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.

Kingston, Jamaica; September 19, 2017…  Plans are in high gear for the staging of The Tourism Service Excellence Awards for 2017, by the Ministry of Tourism through its agency the Tourism Product Development Company Ltd, (TPDCo).

The Awards which was launched in 2008 and staged for three (3) years, after a brief hiatus, wove its way back onto the calendar of events in the tourism sector and was a stunning success for the 2016 period.

The competition is open to organizations and individuals which/who are exemplars in the field.  Nominees are drawn from all sub-sectors of the industry including accommodations; craft; airport; tour operators; ground transport operators; rafting; attractions or places of interest and must display best practices, offer excellent customer service as well as environmental stewardship.

According to TPDCo’s Executive Director Dr Andrew Spencer, “Work has started and the Minister of Tourism, Honourable Edmund Bartlett who is very passionate about the programme and its award and will officially launch the TSEA in the weeks ahead.”

The competition also provides an opportunity for establishing bench marks for all categories of workers and businesses in the industry and serves through its recognition and prizes to encourage quality customer service delivery, a distinguishing factor in a highly competitive tourism market place.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; September 26, 2017: Hon. Edmund Bartlett departed the island yesterday (September 25, 2017) to participate in the official celebration of World Tourism Day being hosted in Doha, Qatar, on September 27, 2017.

The invitation was extended by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Qatar Tourism Authority, which also asked the Minister to participate in a high-level think tank focusing on:  Tourism as a Means for Enhancing Cultural Preservation and Mutual Understanding.

“It is quite an honour for Jamaica to have been invited to participate in the official celebration for World Tourism Day (WTD) 2017. I am excited to use this prestigious platform to highlight all the wonderful things we are doing to leverage our tourism product to benefit the people of Jamaica. Naturally, I will also promote our upcoming UNWTO, Government of Jamaica and World Bank Group Global Conference on Jobs and Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism’, which is scheduled for November of this year,” explained the Minister.

The Minister will share the stage with over 20 other influential speakers from across the globe during the event, which will be held at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel.

The impressive line-up includes Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Taleb Rifai; State Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism in Croatia, Frano Matušić; Director of the UNESCO Office in Doha, Anna Paolini; and Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of Liberia, Eugene Lenn Nagbe.  He think tank will be moderated by CNN International’s anchor Max Foster.

During his visit, which was fully paid for by the UNWTO and the Qatar Tourism Authority, the Minister will also have a special meeting with the country’s Prime Minister, His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.

He will then travel to London to attend the second staging of Jamaica Travel Market (JTM), which is being hosted by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) on September 29 and 30.  While there, he will meet with tour operators in the UK to share the many new tourism offerings and developments happening locally.

Jamaica Travel Market is a business-to-business tradeshow which is a platform for British, Irish and Nordic tour operators to meet with authentic Jamaican suppliers directly. It includes a day and a half of business appointments, destination updates and ends with a grand Gala Awards Dinner.

Minister Bartlett is scheduled to return to the island on October 1, 2017.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, September 26, 2017: Key members of the newly formed United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) Disaster Recovery Working Group for the Affected States in the Caribbean will convene in Grenada on October 9 to discuss how to assist tourism dependent member states recently ravaged by natural disasters.

The meeting will be held during the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s biggest tourism gathering in the region, the annual State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC).

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, who is coordinator of the working group, noted that 13 of 79 countries in the world with economies that have tourism dependence of 10 percent or more are in the Caribbean. “If there are seismic or climatic events which have damaged and ravaged and caused disruption in economic flow as well as the destruction of property and the loss of human lives, that represents a serious moment for us in the region,” the Tourism Minister said.

His observation was made as he spoke at Sunday’s official opening of JAPEX 2017, the annual product exchange forum for suppliers and buyers driving the island’s tourism market. Hosted jointly by the Jamaica Tourist Board and the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, hundreds of stakeholders are participating in the 27-year old annual event at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St. James.

Minister Bartlett said that as convenor of the UNWTO working group he intends “to begin immediately to look at developing and mobilising support for the region” because “tourism is hurt if the Caribbean is hurt and if the Caribbean is hurt global tourism is hurt.”

Several stakeholders, including the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, the Caribbean Tourism Organization and a number of multilateral agencies, are being targeted for their support in the rescue and rebuilding initiative.

Coming out of the Grenada meeting, Minister Bartlett said, “A plan of action will be crafted, site visits will be done and when we meet in Jamaica for the UNWTO, Government of Jamaica and World Bank Group Global Conference on Jobs and Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism’ at the Montego Bay Convention Center November 27 to 29, we will kick off the action plan for the restoration of the tourism sector.”

Delivering the keynote address, Prime Minister Andrew Holness also took note of sister islands that have been devastated by hurricanes. He said, “In some cases tourism was the single industry and in some cases tourism is the major industry in those islands. They must and will rebuild, however, this time they must factor in disaster resilience, recovery and adaptation in a systematic and institutional way.”

He underscored that, “The world has been forced to acknowledge that there is urgent need for responsibility, adaptation and resilience as we recognize our changing realities. Climate change is real and it will disproportionately affect those of us who are least prepared to respond to its effects.”

At the local level, he said Jamaica had a well-known brand and “the tourism sector continues to support economic growth and development in the Jamaican economy through increased investment and job creation.”  

Prime Minister Holness said while welcoming tourism’s growth, “We are mindful that such growth comes with increased responsibility to promote our common values and to work together as only through partnerships we will succeed.”

The Prime Minister said sustainability was a core feature of Jamaica’s growth agenda, adding, “We must find the right balance so that we have growth but not at the expense of the environment.”

This year’s JAPEX attracted 62 buyer companies with 105 delegates and 99 supplier companies with 246 delegates.

CHENGDU, China; September 15, 2017:  Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says the UNWTO, Government of Jamaica and World Bank Group Global Conference will be the most significant global conference in tourism ever to be held in the Americas.

The conference, which will focus on jobs and inclusive growth, is expected to attract 800 high-level tourism decision makers to the island’s shores in our tourism capital, Montego Bay, from November 27 – 29, 2017.

Speaking at a press briefing for international journalists earlier this week in Chengdu, China, Minister Bartlett expressed that, “There has never been a gathering of this nature, of key leaders in tourism who will be looking at best practices and how we can bring ideas and resources together. We want to look at how we can map out a blueprint of the future development of tourism, not just in the Caribbean but in the world.”

The Minister also explained that he is expecting over 157 Ministers of Government, as well as representatives from the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank, the Organization of American States and a number of key regional organizations such as the Caribbean Tourism Organisation and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.  The cruise, accommodations and airline sectors are also expected to be actively involved in this upcoming conference.

Organised within the context of the United Nations International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, the global conference will explore partnerships through sustainable tourism, emphasising in particular that tourism is the creator of jobs and can be the lifeguard of a floundering economy.

“Jamaica is pleased to cement itself in history as we host the decision makers of the tourism industry across the world. We will also be using the opportunity to showcase our island’s sustainable tourism development practices and demonstrate how tourism contributes to the economic well-being of every Jamaican,” said Minister Bartlett.

The Minister further disclosed that the conference will facilitate technical visits to three local community tourism enterprises – Rasta Indigenous Village, Cockpit Country Adventure Tours and the Bunkers Hill Cultural X-perience & River Tour.  These attractions were selected to showcase the biological diversity of Jamaica’s natural environment, rich history and culture.

“It is very important for us to have organised opportunities for esteemed guests, especially potential investors and development institutions, to step beyond the confines of the Montego Bay Convention Centre. We can then discuss how funding can be strategically brought to bear on the development of these tourism niche areas,” the Minister explained.

In providing an update on the conference, the Minister gave his assurance to the media that the conference will be results-oriented with discussions about sustainability from leading regional and international presenters such as His Excellency Danilo Medina, President of the Dominican Republic; Alexandre Rosa, Vice President for Countries, Inter-American Development Bank; and James Scriven, CEO of the Inter-American Investment Corporation.

Other speakers will include Gloria Guevara Manzo, President of the World Travel and Tourism Council; Eduardo Fayos Sola, Expert on the Future of Tourism; His Excellency, Dr. Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary General; and Xu Jing, Regional Director for Asia and Pacific for the UNWTO.

Minister Bartlett is currently in China to participate in the 22nd Session of the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) General Assembly, being held in Chengdu, China, from September 11 to 16, 2017. While there, he has been assiduously promoting November’s ‘UNWTO, Government of Jamaica and World Bank Group Global Conference on Jobs and Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism’.