KINGTON, Jamaica; November 2, 2018: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett departed the island yesterday to participate in the World Travel Market (WTM), in London.

“The world travel market is one of the biggest programmes that the industry has on its calendar. I am very proud to share that I will be joined by a very sizeable delegation from Jamaica next week to participate in the event, which enables contracts to be entered into between hoteliers and suppliers and airlines and destinations and so on,” said the Minister.

The WTM is a major promotional platform for the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB).  It will also feature other Jamaican companies, creating the ideal opportunity to meet industry professionals and conduct business deals. Through its industry networks, the WTM also creates personal and business opportunities while also providing customers with quality contacts, content and communities. 

“While at the WTM, we will also engage in tourism diplomacy, which enables the real connectivity between countries that are involved in tourism and partners that are involved in this industry.

Jamaica is today at the cutting edge of this diplomatic initiative across the world. We are very proud that we are thought leaders in tourism today – that there is not a single important tourism activity-taking place anywhere in the world where Jamaica is not inserted. Our marketing is constantly being augmented by this reference to Jamaica as the place to go for cerebrations of all kinds,” said Minister Bartlett.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization is also listed as a major player at the WTM.  This year UNWTO and WTM will feature a Ministers’ Summit on November 6, based on the theme “Investment in Tourism Technology”.

There will also be a Ministerial discussion on “Investing in the Future of Tourism” where Ministers and other public-sector stakeholders will join the private sector panelists to engage in a discussion on the way forward for tourism.

While in London, the Minister will be joined by Donovan White, Director of Tourism; Jennifer Griffith, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism; Dr. Lloyd Waller, Senior Advisor/Consultant, to the Minister; Gis’elle Jones, Research and Risk Management in the Tourism Enhancement Fund; and  Anna-Kay Newell, Executive Assistant.

They will to return to the island on November 9, 2018.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; October 31, 2018: Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett announced his support of Kingston Night Market,  and pledged to offer marketing support through the Jamaica Tourist Board, to attract more visitors to the event.

Speaking yesterday at the launch of the event at 8 Hillcrest Avenue, in Kingston, Minister Bartlett said, “I want Kingston Night Market to become a feature that we can market. One that we can bring people to experience every winter season, to engage in the activities of the event.

This event marks the re-energising of a marketing arrangement that had been a feature of us over the years. I remember when I was much younger that we used to have night markets across the island. We had all of these culminate in a grand market on King’s Street.”

The weekly event is organized by The Art Gallery Décor VIII, with support from the Tourism Linkages Network – a division of the Tourism Enhancement Fund. It features authentic Jamaican art, clothing, artefacts, handcrafts, food, music and poetry. 

The event is being marketed to tourists and visitors alike to experience authentic Jamaican culture. The Minister commended the organisers for creating this platform for local artisans and other entrepreneurs to benefit directly from the economic gains of the industry.

“Kingston night market is an important addition to the cultural offerings of our wonderful city, I want to congratulate all of you who have participated. Dr Douglas McDonald, I want to commend you for the foresight and to tell you that the Ministry of Tourism is behind you in all regards. Our marketing arrangements will definitely reflect you in the next round,” said the Minister.

He further stated that “Visitors come to Jamaica to consume the cultural products of our people. It is that consumption that forms retention of the earnings from the industry. The real earnings of Jamaica is the cultural products we have for the visitors to consume – and I see all the elements here tonight… When visitors buy the things that we produce the dollars stay in our pocket.”

Kingston Night Market will be hosted every Tuesday, from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; October 28, 2018:   Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett has announced that Prime Minister, the Most Hon Andrew Holness and Her Excellency Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta, have accepted the role of honorary chairmanship to the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre.

The announcement follows Minister Bartlett’s recent meeting with Her Excellency Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta and Patron of the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation (MTF), to discuss the country’s possible participation and collaboration, in the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre.

“We recognize that the time for partnership in resilience building is now given the increase in global disruptions such as hurricanes, earthquakes and cybercrimes and I am pleased that Jamaica as a thought leader is the driver of this initiative,

This acceptance highlights the partnership between two vulnerable states which will allow for deeper dialogue on building more resilient and sustainable tourism in both countries,’ Minister Bartlett said.

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. 

Minister Bartlett added that, “It is a great honour for me to have the leaders of these countries, our own Prime Minister and President of Malta, be a part of this ground breaking Resilience Centre. This is what smart Tourism is about which will help us to make data driven decisions,

We are committed to adapt to global changes and as such build capacity to respond and recover even better in the event of any global disruptions.”

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 Minister, who is accompanied by Ms. Jennifer Griffith, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, is expected to return to the island on October 29, 2018.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; October 27, 2018:   Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett departed the island yesterday to meet with Her Excellency Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta and Patron of the Mediterranean Tourism Foundation (MTF), to discuss the country’s possible participation and collaboration, in the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre.

“It was a great honour for me to receive an invitation to meet with the President of Malta to discuss sustainable tourism and ways in which they can partner with us in the establishment of our Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre. I look forward to having fruitful discussions with President Preca and her team, and I am sure this will result in very positive news for our mission of protecting the tourism industry,” said Minister Bartlett.

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. 

During his visit to Malta, the Minister will meet with their Minister of Tourism, Dr. the Hon Konrad Mizzi, Malta’s MTF President, Tony Zahra and MTF Governors Dr Taleb Rifai, Dr Tijani Haddad and George Micallef.  The meeting will allow for the sharing of best practices on tourism policy and sustainable development strategies. 

The Minister is joined by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Jennifer Griffith who will participate in the 109th UNWTO Executive Council meeting in Manama Bahrain.

 “Jamaica has a very critical role to play in this meeting as we are now serving the first year of a two-year term of office in the Executive Council.  We will have a discussion on smart tourism and data driven decisions.  Additionally, we will discuss the UNWTO’s role in the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre,” said Minister Bartlett.

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 Centre was first announced during the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s Global Conference on Jobs and Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism, held in Montego Bay last November during the International year of sustainable tourism for development. It will act as a response to climatic events, pandemics, shifting global economies as well as crime and violence which can be devastating to travel and tourism.

The Minister is expected to return to the island on October 29, 2018.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Friday, October 26, 2018: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett officially welcomed PegasTouristik and Nordwind Airlines, new nonstop flight between Moscow, Russia and Montego Bay, Jamaica today. The flight, which carried two hundred and eighty three (283) passengers and seventeen (17) crew, landed at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay at 8:13am.

“This new nonstop service out of Russia will be monumental in ensuring an increase in visitor arrivals from Russia and surrounding areas. The projection is to see over 10,000 Russian visitors to our shores by 2020 and with this seamless air connectivity we will be able to achieve our target,

It is clear that through our aggressive marketing strategies and negotiations with the People’s Republic of Russia this has become a reality and will work towards strengthening these ties,” said Minister Bartlett.

Starting today, Pegas Touristik and Nordwind will make fly into the Sangster International Airport every ten days up to May 2019. The Russian tourism market has been growing at a steady pace and Pegas Fly and its sister airline, Norwind, have been growing their fleet and expanding their reach.

Minister Bartlett added that, “We’ve also made it easier for seamless travel between Russia and Jamaica as last month our government agreed to amend the agreement with your government to waive visa requirements for periods not exceeding 90 days per year. What this means is that coming here as a tourist or to do business gives you up to 90 clear days.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica; October 23, 2018: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says his Ministry is leading the charge in developing the Carnival in Jamaica initiative, to strengthen Jamaica’s competitiveness as an entertainment destination.  He lauded the initiative for its economic value to the country as it generated record earnings in 2017, and called for greater investments to be made, to further develop the industry. 

Speaking at the 2019 launch of the Ministry’s Carnival in Jamaica initiative at the Spanish Court hotel today, the Minister stated that, “We have to invite investors to develop and spend good dollars, on products that bring return on investment. We know that this is entertainment, but it is also business — big business! Investors are going to be interested in building out products that are sustainable.

He continued by stating that “People come from all over the world to pay for the carnival experience in Jamaica. When they pay for it, we must ensure that they get a valuable product. I want Jamaica’s carnival to be opinionated, so that it remains on the lips of people for years to come. This is the reason we joined forces with both public and private sector entities to develop and market the product worldwide.”

The Tourism Linkages Network launched the Carnival in Jamaica initiative in 2016, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport; the Ministry of National Security as well as key private sector entities involved in Jamaica’s carnival experience.

Data from the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) indicates that visitors spent an average of US$236 per person per day during the last Carnival season, for an average of five days. Thirty-four percent of this expenditure was on accommodation.

Carnival also contributed significantly to arrival figures and earnings, with January to August 2018 indicating total arrivals of some 2.9 million up 4.8% over the same period last year; and gross foreign exchange earnings for the same period at US$2.2 billion, up 7.4% over the same period in 2017.

“Once you multiply the average amount spent by visitors and the number of days spent, you will see the kind of impact that they have on the economy. We are excited about growing this industry, which attracts so many of our visitors. Once they come, it means more money spent in the country.

Carnival needs to be a revolving activity – it culminates during the Easter period – but there must be carnival activities in terms of preparatory work and infrastructure arrangements year-round making the industry more sustainable,” said the Minister.

He further noted that the parade has grown from just over 2000 people in 2016 to 6000 people in 2018. Visitor arrivals through Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) for the respective Easter/Carnival periods between 2016 and 2018 increased by 19.7% from 14,186 to 16,982 visitors.

The majority of visitors were from the USA (72%), with approximately half from New York and 22% from Florida. Millennials (67%) accounted for the majority of those who visited for the carnival experience. Also noteworthy, was that 34% were visiting Jamaica for the first time, with the majority (61%) being first time attendees at Carnival in Jamaica.

“Carnival essentially stimulates the excitement of the young.  The whole digital transformation currently happening in tourism is about reaching the millennials. The content that we will be building will be targeting the millennials. More importantly, we are culturing a product that is affordable for the millennials,” said Minister Bartlett.

The JTB is providing marketing support for Carnival in Jamaica. JTB’s total media impressions from coverage of 2017 carnival amounted to 12,886,666 impressions. They also developed a website (www.carnivalinjamaica.com) which lists all soca-themed events, places to stay, what to do, and who to follow.

The Carnival season will officially begin on April 23, 2019, with band launches scheduled for as early as next month.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; October 21, 2018: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has started plans to create a Tourism Innovation City in Montego Bay. The purpose of the city would be to develop areas of textile, manufacturing and farming among others, to boost the capacity to provide on the supply side of the tourism value chain.

Speaking at the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Business and Investment forum held at the SeaGarden Beach resort on October 19, Minister Bartlett said, “To build out a tourism economy that will be beneficial to Montego Bay, which is the heartbeat of tourism in Jamaica, the backward and forward linkages must be in place and when that happens tourism costs will begin to fall and revenues from consumption will increase,

In the Dominican Republic, their revenue retention is 50cents on each foreign exchange earned and this is so because they own the supply side - they manufacture uniforms for the sector and have processing plants to make the chutneys and jams needed by the guests. This is where a Tourism Innovation City in Jamaica would help to produce more of the items needed in the sector.”

The Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce & Industry- Business & Investment Forum is designed for investors and business executives who want to discover the business opportunities available in St James.  The forum also showcases various developments within the primary growth sectors, while sharing a wealth of information about emerging opportunities in the Montego Bay and the western region.

Minister Bartlett added, “If Jamaica is to earn more of the foreign exchange brought in by visitors, we must be able to reduce importation of the inputs needed for the sector and increase our ability to supply on the demand,

The Tourism Innovation City will create a circular economy where nothing is wasted and everything is utilized fully and the resources, income and earnings stay within that space. When we are finished building out grange pen and Barrett Hall, this will be a fertile area for this great experiment and I am in discussion with the Urban Development Corporation who are to do a design for this innovation city.”

The city of Montego Bay represents one third of Jamaica’s room stock and is considered the hub of tourism activities in the island. As part of efforts to improve the look and feel of the product, the Ministry of Tourism, through the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has so far invested JMD6Billion in Montego Bay and its environs. The work carried out by the TEF includes road rehabilitation, drain cleaning and housing solutions.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; October 19, 2018: Prime Minister, the Most Honourable, Andrew Holness has signalled that Jamaica’s Tourism is ripe for more investments given the consistent growth and development in the sector.

Speaking at the official opening of the Excellence Group’s newest luxury resort at Oyster Bay, Trelawny, yesterday (October 18), Prime Minister Holness highlighted that, “Jamaica has continued on its path of unprecedented growth in the area of tourism over the last two years. Last year 4.3million tourists visited Jamaica’s shores and revenue grew in the sector from US$2.1 Billion in 2016 to approximately US$3 Billion in 2017,

Jamaica is also committed to attracting 5million visitors by 2021 and if we attract this number we will be able to achieve revenue of USD5billion. To investors locally and abroad it is a tremendous time of opportunity to invest in the Jamaican tourism industry and in Jamaica overall as the country’s economic reform programme has had a significant positive impact.”

In congratulating the work of the Excellence Group in Jamaica, Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett said, “The development here has proven that it is possible to have turnaround time for major constructions that are less than eighteen months. This helps to satisfy investors that when they come to destination Jamaica they can start their business quickly after they have broken ground,

We see that this development having completed its turnaround within eighteen months now opens the doors for the continuation of the investment activities as we are expecting that the construction of the villas will start very soon.”

The opening of the adults-only luxury resort in Oyster Bay will bring to total three internationally recognised brands to set up operations in Trelawny – Royalton Resorts and Melia Hotels International. Last year the Excellence Group broke ground for the 315-room property valued at US$110 million. The company has already committed to further investment in Jamaica through additional developments in the near future.

Minister Bartlett added that “We know that you have 2500 rooms within the Latin American region but we know there is a promise to have 2200 rooms in Jamaica so that makes a statement of the importance of Jamaica as a destination of choice and we are excited about that.”

Overall, Spanish investment in Jamaica’s tourism industry amounts to approximately US$1.7billion and about 25% of the rooms built in Jamaica are the product of Spanish investment.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; October 18, 2018: The Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation (JCTI), the training arm of the Ministry of Tourism, is on target to training 8000 tourism workers over the next five years.

This was confirmed by Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett at the JCTI’s graduation ceremony at the Montego Bay Convention Centre yesterday (October 17), where over three hundred persons received certification in tourism related fields. This represents its second batch of graduates.

Minister Bartlett emphasised that “Human capital development is strategic to our tourism growth agenda and that’s why the JCTI is targeted to train some 8,000 tourism workers in five years. This graduation puts us one step closer to achieving that target,

Our workers have a lot to do in determining the rate at which we grow by giving the best service there is at all times as it through their skillsets, professionalism and innovation we will be able to attract more visitors and increase earnings.”

Of the over three hundred graduates, there are 14 Certified Hospitality Educators; 9 Certified Hospitality Instructors; 17 Culinary Tutors; 12 Culinarians and Pastry Chefs; 20 Bartender Trainers and over 200 Bartenders.

The JCTI was established to facilitate the development of professionals in the sector who themselves will set high standards as leaders and collectively raise the industry to the highest level that today’s discerning traveller demands. In April this year, there were over 150 graduates who gained AHLEI and NVQJ Certification.

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator Ruel Reid said, “I applaud this initiative as this certification will ensure that Jamaicans will take their place in the workforce and rise to the highest levels because as our workers improve so will their compensation. Whatever the mind can conceive it can achieve and so I want all Jamaicans to continue learning and engaging in continuous professional development,

This programme is embedded in our curriculum and is the start of great things in tourism so workers can benefit more from the tourism dollar.”

As part of the JCTI’s efforts to extend training and certification to a younger cohort, the Hospitality and Tourism Management Programme (HTMP) was recently launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information. HTMP is the first of its kind certification programme for high schools developed by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) and will allow students to gain entry-level qualification in tourism as well as Associate Degrees in Customer Service and recognition by the local Customer Service Association.

In encouraging the graduates to take their place within the sector, Minister Bartlett, reminded them that, “You are among a group of pioneers in tourism training as no one else in Jamaica or the Caribbean has the certification that you do. In providing this development of a professional pathway for our tourism workers we are not trying to just create professional workers but create entrepreneurs who will be innovative and add great value wherever they go.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica; October 17, 2018:  Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett joined other officials in St. Ann today, for a ground-breaking ceremony at Salem Beach. The beach is being upgraded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) to the tune of $26 million, under their National Beach Development Programme.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Bartlett stated that “there must be a guarantee that locals have access to and are able to enjoy their country’s natural resources, including the island’s best beaches…the upgrading of Salem Beach, will provide yet another premium recreational beach for the enjoyment of both our local and international visitors.”

The upgrades to the beach includes the construction of two gazebos; restrooms; a wash-off stand; parking facilities; landscaping works; upgrades to the sewage treatment system; and the demolition and alterations to existing structures.

Construction will be completed within the next four months, and the end-product will be a beach transformed into a quality recreational area with facilities and services that meet the best international standards.

“There is little doubt that this wonderful beach is one of Salem’s main attractions.  By strengthening Salem Beach as a destination, we will help to improve the town’s tourism economy, diversify its offerings and thereby enhance its economic competitiveness,” said Minister Bartlett.

The Tourism Minister also noted that for the 2018/19 financial year, TEF will move forward with designs for an additional 12 beaches, with construction taking place in subsequent financial years.

In July of this year, the Tourism Ministry also opened the refurbished Marking Stone Beach in St. Mary, upgraded by TEF at a cost of $38.3 million. To date, the TEF has spent over $105 million on three other beaches in its Beach Development Programme – Lyssons Beach in St. Thomas, to the tune of $49.6 million; Boston in Portland, at a cost of $27.8 million; and Burwood in Trelawny at approximately $28 million.

The Minister also disclosed that the TEF spent $35 million to rehabilitate the road and beautify the area leading to the popular Winnifred Beach in Portland.

The upgrades to Salem Beach in St. Ann was implemented by the Tourism Product Development Company and the property owners National Environment & Planning Agency (NEPA). The official opening ceremony will take place in the first quarter of 2019.