LISBON, Portugal; December 3, 2018: Jamaica emerged the big winner at the just concluded The World Travel Awards (WTA) Grand Final Gala Ceremony by winning eight (8) of these coveted awards.

Jamaica received the World’s Leading Beach Destination 2018 and World’s Leading Cruise Destination for 2018.

Other tourism entities from Jamaica who received awards include World’s Leading Luxury Hotel Villa, 2018 - Fleming Villa at GoldenEye, Jamaica; World’s Leading Villa Resort 2018 - Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Jamaica; World’s Leading All-inclusive Company 2018- Sandals Resorts International; World’s Leading Family Resort Brand 2018 - Beaches Resorts; World’s Leading Caribbean Attraction Company 2018 – Island Routes Caribbean Adventures and World’s Leading Adventure Tour Operator 2018 - Chukka Caribbean Adventures.

In highlighting the significance of the awards, Minister Bartlett said, “I am truly proud to have been able share in this moment which highlights that Jamaica’s tourism product is of the highest quality and remains top of mind for millions of visitors who come to our shore.

Jamaica competed with the best of the best across the globe and has emerged a global winner acknowledged for the hard work and innovation being done in the sector.”

The event marks the climax of the WTA Grand Tour 2018 – an annual search for the finest travel and tourism organisations in the world. Government and industry leaders, luminaries and international print and broadcast media from across the globe will attend. The WTA was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. 

“Jamaica is poised for exponential growth in tourism and with this growth we will seek to be more innovative and provide more to our discerning visitors who come to get a taste of all the things we have to offer.”

Minister Bartlett will then travel to Istanbul to attend the third UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture: For the Benefit of All, which will be hosted by the Government of Turkey, during the period 3- 5 December, 2018.

The Conference will build up on the outcomes of the First and the Second World Conferences on Tourism and Culture held in Cambodia and Oman in 2015 and 2017, respectively.

A key component of this Forum will be the Ministerial Segment that will bring together Ministers of Tourism and Culture.  Ministers were invited to participate in this special session and to share their views and look for joint solutions.

Minister Bartlett returns to the island on December 06, 2018.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; November 30, 2018:   Tourism Minister Hon, Edmund Bartlett says the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre is becoming the most significant global institution in the world, in relation to resilience and crisis management issues, as it has received support from a large number of states and major tourism entities across the world.

Speaking at a press conference at the Ministry of Tourism’s New Kingston Office yesterday (November 29), the Minister noted, “Already, we have a large number of groups that will collaborate with the Centre and help it to start operating on a global basis, even before our launch in January. Some of these partners include the International Institution for Investment in Tourism, the Pacific Asia Travel Association and the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation.”

He went on to note that, “Out of Europe, we have the Global Resilience Council, the United Nations World Tourism Organization, The World Travel & Tourism Council and the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association that that has now partnered with us. All these are critical global tourism constructs which have now become part of this entity. Before the Centre gets off the ground properly, it is hugely resourced from across the world,” said Minister Bartlett.

Also joining the leadership of the Centre is Haitham Mattar, Chief Executive Director of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who has been appointed regional coordinator for the Middle East and will provide technical support.

“Following a successful meeting in Washington DC, I can also share that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has given a full endorsement and commitment to participate with resources. In fact, the country leader for IDB will come to Jamaica in week and a half, to view the site and determine what needs to be done,” said the Minister.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon Andrew Holness and Her Excellency Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta, will also act as honorary chairs to the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre.

“Our board members include some of the leading players in the industry; form every continent, except Oceania. But, we are expected to get Australia on board through the Queensland University connection currently being negotiated in time for the launch,” said the Minister. 

The Centre, which will be housed at the University of the West Indies, Mona, is being designed to help vulnerable states across the world, to recover quickly from natural disasters. It will specifically target destination preparedness, management and recovery from disruptions and/or crises that threaten economies and livelihoods globally, with real time data and effective communication. 

The Centre will also house a Sustainable Tourism Observatory which will assist with preparedness, management and recovery from disruptions. It will also support policymakers and businesses develop better strategies to support a more competitive global tourism sector.

The official launch of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre is scheduled for January 2019, during the Caribbean Travel Marketplace, which will be held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

“The leaders of a number of global tourism entities as well as leaders of a number of small countries that are vulnerable, will come to Jamaica for the official launch of this Centre,” said the Minister.

It will specifically be tasked with creating, producing and generating toolkits, guidelines and policies to assist with preparatory and recovery efforts of tourism stakeholders affected by climatic, pandemic, cyber-crime and cyber-terrorism related disruptions.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; November 28, 2018: Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett says Jamaica is keen to strengthen tourism relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following the inaugural UAE-Caribbean Cooperation Forum 2018, which was recently held in Dubai.

Minister Bartlett said, “I am pleased to announce that following discussions on creating greater collaboration between Jamaica and the UAE, the tourism sector was recognized as an immediate area of interest. Both the UAE and Jamaica share a robust and highly sought after tourism products and a collaboration will only increase our competitiveness and attractiveness.”

The inaugural UAE-Caribbean Cooperation Forum provided a unique opportunity for senior business representatives, government leaders and other high-profile delegates to identify emerging drivers for joint opportunities and collaboration between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Caribbean.

There was a specific focus on investment opportunities within the Caribbean region’s energy, infrastructure, agriculture, information technology and tourism sectors.

“Another important area of immediate interest was building resilience to be able to respond to global crises, such as climatic weather events, terrorism and cybercrime.

Discussions on Jamaica’s establishment of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre were had and from those discussions, noted tourism management expert, Haitham Mattar, Chief Executive Director of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority of the UAE, was appointed regional coordinator of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre,” added Minister Bartlett.

The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, which will be officially launched next January, is being designed to be the world’s leading research, advocacy, training and policy institution, to assist global tourism destinations with destination preparedness, management and recovery from disruptions and/or crises that impact tourism and threaten economies and livelihoods globally.

The inaugural UAE-Caribbean Cooperation Forum 2018 was co-organised by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Economy and the UAE Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates; November 26, 2018:  Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett has announced that Haitham Mattar, Chief Executive Director of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has been appointed regional coordinator of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre.

The announcement is an important outcome following Minister Bartlett’s attendance at the just concluded inaugural UAE-Caribbean Cooperation Forum 2018 held in Dubai.

“Mr. Mattar’s focus will cover the emirates and middle east region. He brings a lot of experience in tourism organization and management within this area and is enormously respected as a major player.

“We are excited about bringing him on board in this capacity and the UAE, which is now an affiliate region, will join the Mediterranean region, as well as the Mauritius and Nepal areas as the coordinating bodies that will be affiliated with the Centre,” said Minister Bartlett.

With more than 25 years of experience in global destination and hospitality management and marketing, Mr. Mattar has held senior roles with leading global brands including Marriott, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), and most recently Hilton Worldwide. In 2017, Mr. Mattar was elected as Vice Chair of the UNWTO Board of Affiliate Members and a member of the steering committee for the UNWTO 2017 International Year for Sustainable Development in Tourism.

The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre is being designed to be the world’s leading research, advocacy, training and policy institution, to assist global tourism destinations with destination preparedness, management and recovery from disruptions and/or crises that impact tourism and threaten economies and livelihoods globally.

The Centre will be housed at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus and will be officially launched during a conference coinciding with the Caribbean Marketplace Expo in Montego Bay, from January 29-31, 2019.

Minister Bartlett added that, “This Global Tourism Resilience Centre will be a game changer in how Jamaica and the world builds capacity to respond and recover even better in the event of any global disruptions.”

The overall goal of the Centre will be to assess (research/monitor), plan-for, forecast, mitigate, and manage risks related to tourism Resilience and Crisis Management. This will be achieved through five objectives - Research and Development, Advocacy and Communication, Programme/Project Design and Management, as well as Training and Capacity Building.

It will specifically be tasked with creating, producing and generating toolkits, guidelines and policies to assist with preparatory and recovery efforts of tourism stakeholders affected by climatic, pandemic, cyber-crime and cyber-terrorism related disruptions.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; November 23, 2018: Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett departed the island yesterday, to join Jamaica’s delegation attending the inaugural UAE-Caribbean Cooperation Forum 2018, to be held in Dubai, from November 24 – 26, 2018.

“Jamaica is very excited to engage in discussions that can lead to investments in critical sectors which impact our economy. I am happy to join this delegation, being led by colleague Minister, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson-Smith. I look forward to sharing my insight and making important connections which I hope will positively impact the futures of the people of Jamaica,” said Minister Bartlett.

The inaugural UAE-Caribbean Cooperation Forum’s agenda is being jointly developed by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and will explore the economic potential of future ties to be developed between the regions.

The forum is expected to provide a unique opportunity for senior business representatives, government leaders and other high-profile delegates to identify emerging drivers for joint opportunities and collaboration between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Caribbean.

It will specifically focus on investment opportunities within the Caribbean region’s energy, infrastructure, agriculture, information technology and tourism sectors. In addition, the event will highlight key areas where the UAE can offer expertise and investment, to fill gaps in Caribbean markets while also addressing any key economic challenges.

Ministers from across the region with responsibility for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Investment, Economy, Tourism and Culture have been invited to attend.

Jamaica’s delegation includes: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson-Smith; Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment  and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, JAMPRO’s European Regional Manager  Laurence Jones;  Deputy Director of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade, Patrice Laird-Gran.

Also joining are CARICOM’s UAE Desk Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade, Kavoy Ashley; Senior Advisor to the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Lenford Salmon; Director of Culture and Creative Industries at the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Gillian McDaniel, Senior Director of Tourism Policy & Monitoring in the Ministry of Tourism, Kerry Chambers, and Executive Assistant to the Ministry of Tourism, Anna-Kay Newell.

Member states have been asked to make presentations on areas such as trade, investment and cultural cooperation. Jamaica’s delegation will lead discussions on bilateral and economic partnerships, cultural cooperation and the Technical cooperation and Expo 2020.

Invitations were also extended to private sector companies, specifically from the food processing, and the Information and Communications Technology sectors.  Eleven local companies will be represented.

The inaugural UAE-Caribbean Cooperation Forum 2018 is co-organised by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Economy and the UAE Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development.

The Minister will return to the island on November 29, 2018. 

KINGSTON, Jamaica; November 22, 2018: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says there is currently a demand for 5000 Jamaican seafarers in the cruise industry.

Speaking on Tuesday (November 20) at the graduation ceremony for the Blue Ocean Servidores pilot programme, offered at the Caribbean Maritime University, the Minister said, “I have been told by the cruise lines that Jamaican seafarers are in the highest demand in the cruise business but they have labour market arrangements which need tweaking.

As I speak to you, there is a demand for 5000 seafarers. Therefore, graduating from the Maritime University, focusing on tourism is a very positive area with immediate demand.”

The Minister also noted that there are plans in place to further develop the marine tourism industry, so that more Jamaicans will benefit from increased earnings from the industry.

“We are just finishing discussions with two of the largest investors in maritime tourism – one to come to Port Royal and the other one in the Montego Bay area. One thing that Jamaica has not yet developed properly is marinas for yachting and maritime tourism – this is a high income and special demographic area of tourism. It is an area where the rich and the famous particularly control.

Jamaica has not been able to dominate but we are looking forward to that. We are also talking to our cruise ship partners in a very strong way for you,” said Minister Bartlett.

The aim of the Blue Ocean Servidores is to equip students with the skills and knowledge required for a smooth transition to the cruise tourism sector as professionals.

Training took place with 10 students over an 8-week period, with classes on: Basic Safety; Ship Security Awareness; Crowd and Crisis Management; Protocol; Business Etiquette; Resume Writing and Managing your IT Footprint. All participants were students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science Degree Program in Cruise Shipping and Marine Tourism.

The Minister also took the opportunity to encourage the graduates to consider enrolling in the Ministry of Tourism’s training arm, the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation (JCTI) for additional certification for management roles in the industry. 

“The course that you have done and the degree that you will get after you have completed the four-year period, is a start to qualify you for higher levels of placement in the tourism sector. The JCTI is a pathway institution to certify you for leadership,” said the Minister.

He further emphasised that, “once you have been trained, certified and competent then you are at the vanguard of the prosperity agenda of Jamaica. I encourage you to understand that knowledge is to be used as a tool for engagement and empowerment and to add value. If you are able to so use the knowledge, then prosperity will be yours.”

The JCTI was established to facilitate the development of professionals in the sector who are expected to set high standards as leaders, and raise the industry to the highest level that travellers demand. In April this year, there were more than 150 graduates who gained AHLEI and NVQJ certification. The JCTI also certified more than 300 people in its most recent cohort and is on target to train 8,000 tourism workers over the next five years.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; November 22, 2018:  Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett has announced that highly regarded international expert, Dr Peter Tarlow, will join the team carrying out the intensive security audit of the tourism sector.

“Following my recent commissioning of a full security audit of all hotels and attractions, we have requested the support of international expert Dr Peter Tarlow to join the operational team from the Tourism Product Development Company, which is driving the process.

We want to make it clear that the Ministry is moving aggressively through its destination assurance strategy to continue the process of maintaining Jamaica as a safe, secure and seamless destination and enlisting Dr Tarlow is part of that strategy,” said Minister Bartlett.

Peter Tarlow is a scholar in the area of tourism safety, a consultant for the tourism industry, and the founder of Tourism & More Inc. He is the author of ‘Event Risk Management and Safety’ and teaches 'tourism safety' to police chiefs around the world. Dr. Tarlow has also worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the United Nation’s World Tourism Organization among other recognized institutions.

The security audit, which is to be completed by the first half of 2019, will identify gaps and ensure that the destination remains safe, secure and seamless for visitors and locals alike. Security arrangements are part of the licensing requirements for many sector operators and significant weakness or breaches will result in tough sanctions. So far over eight properties have been audited.

The Tourism Working Group, which was recently established by Bartlett to conduct a comprehensive review of issues in the sector, and is headed by PriceWaterhouseCoopers Senior Partner, Wilfred Baghaloo, will also be a part of the process. 

Minister Bartlett added that, “We are really concerned about making sure that at all points every visitor and Jamaican alike who enjoy the pristine and alluring experiences of the island are safe.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica; November 21, 2018: As part of the Ministry of Tourism and its Agencies’ commitment to full transparency, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has ordered a full review of the costs associated with the budgeted amount for the ‘Welcome to Montego Bay’ sign and attraction. Minister Bartlett has instructed the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism to conduct the review.

Further, private sector interests in Montego Bay, including some members of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have committed support for the building of the new sign and attraction and will provide financial support amounting to five million dollars (J$5million) for its execution.

With the input of the private sector, government's financial input will be significantly reduced.

The new sign is expected to be an attraction for the millions of visitors as well as locals who traverse that busy thoroughfare. The development also falls within the extension of the Eastern Gateway Project, which is a series of beautification works running west along the Elegant Corridor from Greenwood, to the MBJ Sangster International Airport roundabout.

In explaining the move to provide financial support, prominent businessman John Byles said, “We believe that this welcome sign will be a significant addition to the allure and prestige of the city of Montego Bay. The city represents the heartbeat of tourism and deserves a monument that will be fitting for our guests and locals and as such we are more than willing to help mitigate the costs to erect it.”

Minister Bartlett in welcoming private sector support said, “What this means is that we will not stand the full cost of executing this critical showpiece for the hub of our tourism activities. As I have indicated before, this is more than simply a sign, this will be a conversation piece for years to come.”

The Tourism Product Development Company Ltd (TPDCo) will execute the project with funding from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF). The sign is a tropical contemporary interpretation of a traditional resort along a bay.  It has a lighting component where the letters will be illuminated and are changeable to match the seasons.  It is not just a concrete wall but a modern façade meant to be a “thing of beauty.”

The area will also be landscaped and an irrigation component has been included to ensure the long term stability of this component. To ensure the safety of road users, visible yield signs are being replaced, other safety features include the installation of speed strips and the refreshing of road markings.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; November 20, 2018:  Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett says his Ministry is committed to driving the capacity of Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs) that provide goods and services within the tourism sector. This commitment was underscored at today’s handover of J$350Million to the EXIM Bank from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) to facilitate a loan facility for these local suppliers.

This figure represents the final tranche of the total amount provided by TEF to the EXIM Bank.

Speaking at the handover ceremony Minister Bartlett said, “More than 80% of tourism is driven by SMTEs but only 20% of tourism resources go back to them and part of that reason is capacity, the smaller players need to grow, they need to expand. They have ideas and tremendous capabilities but they lack capital.

So to help these small suppliers build the capacity to compete and benefit more from the value change we partnered with the EXIM Bank and put J$1Billion to be on loan to them.”

The loan facility provides for funding to Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises belonging to the areas of gastronomy, small accommodations, shopping network, manufacturing, services, spa and wellness, domestic tours and car rentals.

One of the beneficiaries of the loan scheme, ESB Hotel and Restaurant Supplies highlighted that having accessed a loan through the facility, their business saw a 40% increase in sales in the first year and a 75% increase in the second year.

 “As we are talking to the hotels about utilizing more of the local goods and services provided by our suppliers, we have to build the capacity of our Jamaicans to provide those service so that they have no excuse.

We want our SMTEs to know that the future for demand of supplies for the sector is going to hit the roof as in the next three years we will bring over 7000 new rooms on stream. Jamaica’s tourism is about to experience unprecedented grow but to go there we must take the people with us and to do so we must build their capacity to deliver on these demands,” Minister Bartlett added.

Executive Director of the TEF, Dr Carey Wallace indicated that, “The uptake has been very good and as at November 14, 2018, EXIM received fifty one (51) completed loan applications, totalling J$941.9 million, under the SMTE loan programme.”

In applauding the initiative, Managing Director of the EXIM Bank, Lisa Bell said, “Through this loan facility we have seen transformation of small and medium sized entities across the length and breadth of this country. The numbers say one thing but the actual transformation of an entity, like the doubling of products and expansion of offerings, is where you really see the benefit of the programme.”

The loan supports entities with at least 35% of its revenue derived from Tourism and is offered at a maximum of Twenty Five million (J$25,000,000) and a minimum of Five million (J$5,000,000) at an interest rate of four and a half percent (4.5%) per annum for a maximum term of five (5) years.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; November 19, 2018: Minister of Tourism Hon Edmund Bartlett, Ministry officials and Montego Bay city leaders laid blocks on Saturday (November 17) to symbolize the commencement of a project to create a new welcome sign at the round a bout in the vicinity of the Sangster International airport. The aim is to have the new sign completed in December. The previous sign was destroyed through a motor vehicle accident.

In explaining the importance of the sign, Minster Bartlett in his remarks said, “It is timely and essential as it will speak to the emotions we want to conjure up in our locals and the thousands of visitors that must traverse this area. 

We want all our visitors to have that warm welcome and for us to continue to work even harder that they will feel this welcome through our Jamaican hospitality for which we are known worldwide. The sign will be the first monument they see when entering from the Sangster International Airport and the last when leaving.”

The Tourism Product Development Company Ltd (TPDCo) will execute the project and the Tourism Enhancement Fund will sponsor the project to the tune of Seventeen Million Dollars ($17 M). This development falls within the extension of the Eastern Gateway Project, which is a series of beautification works running west along the Elegant Corridor from Greenwood, to the MBJ Sangster International Airport roundabout.

In closing, Minister Bartlett added that, “In order to attain our 5x5x5 growth targets, and in keeping with one of the aims of the Spruce Up Jamaica programme we must ensure that our resort areas are aesthetically pleasing and that Montego Bay, dubbed the complete resort, has this showpiece.

We will, through this sign, make our visitors feel welcome in every way as we will provide for them a reference point where a great impact can be had. We are truly excited about what this final output will look like and I believe it will be a beacon to be emulated by the rest of the Caribbean.”