of the GTRCM in Kenya.

“We are excited that a new frontier beckons us and that is the African frontier,” said Minister Bartlett.    Noting Jamaica has focussed largely on the United States and Europe for its visitors, he said Africa offered great opportunity as a source market.  “Africa is the new development centre of the world; it is where the new middle class is and the capacity to travel is there. The desire to come to Jamaica is very strong,” he said.  Africa is home to 1.2 billion people while Kenya is the third fastest growing economy on the continent.

“We see an urgent call for greater interaction and connectivity between the people of Kenya and Jamaica that can be fulfilled through tourism and this memorandum of understanding will go a far way in enhancing the opportunity for interaction,” Minister Bartlett continued.

Endorsing the GTRCM, Minister Balala said, “We are here today to support your vision and ideals of establishing a Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre. We in Kenya are committed to support this.”

He said Kenya pledged to work with Jamaica, the University of the West Indies and the University of Nairobi to create strategies to counter crises when they happen. Noting that crises can take place anytime and anywhere, he said, “We have the capacity now from lessons learned before on how to counter them.”

In his contribution, Executive Director of the GTRCM, Professor Lloyd Waller, stressed the importance of south-south cooperation as the key to development and noted that the Centre will play an important role where that is concerned.  “There are not enough initiatives for south-south cooperation. A lot of the international development partners are in the developed world and it is important for us to identify a local south organization that will facilitate development. I think that the Centre can play that particular role.”

The GTRCM is dedicated to assisting with preparedness, management and recovery from disruptions and crises that impact tourism and threaten economies and livelihoods.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; August 8, 2019: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, says Jamaica is actively exploring additional air connectivity options out of Europe, in light of the United Kingdom (UK) leaving the European Union – which is more popularly known as Brexit. The decision for the UK to leave the European Union (EU) was made in 2016 through a referendum.

Minister Bartlett made the announcement following a meeting yesterday with several key representatives of the EU to Jamaica yesterday at his New Kingston office. The countries represented were Germany, Spain, France and Belgium.

“We are taking a proactive step to ensure that air connectivity between Jamaica and Europe remains robust and consistent given the possibility that our current main gateway from that area – the United Kingdom – may leave the European Union.

England’s departure from the EU will impact not just Jamaica but the region and so these discussions are timely and critical,” said Minister Bartlett.

On average, Jamaica welcomes over 300 thousand European visitors annually. Last year, 328 thousand Europeans visited the island.

High on the list of topics discussed was the need for a market analysis, including stopovers from low cost European airlines and main market for European visitors to Jamaica, to inform the possibility of an EU Air Services Agreement. It was also noted that there was precedent for such an agreement, specifically the 2007 USA/EU Air Transport Agreement.

Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Jamaica, Ambassador Malgorzata Wasilewska, who lead discussions on behalf of the EU representatives, noted that, “The United Kingdom has been the historical and traditional door to Europe for Jamaica and with Brexit most likely to take place, there is interest in strengthening relations with Jamaica and the remaining 27 EU Member States to better engage the markets and people of those countries.”

Ambassador Wasilewska also noted that she would seek further information on a framework within which a collective air services agreement could be pursued by early September.

Minister Bartlett also said, “We will continue bilateral negotiations with individual EU Member States for increased air connectivity between Europe and Jamaica which will include discussions with large carriers from Europe to bridge gaps between the commercial interests, including code sharing arrangements.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica; August 5, 2019: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has challenged the local agricultural sector to make a greater effort to satisfy the demands of Jamaica’s tourism sector for fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and poultry.

“There is a symbiotic relationship between tourism and agriculture and Jamaica needs to do more to leverage that relationship to the benefit of the people. Agri-tourism is a vital part of the experiences that are marketed all across the globe and Jamaica has not done very well in building out agri-tourism as we understand it,” said Minister Bartlett.

Speaking yesterday at the opening ceremony for the 67th staging of the Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show in May Pen, Clarendon, the Tourism Minister said the demand for agricultural produce by the tourism sector is valued at some $40 billion dollars.  Of this, poultry, meats and seafood alone accounted for 75% of this total value, fruits accounted for another 10% and vegetables accounted for 6.4%.

“When we talk about poultry, we are getting into a new and expanded area of values because we are talking about eggs; we are talking about liquid eggs that are required. Would you believe, at any given hotel the average consumption for a visitor is exceeding five eggs a day? We have 4.5 million visitors coming to the island this year. Do the math,” the Tourism Minister said.

“Eggs are one of the most ubiquitous of all the ingredients used in the various types of delectable food Jamaica provides.  We need eggs for everything, especially pastry. So you can add to that five eggs another quotient and you can see the volume of eggs required by the farmers of Jamaica to be produced just to satisfy the needs of the local tourism industry,” Minister Bartlett add.

Local farmers were also encouraged to look beyond supplying the hotel sector to other areas, including eco-tourism and farm-to-table tourism, to build out visitor experiences. The Minister noted that more and more travellers are visiting farms for educational and recreational purposes.  “Farm tourism is a thriving business, providing both farmers and communities with additional income,” he said.

The Ministry of Tourism, through its Tourism Linkages Network, has been taking a proactive approach to using Jamaican food by implementing initiatives to equip farmers and agri-processors to take advantage of economic opportunities in the tourism sector and provide bigger markets for their produce.  Some $54.2 million has been pumped into gastronomy initiatives, like the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival, which ultimately benefit local farmers.

In addition, the Tourism Linkages Network, through the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), has committed over $24 million to projects to improve agricultural productivity and scale up sourcing, including facilitating the development of berry farming and the Tourism Agri-Linkages Exchange (ALEX) initiative, which has facilitated contracts valued at over $237 million.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; August 2, 2019: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, says the United Nations (UN) is fully on board to improve coordinated action and share expertise and resources with the Global Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCM, as it relates to the threat of sargassum to the region.

“This agreement follows fruitful discussions with the UN and the GTRCM recently. Both entities recognize that the effects of this sargassum are becoming more and more severe and concerns of the UN and the GTRCM include impacts on tourism in the region, as well as impacts on fisheries, human health, and the environment.

Jamaica is taking the lead on this matter given the threat of this phenomenon on our main economic activity in the region – tourism,” said Minister Bartlett.

Minister Bartlett, who serves as Co-Chair of the GTRCM was instrumental in bringing the United Nations to the table, when he met with the UN Office of Partnerships in New York recently.

The UN was represented by the Head of the Caribbean Sub-Regional Office of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean of the Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The meetings, which included Professor Lloyd Waller of the University of the West Indies (UWI); Renata Clarke (FAO), Vincent Sweeney (UNEP)  and Ileana Lopez (UNEP) discussed the relevant work taking place at the UWI and across the UN, and considered options such as sinking of the sargassum to prevent it from coming ashore. 

Minister Bartlett, through the GTRCM, recently spearheaded a regional sargassum forum which included mechanical engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Precision Engineering Research Group; and noted researchers from the UWI and the GTRCM. The objective of the forum was to share knowledge and best practices as it relates to sargassum, specifically the type which originates from the coast of Brazil.

“We are still in the exploratory phase to bring together the best minds so as to collaborate on the best method to mitigating the threat of this phenomena and will be continuing these discussions to decide on the way forward,” Minister Bartlett concluded.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; July 30, 2019: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett today met with key Embassy officials to discuss the recent security audit report. The Embassy officials, which included representatives from the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, were updated by Minister Bartlett on the sector’s strategic plans to create a new architecture for security and next steps.

“The meeting was critical as we engaged key stakeholders from our major source markets on the next steps to ensuring safety, security and seamlessness within the sector. They were informed that these next steps include the recent appointment of a new director of Visitor Safety and Experience, Major Dave Walker, an experienced security expert, who will further review this initial report and provide recommendations.”

The meeting also included a technical team from the Ministry and its agencies: the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), which led the island wide security audit and the Tourism Enhancement Fund; as well as internationally recognized security expert Dr. Peter Tarlow.

“I also highlighted the creation of a Manual on Tourism Ethics, a first of its kind, which will guide our security infrastructure in the sector and how we interface with each other. This manual will be an operational game changer for Jamaica’s tourism as it will be the first time we have a comprehensive guide on this area,” said Minister Bartlett.

Major Walker has been tasked by Minister Bartlett to complete the Manual on Tourism Ethics and recommendations on security for the sector by the end of the year. The aim of the audit, which received support from internationally recognized security expert, Dr. Peter Tarlow, will identify gaps and ensure a strategy of a safe, secure and seamless destination for visitors and locals alike.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; July 29, 2019: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has appointed a new director of Visitor Safety and Experience, Major Dave Walker, to further review the initial report from the recent island wide security audit of the tourism sector. Following this review, Major Walker will submit a final report with recommendations on the way forward by the start of the winter tourist season in December.

Minister Bartlett, who made the announcement today, said, “Major Walker comes to the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) with a wealth of security experience and has been directed by me to critically review findings from the initial report, with a view to analysing the data and providing recommendations on constructing a new architecture for security in the sector.”

Major (Retd) Dave Walker, has spent in excess of twenty three years in the military where he served in various operational and strategic capacities.  Major Walker was a Military Advisor in Sierra Leone and a Military Advisor dealing with matters relating to regional security with the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS).

Major Walker holds a Master’s Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies and a Master’s in Business Administration both from the University of the West Indies.

Minister Bartlett also highlighted that, “An important outcome from this further review will be the creation of a Manual on Tourism Ethics, a first of its kind, which will guide not just the expectations of security infrastructure in the sector but how we interface with each other.”

Last year, Minister Bartlett ordered an intensive security audit of hotel properties across the island. The aim of the audit was to identify gaps and ensure a strategy of a safe, secure and seamless destination for visitors and locals alike. The TPDCo, which is in charge of maintaining quality assurance within the destination, coordinated the intensive security audit with support from internationally recognized security expert, Dr. Peter Tarlow.