KINGSTON, Jamaica; June 8, 2019: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has welcomed the newly opened Blanche Blackwell suite at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel, saying it will add to the ‘opinionated experience’ of guests.

Speaking at the official ribbon cutting of the suite at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston yesterday, Minister Bartlett said the suite will, “Help to show the style and ambiance of early 20^th century Jamaica and points to the opulence of the regal society at that time.

The suite is also part of the historic process as well as the cultural assets that have become part of Jamaica’s heritage.”

Blanche Blackwell, mother of music icon and hotelier, Hon Christopher Blackwell, was a Jamaican heiress with heritage in Cosa Rica and association with renowned James Bond author Ian Flemming.

Minister Bartlett said also, “For tourism, what this suite will do is bring exceptional value to the product. To be in a suite of the mother of one of the most celebrated musical producers of the period is a story that you want to be told and experience.

It will allow an interface with the culture of a period that you never knew.”

The Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel, opened in 1959, is Kingston’s only AAA Four-Diamond rated hotel. It is a luxury boutique hotel providing award-winning accommodations, cuisine and banqueting services to the local and international communities.

“It is only fitting that this historical suite where the Hon Christopher Blackwell was born, be unveiled in tandem with the hotel’s 60^th anniversary.

The terra nova has become a very iconic city of Kingston tourism facility not just because of the period of architecture that we relate but a lifestyle of Jamaica’s upper class at that time,” added Minister Bartlett.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; June 7, 2019:  Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness noted that while Jamaica’s record visitor arrivals and earnings indicated that Government policy is working and investors see Jamaica as a place to come and do business, bureaucracy is hindering the country’s growth and development.

He was giving the keynote address yesterday evening (June 6) at the official opening of the 48-room R Hotel at the hotel’s rooftop Redbones Blues Cafe in New Kingston and responding to remarks by R Hotel Director Evan Williams that the property took 13 years from concept to realization.  

“That is not something for which we are proud and that explains a lot; why we have not achieved the rapid growth that this country is destined to experience,” Prime Minister Holness said.

He said that despite external shocks like rising oil prices, terrorism and climate change, which have had an impact on Jamaica, largely the responsibility for not achieving our true growth path lies with us.  “We have to be truthful to ourselves because things that are within are authority, capability and capacity to do well and speedily, we have not done them,” he noted.

The Prime Minister said that to become a modern, growth enabling and supportive public sector we must ensure compliance as a counter to corruption and ensure efficiency to promote growth.

“No wonder our growth is low because  the speed at which we are giving approvals, the  speed at which our bureaucracy works is not in sync with the speed of business  and the speed  we need to have in order to grow. If we claim to be the Usain Bolt country of the world let’s take that speed that we have on the track and get our projects on track,” he encouraged.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, noting positive developments in the local tourism sector, announced that for the first time in history Jamaica welcomed some two million visitors in the first five months of the year and earned US$1.7 billion in revenue.

Minister Bartlett said that the R Hotel represents the new drive in Jamaica not only to increase numbers but also to add value to the experiences of visitors who come here. Noting the serious efforts to retain more of the tourism dollar in Jamaica he commended the R Hotel for supporting local suppliers by outfitting the hotel with Jamaica-made furnishing and by promoting local culture and food through the hotel’s Gene Pearson Gallery and Red Bones Blues Café.

“This is an exciting part of this retention strategy that we have because when the supplies that the tourist consumes are bought, brought and produced in Jamaica then the dollar remains here.  This has resulted in an increase in retention from 30% to 40.8%,” the Tourism Minister said.

In his remarks R Hotel Director Joe Bogdanovich said the opening of the hotel brings with it new possibilities for the expansion of Brand Jamaica through business tourism in the capital.  “Kingston has enormous potential for both business and conventional tourism and we in the industry must continue to innovate in order to make Kinston the premier city to conduct business in the Caribbean,” he told the large crowd of tourism stakeholders and private sector and government representatives.

R Hotel is the city’s first extended stay business hotel. The newest addition to Kingston’s room stock is a collaboration between noted architect Evan Williams and entertainment mogul/investor Joe Bogdanovich.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Tuesday, May 28, 2019: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has lauded the work of former Prime Minister, the Most Hon Edward Phillip George Seaga, who passed away today, on his 89^th birthday.

Minister Bartlett who has spent most of his 35 years in politics under the leadership of Mr. Seaga, described him as “an icon and a champion of the people of Jamaica” and “perhaps the greatest social engineer and builder of political institutions as well as economic structures that Jamaica has seen since independence.”

Minister Bartlett also highlighted that Mr. Seaga was the man that “Jamaica is indebted to for the creation of so many important social constructs that have helped to redefine the nation and build a consciousness in terms of our own self-worth as well as our cultural identity.” 

Mr. Seaga was instrumental in raising Jamaica’s independence festival to being a major national event, exposing the country’s cultural heritage in music, cuisine, literary arts and the talents of the people in various areas of life and Minister Bartlett said that “His work in the field of cultural development is simply phenomenal and unmatched.”

Mr. Seaga became Prime Minister in 1980 after leading the JLP to a resounding victory at the polls over his arch political rival and leader of the People’s National Party, Michael Manley. “His leadership in government during the most difficult period in our history is certainly a landmark which all responded to with great satisfaction; that he came at a time when Jamaica needed to be delivered and made a path for reconstruction and redevelopment which today the country has benefitted from in terms of the growth that we are experiencing,” said Minister Bartlett.

The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) is among the many agencies established by Mr. Seaga.

On a personal note, Minister Bartlett said, “He has made an indelible mark on the lives of thousands of us and I number among those who, because of his own stamp and mark, has been made to contribute a little to the development of Jamaica over the last 30-odd years.”

Minister Bartlett added that he regarded his own encounter with Mr. Seaga as “A game-changing and life-changing experience” and that “I am indebted to him for so much that he has taught me in terms of respect for people, honouring traditions and making sure that my contribution is worthy at all times.”

While mourning Mr. Seaga’s passing, Minister Bartlett said he also celebrated his life even as he remembered that, “His point always to me was, ‘Son, it’s not about you, it’s about the cause that you serve and so serve it well with diligence and with pride’.” 

KINGSTON, Jamaica; May 28, 2019: Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett is expected to participate in the first Asian Resilience Summit, being held in Kathmandu, Nepal on May 31, 2019. 

The Minister received this invitation from Deepak Raj Joshi, Chief Executive Officer of the Nepal Tourism Board, who requested that he join other global leaders of travel and tourism, in a panel discussion on tourism resilience.

“Jamaica is very happy to share our expertise on tourism resilience at this very critical global conference being hosted in Nepal. We hope to share the best practices learned from this event with the rest of the world through the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, which will be fully-operational in a few months. I also look forward to sharing insights into the role of the Centre and its significance to global tourism,” said Minister Bartlett.

The overall goal of the Centre, which is located at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, will be to assess (research/monitor), plan-for, forecast, mitigate, and manage risks related to tourism resilience and crisis management.

According to organisers, the Minister’s session in Nepal will specifically highlight countries that have harnessed the economic drivers of tourism and ensured resiliency through proper positioning of the sector.  Other panellists in this discussion include, Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman of the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council; H.E. Jing Xu, Regional Director of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO); Dr. Mario Hardy, CEO of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA); and Ian Taylor, Executive Editor of Travel Weekly Group.

Professor Lloyd Waller, Executive Director of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, was also invited to speak in a panel on communication and training. During the discussions, panellists will share their experiences in communication plans prior to, during and post crisis.

The summit forms part of the activities of the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council (GTTRC) which was developed to provide a platform for professionals from various industries to share information and best practices regarding resilience, crises, and disasters – both man-made and natural – in the context of tourism.

It will have a strong focus on the benefits of marketing to the intrepid traveller, as well as wider affinity markets, perception, brand management and communication, entrepreneurial spirit, government programs and philosophies that can be developed or deployed for other destinations’ resiliency planning. 

During his visit, the Minister will meet with the Former UNWTO Secretary General, Dr. Taleb Rifai, regarding the recovery strategies for Nepal’s post-earthquake programme, at the request of Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

Minister Bartlett will later travel to the US Virgin Islands to participate at the Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Action Network on Post- Disaster Recovery during the period June 3-4, 2019.  This Action Network brings together leaders from across sectors to develop new, specific, and measurable plans that advance recovery and promote long-term resiliency across the region.

The meeting will outline innovative programmes in the tourism sector and sustainable practices that are inclusive of Small and Medium Enterprises and conducive of economic growth.

The Minister is accompanied by Professor Lloyd Waller, Senior Advisor/Consultant and Miss Anna-Kay Newell his Executive Assistant, in Nepal. Professor Waller and Miss Newell will return to Jamaica on June 1, 2019. 

The Minister, however, will return to Jamaica on June 6, 2019, as he will be attending the meeting of the CGI Action Network on Post-Disaster Recovery in the US Virgin Islands alone.

The Government of Nepal is funding the Minister’s participation in the Asian Resilience Summit.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; May 17, 2019: Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett has announced that Jamaica will be hosting an international conference on Tourism Innovation Resilience and Crisis Management next year in Montego Bay.

The Minister made the announcement today during the 64^th meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) Regional Commission for the Americas (CAM), in Guatemala, where Jamaica was also recently elected as the chair for the biennium 2019-2021.

“We were able to have the support of the entire Commission and of course the Secretary General of the UNWTO [Zurab Pololikashvili], to host the first ever Global Tourism Innovation Resilience and Crisis Management Summit, to be held next year in Montego Bay. Jamaica will also host the 2020 meeting of the Americas,” said the Minister.

He continued by sharing that, “this effort back to back will position Jamaica, not only as the central global reference for innovation, resilience and crisis management but also will be the focus of entire Americas in terms of the deliberations of CAM.”

In 2017 Jamaica hosted the first ever Conference on Jobs and Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Government of Jamaica, the World Bank Group and the Inter-American Development Bank, aimed to set a new collaborative framework for tourism moving towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Earlier this year, Jamaica also hosted the first ever conference on Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs).

“We have been on this mission for a while – and are leading the path for global resilience. We have hosted successful global conferences, and of course, Jamaica provided the only and first ever, Global Centre on Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management. All these are very important Global achievements for tourism in Jamaica and emphasises thought leadership we are giving to the world of tourism,” said the Minister.

The Regional Commissions meet once a year to allow Member States to maintain ‎contact with each other and with the UNWTO Secretariat between sessions of the bi-annual General ‎Assembly. 

While in Guatemala, the Minister and his delegation will also participate in the International Seminar on Destination Management, which is taking place under the theme ‘New Challenges, New Solutions.’

The Seminar will discuss current challenges and opportunities facing destination management at national and local levels, including the changing role of Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) and the development of smart destinations.

The Minister is accompanied by Miss Kerry Chambers, Senior Director, Policy and Monitoring who will provide technical support. The team will return to the island on May 18, 2019.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; May 17, 2019:  Jamaica was yesterday selected to chair the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) Regional Commission for the Americas (CAM) for the biennium 2019-2021.

“Jamaica graciously accepts the position of Chairman for the Regional Commission of the Americas and thanks the members for the confidence which has been demonstrated. This is the first time in our history that anyone in the Caribbean has been appointed Chairman of this commission,” said the Minister.

The elections for the Chairmanship of CAM were held during the organization’s 64th Meeting in Guatemala.

Since 1975, Jamaica has served as Vice-President of the General Assembly on five occasions over the period 1987 – 2011, and has been re-elected twice as a member of the Executive Council, serving as second Vice-Chair in 2012, 1st Vice Chair in 2013 and eventually serving as Chairman of the Executive Council for the period 2014-2015. 

In his acceptance speech, the Minister shared that “Jamaica firmly believes that the tourism sector is one that should always be guided by sound policies and has over the years worked assiduously to ensure that this is achieved at both the domestic and international levels.

Jamaica also underscores it commitment to enhancing the capacity of the Americas to plan for and manage a range of global shocks and disruptions that can be destabilizing to the tourism sector.”

He then invited the participation of member countries in the ‘first of its kind’ Global Resilience and Crisis Management Centre which is based at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica.

The Regional Commissions meet once a year to allow Member States to maintain ‎contact with each other and with the UNWTO Secretariat between sessions of the bi-annual General ‎Assembly. 

While in Guatemala, the Minister and his delegation will also participate in the International Seminar on Destination Management, which is taking place under the theme ‘New Challenges, New Solutions.’

The Seminar will discuss current challenges and opportunities facing destination management at national and local levels, including the changing role of Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) and the development of smart destinations.

The Minister is accompanied by Miss Kerry Chambers, Senior Director, Policy and Monitoring who will provide technical support. The team will return to the island on May 18, 2019.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; May 14, 2019:  Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett departs the island today, to attend the 64th Meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) Regional Commission for the Americas (CAM) in Guatemala City - La Antigua, Guatemala. While there, he is expected to present Jamaica’s candidature for the chairmanship of CAM to the UNWTO for the biennium 2019-2021.

“I am very excited to represent our great nation at the 64^th meeting of the CAM. We are very hopeful that our presentation will be well received and that Jamaica will be able to chair the commission,” said the Minister.

The elections for the Chairmanship of CAM will be held at the 64th Meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for the Americas, in Guatemala during the period May 15 – 17, 2019.

The Regional Commissions meet once a year to allow Member States to maintain ‎contact with each other and with the UNWTO Secretariat between sessions of the bi-annual General ‎Assembly. 

Minister Bartlett’s presence at the CAM is critical, as Jamaica is one of the four English speaking Caribbean Member States of the UNWTO.  The country also occupies one of the five (5) seats allocated to the CAM on the Executive Council of the UNWTO for the period 2018 – 2021. 

While in Guatemala, the Minister and his delegation will also participate in the International Seminar on Destination Management, which is taking place under the theme ‘New Challenges, New Solutions.’

The Seminar will discuss current challenges and opportunities facing destination management at national and local levels, including the changing role of Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) and the development of smart destinations.

Minister Bartlett will also present the programme areas of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre for the year.

“The Centre, which I am pleased to say will be opening later this year, is focusing on four key deliverables at this time. One is the establishment of an academic journal, which will be a compendium of scholarly publications, on various elements of the five segments of disruptions. The editorial board has been established, headed by Professor Lee Miles of Bournemouth University, with the assistance of George Washington University,” said Minister Bartlett.

The other deliverables include: a compendium of best practices/ a blueprint for resilience; a resilience barometer to measure the resilience in countries and provide benchmarks to guide countries; and to establish an academic chair at the University of West Indies for innovation and resilience.

The Minister is accompanied by Miss Kerry Chambers, Senior Director, Policy and Monitoring who will provide technical support. The team will return to the island on May 18, 2019.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; May 13, 2019: Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett has expressed deep regret at the passing of tourism and in-bond trade stalwart, Pishu Chandiram.

“I was very saddened to learn about the passing of Pishu Chandiram. I offer my sincere condolences to the Chandiram family and the staff of Bijoux. We will never forget his kindness and invaluable contributions. I pray that the love of those around you provide comfort and peace during this period of grief,” said Minister Bartlett.

Pishu Chandiram grew up in the family business, K Chandiram Limited in Kingston and started his work life in 1951 after graduating from St. Georges College. With the coming together of in-bond merchants in Montego Bay to construct Shoppes of Rose Hall, in 2007 he joined the group and opened Bijoux’s signature store in that centre. 

Today, Bijoux also operates from the Falmouth Cruise Ship Pier, Island Village in Ocho Rios and in Kingston.

He was also among some 56 awardees of the inaugural Golden Tourism Day Ball, held last December, honouring those who have provided at least 50 years of service in the tourism industry. The gala event was organized by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Ministry of Tourism, and will become an annual event that honours industry stalwarts.

“I am so happy we had the opportunity to recently honour Mr Chandiram  for his commitment to the tourism industry and in particular the in-bond trade for 67 years. His speech that evening was extremely moving, as it showed his commitment to the industry and the passion he had for nation building. May God give him eternal rest and I am certain his legacy will live on for years to come,” said Minister Bartlett.

FALMOUTH, Trelawny; May 10, 2019: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett says the artisan village being constructed at Hampden Wharf in Trelawny forms part of the overall inclusive growth strategy to increase earnings among local suppliers.

The US $5.7 million project will have 47 shops along with the establishment of the island’s first artisan village which will accommodate 18 shops along 540 square metres.

Speaking at a recent walk through of the construction, Minister Bartlett highlighted the key role of the facility in creating more earning opportunities for local small and medium businesses.

“The artisan village will connect immediately the market or visitors with our products. When visitors come off the ship, they will be able to go straight to the artisan village and walk away with a piece of authentic Jamaican culture,” said Minister Bartlett.

The project sits on 1.6 hectares of land along the historic Falmouth Port and is being executed by the Port Authority of Jamaica and the Urban Development Company. 

“This artisan village is critical in our reimagining exercise where we are providing opportunities for entrepreneurship at the very base of the population. Tourism will be made more meaningful to the average Jamaican when access is provided for income generating activities and also for creative production.

This is a new and exciting opportunity for various levels of producers in the country that we have not paid enough attention to and not provided arrangements for. The artisan village will also provide a secure, safe and seamless operation for visitors and locals alike,” added Minister Bartlett.

The artisan village is slated to be ready by the end of the year to coincide with the start of the traditional winter tourist season in December.

FALMOUTH, Trelawny; May 9, 2019: The long awaited Tourism Worker’s Pension Bill is one step closer to becoming a reality. This as Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett says the pension bill will be debated on May 21.

The Bill, which was tabled in the House of Representatives on April 30, when passed, will establish a defined pension scheme for tourism workers and self-employed tourism workers to be known as the Tourism Workers Pension Scheme, from which is to be paid retirement benefits in respect of each member and ancillary benefits for beneficiaries.

“After we have completed the debate, the bill will go to the Senate and the Governor General puts his assent on it, everybody who works in the sector, no matter the category or contract period, will have an equal opportunity to become a member of this pension plan.

When our workers become eligible at sixty-five, they will have a minimum pension of two hundred thousand dollars,” said Minister Bartlett.

The new pension bill will start with an endowment of $1 billion from the Ministry of Tourism, which will be paid in installments and will ensure that immediate benefits accrue to qualified pensioners who have met the vested period of five years.

“I am truly pleased that my ministry is one step closer to establishing a bill that will be a game changer for the sector. For so long, our workers have dedicated their lives to improving the sector without any social security at the end of their tenure and this bill will change that,” added Minister Bartlett.