Kingston, Jamaica. October 23, 2017: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has announced that his Ministry is positioning the historic town of Falmouth to attract more heritage visitors, who spend more and stay longer than the average visitor.

“Falmouth’s rich history, Georgian architecture and many attractions make it a major tourism asset that we can leveraged to increase the number of heritage visitors to our shores,” said Minister Bartlett at the launch of the Falmouth Heritage Expo, held last week in Water Square, Trelawny. “For this reason, the Government will be leveraging the heritage experience in Falmouth to further develop the town as a tourism destination.’

According to Minister Bartlett, heritage visitors spend 38 per cent more per day and stay 34 per cent longer than traditional tourists.

He indicated that his Ministry was collaborating with the Organization of American States (OAS), under the auspices of the Sustainable Destination Alliance of the Americas (SDAA) initiative, to reposition Falmouth as a Sustainable Tourism Destination. Under this Initiative, which started in 2015, a programme of activities is being implemented to improve civic pride in Falmouth, as well as foster cultural and economic innovation. These activities include the Falmouth Invasion – an event held in February to boost pride in Falmouth – and the Falmouth Heritage Expo.

The expo featured cultural performances, story-telling, art and craft displays and information on Falmouth’s Georgian architecture. The day saw a constant stream of visitors, residents and students participating in the activities.

An updated map of the Heritage sites of Jamaica was also launched by Dr Andrew Spencer, Executive Director of the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCO). The map, a comprehensive illustration of cultural and natural heritage sites across the island, is intended to serve as a guide to both visitors and locals who wish to educate themselves about the heritage assets in Jamaica and to locate sites for recreational purposes.

In his remarks to the audience at the expo, Bartlett explained that Falmouth was already living up to its potential – especially if one used the cruise ship calls as an indicator.

“For the month of August, cruise passenger arrivals grew by 9.4% with 109,074 passengers from 29 cruise ships. The Port of Falmouth was up 5.4% with 48,910 passengers,” he said while adding that the three largest cruise ships in the world – Harmony of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Sea – continued to make regular calls at the port.

“We are building out the town and port infrastructure, as well as the visitor experience so when the cruise ships dock there are good reasons for visitors to disembark,” he said. “Working in collaboration with local stakeholders and government agencies, we are relocating vendors to more strategic sites; painting buildings; taking the mentally ill and homeless off the streets; establishing visitor centres and increasing the number of district constables in the town to help keep crime in check,” he added.

He indicated that the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has already spent $190 million on completed projects in Falmouth, including: the renovation of the Trelawny Parish Church, the Falmouth Post Office and Court House. Another $1.1 billion has been earmarked for projects in Falmouth including the Artisan Village at the old Hampden Wharf.

His announcement was supported by Dr. Spencer, who indicated that TPDCO was pushing efforts at the community level to ensure that the communities are marketable. “Only recently we completed a toolkit for Community Tourism Development and we are working with several community groups to ensure that their product is market ready,” he said.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; October 23, 2017:  Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett leaves the island today (October 23, 2017) to participate in the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Cruise Conference and Trade Show being hosted in Merida, Mexico.

“Jamaica has one of the most dynamic and successful cruise industries in our region but the possibilities for growth in the sector are endless. I am therefore very eager to participate in the FCCA’s conference, as I know it will be tremendously beneficial to the country. It will allow us to strengthen our bonds with cruise-lines and develop new relationships with potential partners. We will also have a booth at the tradeshow, displaying the best of our tourism product” said Minister Bartlett. 

The Minister will also participate in a private meeting between Ministers of Tourism, Presidents and CEOs of Member Cruise-lines of the association, on October 25.  The topics of discussion should include: strategies to drive year-round traffic in the region; creation of more employment opportunities; and the development of strategic partnerships.

The ​FCCA ​Cruise Conference and Tradeshow ​is ​a specialized forum that seeks to ​foster ​a ​better ​understanding ​of ​the ​inner ​workings ​of ​the ​cruise ​industry and helps attendees improve their cruise tourism business. Approximately 100 executives from the FCCA’s 19 Member cruse-lines who decide where ships call; what is sold and used onboard; and how to invest in destinations and infrastructure are expected to attend.

During his visit to Mexico, the Minister will be accompanied by the newly-appointed Executive Director of Jamaica Vacations Ltd, Joy Roberts.  The pair is expected to return to the island on October 26, 2017. 

Kingston, Jamaica; October 23, 2017……. The Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo), the agency with responsibility for the development of the Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation (JCTI) has announced that the deadline for submission of applications is Wednesday October 25 2017. The programmes are open to Tertiary level graduates with degrees or NVQJ level four or five certification in Hospitality/Hospitality Management or Culinary Arts.

The JCTI was created to increase access to graduates in hospitality, tourism and culinary arts, to supervisory and management jobs in tourism.  The Programme which includes a partnership with American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) and the American Culinary Federation (ACF) is envisioned to aid in the diversification of the Tourism Product and is in keeping with the industry’s five pillars of growth: new markets, new investments, new products, new partnerships, and human capital development. The development of Human Resource, through training and access to opportunities is the key driver of this growth strategy.

The JCTI training programme will include hands-on, work and industry experience, curriculum guides and materials, and facilitate dialogues between hotels and students. The programme, which will operate on a full time basis, will also prepare participants with the skills necessary to function in roles such as Hospitality Supervisor, Culinarian, and Certified Sous Chef, among others and will come at no cost to successful applicants.

Applicants must be under thirty years old and reside in Kingston, Ocho Rios or Montego Bay.  A proof of address is required upon submission of applications.

Applications may be sent by Wednesday October 25, 2017 to: certificationprogramme-jcti@tpdco.org

Falmouth, Trelawny; October 20, 2017: The Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo) on Wednesday (October 18) launched an updated Heritage Map of Jamaica at the Falmouth Heritage Expo in Water Square, Trelawny.

The new Map includes a more comprehensive selection of information to suit the varying interests of visitors and locals, including natural sites, which highlight rivers, beaches and waterfalls; and material sites, which detail historic sites across the island.

The Heritage Map, an initiative of TPDCo, was first created in 1997 to help locals and visitors to navigate their way around the island. The Map, which includes historical information and heritage sites across the island, was again updated in 2007 and the latest version in 2017.  It is the first of its kind and Jamaica is the only Caribbean country to undertake such an initiative.

Speaking at the launch event, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett highlighted the importance of heritage for individual and national development.  According to Minister Bartlett, “The direct impact that the country’s heritage has on the tourism sector through the authentic experience it offers for visitors is boundless. Heritage is not just a historic note; it is a definition of who you are and how you came to be.”

Dr. Andrew Spencer, Executive Director of TPDCo, in his address to the audience expressed his confidence in the map to contribute to the growth of the tourism sector, “The Heritage Map is not only timely, but accurate and comprehensive. The Map will not only benefit international tourists who contribute to a large portion of our country’s economy, but our locals who are also invited to utilize the map.” He said.

The data collection component of the map was conducted by TPDCo’s interns who are graduates of the History and Archaeological department at the University of the West Indies, Mona. The interns were directed by TPDCO’s Urban Planner during their search for information.

Organizations such as the Forestry Department were instrumental in providing information on the Forestry Reserves that have been plotted on the map. The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), through their Geographic Information Systems (GIS) team, assisted with the plotting of points on the map and provided information on the protected areas that can be found across the island. The Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) verified the sites included on the map.

The next phase of the Map will include the creation of Mobile Application, which will allow for even greater interaction whereby users will be able to search for places they wish to visit, view images, get directions and make bookings.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; October 18, 2017:  Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett told attendees at the official opening of the Steakhouse on the Verandah restaurant at the Ministry of Tourism run Devon House that the popular heritage site will come off the Government’s budget by 2020.

“This is testament to the strong and focused initiatives at building up the property’s offerings, including its continued transition into Kingston’s first premier gastronomy centre, to eventually cover its own operating costs. We are very well on track and I am pleased with the work of the Devon House team and the broader Gastronomy Network of the Ministry,” Minister Bartlett noted.

The official opening of the Steakhouse on the Verandah restaurant follows the official opening of an expanded ‘I-Scream’ parlour on the North Lawns of the property in July.   That new property was created to address growing public concerns about the wait time to purchase ice cream, especially on weekends and public holidays. The project received $28 million from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) to build a brand new 5,000 square feet facility, which doubles the size of its previously located courtyard and kiosk outlets on the property.

Opa, a popular Greek and fusion restaurant and an adjoining Reggae Mill bar, was also officially opened this year on the property further expanding the gastronomic options at Devon House.

Meanwhile, the Steakhouse on the Verandah restaurant is noted for its Jamaican twist, seating up to 60 patrons, serving locally aged, hormone-free meat by Gregory and Kristen Burrowes, principals of The Meat Experts – in addition to seafood, chicken and vegetarian dishes. Chef de cuisine is Chef Alex D-Great, author of the cookbook ‘Soul’ and former competitor on Food Network’s Rewrapped.

Bartlett noted that while his Ministry was proud of the culinary experiences currently in place at Devon House, his vision for the historic site included more interactive experiences for both visitors and locals to enjoy.

“We are going to be establishing here, the first Gastronomy Club and we will be building a special kitchen which will be marketed to visitors across the world to come to Devon House to cook.  So, you can bring your family on a Sunday afternoon, cooking with fresh ingredients from the farmers market we will be building here very soon,” said the Minister.

The Tourism Minister also disclosed that his Ministry also has plans to establish food stations – a concept which will allow tourists and visitors alike a unique opportunity to sample a variety of authentic Jamaican cuisine in a convenient way.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; October 11, 2017:  Falmouth’s noted Georgian architecture and rich historical heritage will take centre stage on October 18, with the inaugural staging of the Falmouth Heritage Exposition, in Water Square in the parish capital.

The heritage expo aims to boost civic pride in Falmouth by highlighting its built and cultural heritage. It is also intended to foster a civic-minded community that values its heritage and works together to preserve its unique built environment as a distinct element of its tourism product.

The event is a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Tourism, Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT), the Tourism Product and Development Company (TPDCo), the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and other stakeholders – as part of the Sustainable Destination Alliance of the Americas (SDAA) initiative.

The Ministry of Tourism has collaborated with the Organization of American States (OAS), under the auspices of the SDAA initiative, to reposition Falmouth as a Sustainable Tourism Destination. Under this Initiative, which started in 2015, a programme of activities is being implemented to improve civic pride in Falmouth, as well as foster cultural and economic innovation. 

Endorsing the expo, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett said, “Falmouth’s rich history, Georgian architecture and many attractions make it a major tourism asset. It has the potential to be one of the finest cruise destinations on the planet.  For this reason, the Government will be leveraging the heritage experience in Falmouth, to further develop the town as a tourist destination.”

The heritage expo will include demonstrations, presentations on historic buildings in Falmouth by JNHT as well as a site visit and over 20 booths displaying art, craft and books on Falmouth, among other goods and services.  A highlight of the expo will be the launch of an updated more interactive heritage map of Jamaica – a comprehensive illustration of cultural and natural heritage sites across the island.

Talent from the parish will also be on display, with performances from several schools. During the day’s activities, the winner of the Heritage Ambassador competition will also be announced.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; October 08, 2017:  Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett will travel to Grenada this week where he will meet with key members of the Jamaica-led ‘UNWTO Disaster Recovery Working Group for the Affected States in the Caribbean’ to hammer out a recovery action plan for tourism-dependent islands recently ravaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Minister’s New Kingston offices on October 06, 2017 Minister Bartlett shared that, “In Grenada we will discuss the best way to assist tourism dependent member states, recently ravaged by natural disasters, at the annual State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC). We will then visit the most severely impacted countries and create a plan of action which we will launch during our upcoming UNWTO global conference in Montego Bay in November.”

At the 22^nd Session of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly, held recently in Chengdu, China, Jamaica was appointed to coordinate the newly formed ‘UNWTO Disaster Recovery Working Group for the Affected States in the Caribbean’. The working group is a tourism response mechanism for member states that have been recently impacted by powerful natural disasters such as hurricanes, tropical storms and earthquakes.

Minister Bartlett further shared that because islands in the region are so dependent on tourism to sustain their economies, it was important for strategies to be developed to strengthen the sector’s resilience to the effects of climate change and natural disaster, thus making it more sustainable.

“The tourism industry remains the most vital source of earnings and economic activity for most Caribbean islands, with region-wide tourism revenues estimated at over US$27 billion in 2016. The sector also expanded by an unprecedented 4.2% in 2016 as the region welcomed a historic 29 million visitors; over 1 million more visitors than in 2015. It therefore goes without saying that when our tourism sector suffers a setback, the Caribbean suffers a setback in a huge way,” the Tourism Minister noted.

During SOTIC, Minister Bartlett will also attend Caribbean Tourism Organization’s business meetings, including the CTO Council of Tourism Ministers and Commissioners on October 10, 2017.  Additionally, he is expected to attend a special session on October 12 entitled “Recover and Rebuild – The future of Caribbean Tourism”, which will focus on the economic cost of disasters, including the potential impact on gross domestic product, employment, the cost to rebuild and the recovery time.

During the briefing, he also announced that he will be seeking relief financing for affected states in the region, during the Annual General Meeting of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, slated to take place on October 13, 2017 in Washington, D.C., USA.  

While in Washington, he will also participate in the World Bank Group’s high-level ministerial closed-door simulation exercise on pandemics and tourism: “Travel, Tourism and Outbreaks – A Pandemic Simulation” The exercise will help participants to better understand the disruptive effects of pandemics on tourism and explore ways to minimize unnecessary impacts.

Minister Bartlett will be accompanied by Dr. Andrew Spencer, Executive Director of the Tourism Product Development Company and his senior advisor Dr. Lloyd Waller. They are expected to return to the island on October 14.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, September 27, 2017: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has welcomed the addition of Jewel Grande Montego Bay Resort & Spa to the range of resort accommodations being offered by Jamaica’s diverse tourism industry.

Speaking at Jewel Grande’s official opening ceremony and ribbon cutting on Sunday (September 24), Minister Bartlett said he was particularly pleased because “we are in a very interesting period in the development of tourism in Jamaica. While not trying to impute the great performances of any individual brand within the Jamaican space, I believe it is fair for us to say that we are now establishing international brands that have recognition and responses from across the world.”

The all-suite hotel, formerly The Palmyra, was refurbished at a cost of US$96 million. Now boasting all the amenities for it to become a five-star resort, the upgraded Jewel Grande is now the flagship among the six Sagicor hotels, all of which are being operated by X Fund Properties Limited and the internationally known Aimbridge Hospitality.

Congratulating Aimbridge for their role in the industry, Minister Bartlett credited them with “making Jewel a jewel in the crown of Jamaica.”

He pointed to global changes to which Jamaica had to be responsive and said note must be taken of “the extent to which Jamaicans are becoming involved in the stakeholdership of tourism.” In the last five years, he said, there has been a significant movement of more Jamaican investment in tourism led by Sagicor and, together with the Hendrickson family and Sandals, they now control the largest block of hotel rooms.

The hotel, which Aimbridge has committed to making one of the best plants in the Caribbean, has a total of 217 units, including one and two bedroom suites, and three-bedroom villas (totaling 322 rooms) that are equipped with Wi-Fi and interactive HD TV.

Senior Vice President Caribbean Operations and Development at Aimbridge Hospitality, Rich Cortese revealed that every room at Jewel Grande has butler service. “What we’re doing is creating a personal relationship between the guest and the butler. The butler is your arrival experience all the way through to your exit.”

He said Jewel Grande was also “making a huge commitment to golf on this coast.” With four international courses from Rose Hall to Tryall, he envisages “making this the golf coast of Jamaica.”

The opening was celebrated with a spectacular display of fireworks on the beach and the musical repertoire of Third World Band.

Falmouth, Trelawny: September 28, 2017…….. Ten newly appointed tour guides participated in an awards and closing ceremony on Tuesday, September 26, 2017, after completing a two week training in Team Jamaica and Tour Guiding skills. The appointment of the tour guides in the Falmouth area is one of the initiatives to curb visitor harassment in Falmouth. The programme, namely the Falmouth Guide Services was created through the efforts of The Honourable Dr. Horace Change, Minister without portfolio, Economic Growth and Job Creation who is also the Chairman of the Falmouth Re-Development Committee along with the partnership of the Tourism Product Development Company Ltd. (TPDCo) which provided Team Jamaica and Tour Guide training for the graduates.

Minister Chang, the visionary for the Falmouth Guide Services programme, expressed his commitment to redevelop Falmouth by way of improving cruise shipping which has an impact on the tourism sector, and will provide job opportunities for Jamaicans. “You have made Falmouth what it is, and it is only appropriate that you can participate in the economic activity that gives you a sense of involvement and the monetary benefits that come along with it.” He told the graduates during his address. 

Dr. Andrew Spencer, Executive Director of TPDCo charged the graduates to perform their duties with due diligence as they contribute to the growth and development of the tourism sector. “As tour guides you have the responsibility to educate both the visitors and locals about the importance of the industry. You have a responsibility to talk about the history, the heritage, culture and what is unique and diverse about us as a people.” He said.

The Falmouth Guide Services programme is the first of many initiatives by Minister Chang to redevelop Falmouth. Some of the other projects include improving the craft traders’ area, sensitizations and consultations with stakeholders, increase in public health inspections and a security system attached to the Municipal Corporation to assist in the efforts to curb harassment.

The activities surrounding the redevelopment of Falmouth are envisioned to benefit the capital town and the country. Tourism represents a key element of growth in the area, as Falmouth is known for its busy cruise port and unique Georgian style architecture, features which Minister Chang plans to utilize to attract more visitors. The plans to redevelop Falmouth will include partnerships with agencies such as the Port Authority, the Municipal Corporation of Falmouth, the Urban Development Commission (UDC) and TPDCo.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, September 25, 2017: The local tourism sector began its celebration of Tourism Awareness Week (TAW) 2017 with news that Jamaica continues to experience record-breaking visitor arrivals. For the first eight months of this calendar year, January to August, there was a 6.9 percent increase in stopover arrivals in comparison to the corresponding period for 2016.

Concurrently, cruise passenger arrivals were up 5.1 percent to the end of August and in the eight-month period, a total of 2.8 million visitors earned the country approximately US$2 billion or 8.3 percent more in gross foreign exchange earnings than the same period last year.

The figures were disclosed yesterday (September 24) by Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett in a message he delivered at the St John’s Methodist Church, Montego Bay, marking the start of Tourism Awareness Week. The calendar tourism event is being observed in partnership with the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) through October 1 and focusses on “Sustainable Tourism – a Tool for Development”.

Minister Bartlett said it tied in with the designation of 2017 as the “International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development” and provided the opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value.

He underscored that as the largest source of foreign exchange earnings for most of the island economies, tourism was undoubtedly the region’s most important sector. “This reality was brought sharply into focus by the recent catastrophic destruction wrought by Hurricanes Irma and Maria on many of our tourism dependent sister islands,” said Minister Bartlett.

Speaking only days after successive hurricanes wreaked havoc in some Caribbean islands, Minister Bartlett said the ripple effects of these natural disasters were being felt throughout the tourism value chain by hoteliers and their workers, restaurateurs and the farmers who supply their produce, craft persons, transport operators and many others.

“These storms have closed hotels, cut production and wiped out jobs. Yet, tourism remains one of the most resilient economic sectors with a capacity to adapt to changing conditions and recover from setbacks.  As such Governments and stakeholders must continue to work together to minimize the effects of the negative events and build resilience and confidence in the industry,” he assured.

The tourism industry directly employs some 106,000 Jamaicans, while generating indirect jobs for one in every four persons in linked sectors, attesting to its viability. To ensure the sector is being leveraged for the socio-economic benefit of Jamaicans at all levels and to drive new growth in communities while generating much needed jobs, Minister Bartlett said he had called for “a firmer resolve to put in place initiatives to widen the net of people benefitting from the industry in terms of ownership and employment.”

In so doing, “We are creating a more inclusive industry better able to help with poverty alleviation and realize sustainable growth. Importantly, at the same time, we are strengthening the linkages between tourism and other sectors of the economy to increase the economic impact of tourism,” he noted.

Also attending the service were representatives from the Ministry of Tourism and its agencies, , including the Jamaica Tourist Board, the Tourism Enhancement Fund and the Tourism Product Development Company, as well as Mayor of Montego Bay, Councilor Homer Davis, and President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, Omar Robinson.