MONTEGO BAY, June 15, 2017: Jamaica’s tourism industry marked a historical milestone today with Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett welcoming the millionth stop-over visitor to the island for the year to date.  In tandem with this landmark achievement, the tourism sector has earned in excess of US$1.2 billion for the same period.

“This is the first time ever that we have recorded a million stop over arrivals before the middle of the year. We are very excited about that because it feeds into the growth projections that we have,” said Minister Bartlett after greeting Paulette Murray and her husband Henry, who arrived at the Sangster International Airport (SIA) on an American Airlines flight out of Philadelphia, USA. The Henrys, who are here on their fourth visit, are in Jamaica for a family vacation.

Earlier it was projected that the millionth visitor would arrive on or about the end of June. However, Bartlett said all projections were being exceeded and at the end of May there were 970,000 visitors, rising sharply to today’s million.

He said this was significant, “not only because it means a million opportunities are provided for jobs and for earnings but it also helps to quantify the actual revenue flow in foreign exchange into the country and I’m very pleased to announce therefore that for the first time in our history, before the end of June, in any year, we have achieved one million visitor arrivals and earned in excess of US$1.2 billion.”

He said incrementally, on top of last year’s tourism earnings, an additional J$850 million had gone into the Jamaican economy, “And it tells me that tourism does have the potential to drive economic growth and to bring foreign exchange into the country and create stability.”

Minister Bartlett added, “We’re excited about what can happen to an economy like Jamaica where investment, remittance and tourism can combine to give foreign exchange security.” Last year remittance was just over US$2.2 billion while tourism produced US$2.5 billion and foreign direct investment (FDI) was well over US$500 million.

NEW YORK, NY – June 6, 2017 – The regional tourism industry is set to take centerstage during the UNWTO, Government of Jamaica and World Bank Group Conference on Jobs & Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St. James, November 27-29, 2017. Speaking at a press conference on June 6 at the Consulate General of Jamaica during Caribbean Week in New York, Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Edmund Bartlett noted that given the region’s dependency on tourism, it was important that such a conference provide solutions on how the Caribbean can better leverage this industry.

“The conference programme, though global in nature, is highly significant to the Caribbean. And therefore, we felt that we should incorporate a programme specific to the Caribbean and some of the issues we grapple with. This programme will take place on the first day of the conference on November 27,” noted Minister Bartlett.

With the regional focus on opening day, the Ministry of Tourism received the endorsement of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) from Secretary General Hugh Riley and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourist Association (CHTA) by way of Chief Marketing Officer Matt Cooper.

Minister Bartlett stated that tourism is the single largest generator of foreign exchange in 16 of the 28 countries in the Caribbean and the sector receiving the most foreign direct investment (FDI), adding that the region has a higher proportion of total employment and percentage of GDP derived from tourism than any other region in the world.

According to the Tourism Minister, “It is estimated that 1 in every 4 persons is employed by tourism-related activities and the sector accounts for 41% of all exports and services in the Caribbean and 31% of all gross domestic product”.

Additionally, Minister Bartlett indicated that similar to what was done with the global aspect of the conference, the organizers have included a number of Caribbean themes within the Call for Papers, which cover tourism and sustainability, where the threats, risks and challenges will be discussed; the strengthening of the human capital and human capital trends; the tourism value chain linkages and technology and innovation.

According to Minister Bartlett, one of key expected outcomes from this global conference is the Montego Bay Declaration. “At the end of the conference, there will be the compilation of the Draft Montego Bay Declaration. From this will flow an action plan for tourism destinations to follow, as well as the publication of the second volume of the UNWTO Global Report on Public Private Partnerships”.

The Tourism Minister also announced that the Conference will be used to pay tribute to the current UNWTO Secretary General Dr. Taleb Rifai whose tenure comes to an end. “Although he will have his formal send-off in December, the UNWTO has allowed us to utilize this opportunity for the more emotional and “irie” send-off,” noted Bartlett.

Another feature of the conference will be the presentation of the Caribbean Legends Awards, the first of its kind, which will be a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Tourism of Jamaica, the CTO and the CHTA, supported by UNWTO. These awards, in the categories of Land, Sea and Air, will be given to individuals that have made an indelible mark on the tourism industry, not just regionally, but globally, enhancing the Caribbean brand.

Minister Bartlett departed the island to attend CTO Caribbean Week on June 5, 2017 and will return on June 11, 2017. He is accompanied by his Senior Communications Strategist, Delano Seiveright.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, Monday, June 5, 2017: With earnings for the first four months of this year at an all-time high of over US$1 billion, or a 6.5 per cent increase over last year, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett announced yesterday (June 4) that Jamaica’s tourism industry is heading for a historic one million visitors before the end of this month.

 “We are closing in on the first half of 2017 and we ended the month of May with a record 8.7 per cent increase in stop-overs over the same month last year,” said Minister Bartlett. The 971,000 passengers brought in was just 30,000 shy of the first million target which, he said, will be reached by mid-June “and when that happens it will be  a record because it will be the first time in our history that we will make a million visitors before the end of June.”

He was speaking at an official welcome event for the inauguration of Southwest Airlines newest service, non-stop flights from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. This brings to four the number of US gateways being operated by Southwest to Jamaica since commencing international flights here in 2014.

Minister Bartlett, who arrived on the Southwest inaugural flight along with Director of Tourism Paul Pennicook, Southwest’s Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion, Ellen Torbert and other Southwest executives, hailed the airline as the most connected airline in the USA today.  “Southwest is moving from more gateways and secondary airports than any other airline in the US and therefore the connection with Jamaica is perfect,” he said. The low-cost US carrier moves 120 million passengers annually.

Minister Bartlett said his Ministry and its agencies were working diligently to provide a product and a service that both meets and exceed the expectations of Jamaica’s visitors and tourism partners. He said steps are being taken to ensure the availability of first-class accommodation as well as a safe, secure and seamless visitor experience, noting that destination assurance was crucial ensuring sustained growth.

Accommodation is also being increased by attracting new hotel investments and Montego Bay can look forward to increasing room count by 1000 new rooms this year and over 2,000 in the next four years.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of MBJ Airports, Dr Rafael Echevarne said some $100 million would be spent on the Sangster International Airport over the next few years to improve services.

“This is an exciting time for MBJ because we are initiating the third phase of our development at the airport,” he said. That includes improving infrastructure on the ramp site such as the apron and taxiway, but also, he noted, “we’re doing runway extension, the terminal extension, renovation of the commercial facilities and many other things, including very important works with immigration to ensure that the experience entering Jamaica is as smooth as possible.”

Southwest VP Ms. Torbert said the addition of the new route signals an all-time summer records of six departures a day to Jamaica with the other flights out of Baltimore/Washington, Chicago, Orlando and Houston.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; May 7, 2017:  Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett will be holding discussions with leading experts in gastronomy at the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism, taking place in Donostia, San Sebastian, Spain, from May 8-9, 2017.  He says these discussions will be vital to the further development of the gastronomy product locally.

“Gastronomy is one of the fastest growing reasons for people to travel. In fact, the international gastronomy market is approximately US$150 billion.  Therefore, as we continue to position Jamaica as an ideal destination for food tourism, through the Tourism Linkages Network, I believe we still have room to grow the market and ensure that every Jamaican can reap the benefits – which is why this forum is important,” said Minister Bartlett.

According to the UNWTO, the Forum on Gastronomy Tourism will provide an opportunity for leading experts in gastronomy tourism to discuss the current situation and challenges in Gastronomy Tourism worldwide, inclusive of areas of management and innovation in the sector.  

The forum will be held in a new format, with different events being held in various gastronomy hubs across the Basque Country, showcasing the variation of products offered. 

“While the discussions at the forum are of particular interest to me, I am equally pleased that the event will be hosted at the world-renowned Basque Culinary Centre. This is an institution which has a very similar teaching style to what I hope to establish in Jamaica through the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation (JCTI), which we will be establishing in the island next year,” shared Minister Bartlett.

The JCTI will serve to accelerate the transformation of tourism enterprises by engaging institutions and persons to stimulate and initiate new ideas as well as harnessing science and technology to transfer knowledge into practice within the sector.

Much like Basque, the institution will operate like a laboratory where students will get hands-on experience in a modern institution that also offers training to acquire internationally recognized academic credentials and certification.

While in Spain, the Minister will also be attending the the 105th Session of the UNWTO Executive Council, where in his capacity as chairman of the UNWTO’s executive council for affiliates, he will lobby for one of the fiveseats allocated to the Regional Commission of the Americas for the period 2018-2021. 

He will also use his trip to conduct a series of promotional activities for the ‘UNWTO, Government of Jamaica and World Bank Group Conference on Jobs & Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism’, which will be held in November at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

The Minister departed the island yesterday (May 06) to attend the gastronomy forum in San Sebastian and was joined by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Jennifer Griffith. He will to return to the island on May 13, 2017.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; April 24, 2017: Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett has announced that one of Africa's largest airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, has been designated as the official carrier for African States attending the ‘UNWTO, Government of Jamaica and World Bank Group Conference on Jobs & Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism’, scheduled for November 27–29, 2017, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

The decision was made during Minister Bartlett’s just concluded trip to Ethiopia, following a meeting between Minister Bartlett and Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam

“Ethiopian Airlines is one of the most accomplished airlines in Africa. It has excellent connectivity into the United States, which will make that arrangement work perfectly.  In fact, Ethiopian Airlines has codeshare arrangement with United Airlines, which offers daily flights into Montego Bay. So I am very happy to be partnering with them for this very important conference,” said Minister Bartlett

He added, “The airline has shared that this is an excellent opportunity to become the carrier for the entire African region and to be able to bring people into the Caribbean for the conference would be a good start to setting up connectivity within the region. We think also that the opportunity for the exchange of ideas, practices, technology and marketing expertise are going to serve us well in those four countries in particular.”

The Minister, who was in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to attend the 59^th Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for Africa and a High-level Meeting on Chinese Outbound Tourism to Africa, also shared that during his discussions with the UNWTO Commission for Africa, memoranda of understanding (MOUs) were formulated to create arrangements to increase connectivity between the African states and Jamaica.

“We were able to discuss and to agree on MOUs with the Ministry of Tourism for Ethiopia, the Ministry of Tourism for Ghana, the Ministry of Tourism for Cape Verde, and the Ministry of Tourism for Nigeria. The importance for those four MOUs is going to be very noticeable during the conference and after,” said the Minister.

“Cape Verde, for example, has an enormous Diaspora in the Boston area. We feel that the connection of Jet Blue Airways out of Boston is going to be significant in allowing connectivity from that area.  The middle class of Nigeria is also growing rapidly and the affordability therefore to come to destinations like Jamaica is strong,” said Minister Bartlett.

Minister Bartlett is now in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, attending the 42^nd Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for the Middle East and the UNWTO and Arabian Travel Market Ministerial Forum on Tourism’s contribution to sustainable and inclusive economic growth and diversification in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Minister Bartlett is slated to return to Jamaica on April 29, 2017.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; April 24, 2017: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has announced that the ‘UNWTO, Government of Jamaica and World Bank Group Conference on Jobs & Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism’ being held in November in Montego Bay, Jamaica, has received full endorsements from over 21 African Ministers from the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) Commission for Africa.

“My visit to Africa has been a resounding success in terms of the approaches we have made to the African Ministers through their Commission and the responses they have given us in regards to the conference.  We are very pleased to have the endorsement of 21 Ministers and we were assured that another 15 or so will also participate,” says Minister Bartlett.

The announcement was made at the 59^th Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for Africa in Addis Abba, Ethiopia, on April 20, 2017.

Minister Bartlett has also been using these engagements in Africa to discuss the possible partnerships for sustainable tourism for development with potential investors, donor agencies, the academic community and other tourism stakeholders, who will be targeted to attend the upcoming global conference.

The Minister is currently in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, attending the 42^nd Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for the Middle East and the UNWTO and Arabian Travel Market Ministerial Forum on Tourism’s contribution to sustainable and inclusive economic growth and diversification in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Two of the expected deliverables from the UNWTO, Government of Jamaica and World Bank Group Conference on Jobs & Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism will be an Outcome Declaration and the publication of the second UNWTO Affiliate Members Global Report on Public-Private-Partnerships. The UNWTO will also present a report to the UN General Assembly in 2018, with regards to the activities of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, of which the conference will play a major role.

Minister Bartlett is slated to return to Jamaica on April 29, 2017.

Fourth Staging of Tourism Linkages Speed Networking Event a Major Success

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Thursday, March 30, 2017: The tourism sector and allied industries have been put on alert to prepare for 4.2 million visitors this year. The target represents a 5 percent increase on the 3.84 million tourists the country received in 2016.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has pointed to the opportunities that the increased arrivals will mean for the various stakeholders, in particular income generation and the creation of more jobs.

Giving the opening address at the fourth Tourism Linkages Speed Networking Event held at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa, on March 29, 2017 Minister Bartlett reiterated the need to retain more of the tourism dollar on island by increasing the use of products made in Jamaica.

Outlining what he referred to as the production or acquisition cost and consumption of the experience offered by the industry, Mr. Bartlett said, “our people who have been concerned that tourism is not contributing enough to the economy are not understanding this consumption/production relationship, and if they do understand, they are perhaps in denial because the moving parts are in evidence in tourism from start to finish.”

Noting the relationship between retaining and leakage of the dollar, Mr. Bartlett said it was true that tourism was a net earner of foreign exchange “because the production costs can be so high and the input which forms the consumption side can be so remote from the destination that you end up having to import the input on the consumption side.”

He said the Tourism Linkages Speed Networking was a vehicle to give producers entry into the industry bringing producers face to face with buyers as the start of a bigger programme.

Minister Bartlett disclosed that “later on this year we are going to bring the owners of hotels, the main procurement officers, the senior vice presidents that do the buying to come at a big trade fair that we want to have at the Montego Bay Convention Centre to ensure that we have not only an interface of both sides of the equation but that you the producers know in fact what the buyers want.”

Chairman of the Tourism Linkages Council, Adam Stewart said this year’s Speed Networking event had a total of 172 representatives from 98 supplier companies and 79 buyer representatives from 55 tourism entities. He said having so many persons attending from across the country was “sending a signal that tourism is alive and well” and of a willingness to “buy Jamaican first.”

He said all participants were there for the same goal of building Jamaica, keep foreign exchange in the country “and the more transactions take place the more successful this event will be not only in terms of how it is staged but to each of the participants.”

The Tourism Linkages Speed Networking event is a partnership between the Ministry of Tourism’s Tourism Linkages Network, the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Jamaica Manufacturers Association, Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and JAMPRO.

JHTA President, Omar Robinson said through this platform hoteliers were being exposed to the full breadth of offerings of local partners and were able to benefit from a rich exchange of ideas, contacts and product and service details.

“This goes to the core of one of the missions of the JHTA and the Tourism Linkages Council to have tourism through backwards and forward linkages be a vehicle for growth in our economy. Tourism will therefore serve as the tide that raises all ships,” he said.

JMA President, Metry Seaga said five years ago this coming together was unheard of as “the relationship between manufacturing, tourism and agriculture was very acrimonious and today, thanks to the leadership at all levels cross cutting administrations, we have come to a place where we are now family.”

He said it felt good to have all parties standing together, moving in one direction and now speaking with one voice “and we recognize that it is important for the country.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica; March 28, 2017: The rich history, culture and cuisine of the Blue Mountain region were on full display, as the Gastronomy Network of the Ministry of Tourism hosted the soft launch of the Blue Mountain Culinary Tour on Sunday March 26, 2017.

The Jamaica Blue Mountain Tour will be one of the first projects of the Gastronomy Network, which was created with the intention to foster the growth of culinary tourism as a product niche for Jamaica.

The tour currently features 15 participating eateries and attractions such as Café Blue, The Gap Café, RafJam Bed and Breakfast and Old Tavern Coffee Estate – with more expected to come on board before the trail officially begins later this year.

Speaking at the launch ceremony at Belcour Lodge in Irish Town, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett indicated that the concept was designed to not only highlight the gastronomic product in the region, but to also directly benefit community members and tour operators who conduct business within the area.

“We are trying to bring the wealth of tourism into the communities that are in the Blue Mountain Area. The concept is a low density, low impact, soft tourism which drives a different type of demographic. It will bring a mixture of nature and creativity with additional efforts on our parts to include a little bit of hard infrastructure work, because we have to do the tours along nice roadways,” said Minister Bartlett. 

Much to the delight of culinary aficionados the tour will feature unique eateries, from both the Eastern and Western end of the world-renowned Blue Mountain Range, with tours highlighting coffee farm experiences, traditional local cuisine, and Jamaican fusion cuisine.

Chairman of the Gastronomy Network, Nicola Madden-Grieg, also shared that the network has informed tour operators that the tour is customizable.

“Tour guides have the option to combine the culinary experiences with stops at places such as New Castle, Heritage Gardens, and Holywell. Individuals as well as tour operators may also choose to have their own itineraries including stops at area bars and food stalls,” said Madden-Grieg.

During the soft launch of the Jamaica Blue Mountain Culinary Tour, the Ministry also disclosed that the Gastronomy Network will also be hosting the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival in March 2018.

The three-day event, which is in the preliminary planning stages, will take place in the Blue Mountain region featuring activities such as training and development seminars for coffee farmers; coffee farm and factory tours; culinary tours and experiences; and a coffee exhibition. International coffee buyers will also be invited to attend the festival.

Minister Bartlett shared that the strategic focus on Gastronomy in Jamaica is not coincidental as it is an important part of his Ministry’s growth agenda. It is also his hope that the project will be so successful that it can be used as a prototype for the member states of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

“We are launching today this coffee tour but we are going beyond that because I want to build a coffee experience that will become part of the gastronomy prototype of the UNWTO. So that we will be able to bring thousands of visitors annually to destination Jamaica to experience the gastronomy prototypes as we utilize various elements of it that are endemic to different geographic areas,” said Minister Bartlett.

The soft launch included stops to Belcour Lodge, Craighton Estates, Strawberry Hill and Café Blue. Guests, who included tourism officials, local tour guides and members of the media, got a sample of what to expect on the culinary tour – with history and sampling of the gastronomic product in the area being the primary focus of the all-day event.

Spring Gardens Primary & Infant was victorious in the inaugural Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) “Fi Wi Falmouth” Tourism Quiz competition, beating Immanuel Success Preparatory & Kindergarten School in an exciting face off held recently at the Trelawny Parish Library. The 3 rounds match saw questions from thirteen subject areas including the history of Trelawny, Spanish, Tourism Awareness, Tourism Organization, Civics, Mathematics.  The score at the end of the match was 35-28 in favour of Spring Gardens.

In his address during the Awards ceremony which followed, TPDCO Board Director Evat Bloomfield, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Tourism, Hon.  Edmund Bartlett congratulated both teams for their valiant efforts and teamwork displayed in the competition.  He highlighted the importance of the protection of the tourism industry and encouraged students to play their part in preserving the strong heritage of Falmouth and by extension Trelawny.  According to the Minister, “the knowledge and the skills that you have honed through this competition are attributes you should consider keeping for life; teamwork; critical thinking and time management are just a few.” 

The students were elated as their list of impressive prizes included day passes at the Royalton White Sands Hotel;  tour and lunch on the Allure of the Seas Cruise Ship, courtesy of Falmouth Jamaica Land Company; tour of the Glistening Waters Attraction; Rose Hall Great House; Falmouth Heritage Walk; Braemar Trolley Tours; Paint Ball Jamaica; Island Routes River Bumpkin Tour, Petting Zoo at the winning school by Swamp Safari; goody baskets from Caribbean Producers Jamaica; plus cash prizes, the TPDCo trophy and replicas for both schools and participants respectively.

In attendance to cheer the children on were Custos of Trelawny, Hon. Paul Muschett and Mrs. Sheona Muschett; Mayor of Falmouth His Worship Colin Gager; President of the Trelawny Chamber of Commerce Mr. Delroy Christie; Regional Librarian Merlene Walker, sponsors and other specially invited guests.  

The “Fi Wi Falmouth” quiz is a part of a public education campaign launched by TPDCo in the parish of Trelawny in 2016.  The campaign seeks to raise awareness of the impact and importance of tourism to Jamaica, improve the visitor experience and engender pride in the parish.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; March 13, 2017: With Jamaica welcoming just over 20,000 German tourists last year, Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett has mandated the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and key Tourism officials to double that number to 50,000 German tourist arrivals into the island by 2020. 

He made the point while meeting with the leadership of the world's largest tour company TUI Group in Berlin, Germany. Minister Bartlett noted that the Tourism Ministry and the JTB will be working closely with TUI to achieve the target. TUI Group brought over 150,000 tourists to Jamaica's shores last year. 

TUI Group is the largest leisure, travel and tourism company in the world, and owns travel agencies, hotels, airlines, cruise ships and retail stores. The group owns six European airlines - the largest holiday fleet in Europe - and nine tour operators based in Europe. TUI is jointly listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange as a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

TUI Senior Board Director David Burling noting Jamaica's important position in the company's growth plans over the next 5 years, highlighted the island's "premium destination" with a very rich culture and high repeat business. He urged the Minister to increase Jamaica's hotel room count in order to effectively secure more business and growth in coming years. 

Meanwhile, Bartlett highlighted a stream of hotel investments that are now completed or in phases of construction to assist with rising demand. 

Bartlett who was joined in Germany by Director of Tourism, Paul Pennicook; Senior Advisor and Senior Communications Strategist, Delano Seiveright and other senior tourism officials announced earlier in the week that one of Europe’s leading airlines, Eurowings, a subsidiary of one of the world’s biggest airline companies, Lufthansa, will begin operating twice weekly scheduled service between Germany’s largest populated metropolitan region and Montego Bay beginning July 3 this year.

The scheduled flights will operate every Monday and Friday from Cologne/Bonn, and will use their Airbus 330 aircraft which has 310 seats. Flights will run from July 3 through to October 27, 2017 and will bring over 10,000 seats from Germany for the summer. Already Eurowings has informed Bartlett and his team that they will extend the service into the winter with those seats opening up for sale within days. 

The new scheduled service will complement weekly charter services operated by German air carrier Condor from the German cities of Frankfurt and Munich into Montego Bay. 

Seiveright noted that Germany is being surgically targeted by Bartlett as he ramps up efforts to boost Jamaica’s tourism sector and contribute more significantly to the country’s growth and development. 

Bartlett and his team recently left Berlin, Germany after participating in the largest tourism tradeshow in the world, ITB Berlin and the International Hotel Investment Forum. 

Bartlett following a meeting with Jamaica's Honorary Consuls from around Germany and wider  Europe at Jamaica’s Embassy in Berlin,  signalled his intention to appoint several of Jamaica’s Honorary Consuls in Europe as, unpaid, Tourism Advisors to his office, as he works on significantly boosting market share for tourists to Jamaica from several key European countries including Germany.

He will complete the move following consultations with Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Hon. Kamina Johnson-Smith.

Bartlett also participated in a special press briefing to boost publicity worldwide for the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) historic Global Conference on Building Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism for Development, which has now seen the World Bank Group come on board as partners. The event, which is being hosted by Jamaica, will run from November 27 to 29, 2017, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.