MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; March 6, 2017: Massage Therapist, Simone Folkes of Sandals Royal Plantation and Couples San Souci won the coveted National Champion awards for 2016 in the individual and organization categories respectively, as the Ministry of Tourism on the weekend rolled out the red carpet for the return of the Tourism Service Excellence Awards. The programme is spearheaded by the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo).

The winners were selected from a group of 9 of the island’s top tourism workers and 10 leading organizations who vied for the awards for excellent service delivery under the Tourism Service Excellence Programme (TSEP). The ballroom of the Hyatt Ziva Resort & Spa was the location of the gala event, which returned after a four-year absence.

“This means so much to me I am absolutely elated. I won’t stop here; I’ve wanted to do my best but now that I am recognized I want to do even more,” said a beaming Simone.

General Manager of Couples Sans Souci, Pierre Battaglia, who himself was named the 2011 individual champion in the last staging of the event, was equally proud that his hotel had won the organization award. “It means a lot and is proof of the hard work that my staff puts in day after day to achieve our goals and to all our guests who come to visit us every year at the resort to experience our exclusive services,” he expressed.

In lauding the honourees and semi-finalists Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett exalted workers in the tourism sector as the treasure and pride of the industry and the foremost reason that visitors keep coming to Jamaica.

He added that “TSEP is an integral part of our efforts to boost our tourism sector's competitiveness by motivating stakeholders to create compelling experiences and adopt best practices. As we celebrate the achievements of our tourism industry, we are mindful that we must give credit where credit is due. Our success as a leading tourist destination would not be possible without the hard work and commitment of our world class tourism workers.”

The enthusiasm of being awarded was also shared by regional winners. In the individual category, Wilfred Chambers, a tour guide at the Bob Marley Museum, won for Kingston while Scuba Diving Instructor at Negril Adventure Divers, Glenville Edwards won for Negril. In Montego Bay the regional winner was Customs Officer, Winsome Wynter, while Simone Folkes took the honours for Ocho Rios and Lifeguard at Trident Hotel, Arthur Thaxter, won for Port Antonio.

Among organizations, the regional winners were Jamaica Pegasus for Kingston, Couples Sans Souci for Ocho Rios, Sunset at the Palms Resort was named champion for Negril, Trident Hotel won for Port Antonio, Appleton Estate Rum Tour won for the South Coast and VIP Attractions took the prize for Montego Bay.

The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) was the main sponsor of the event. Other major sponsors include Caribbean Airlines, Sandals, FLOW, EXIM Bank, Finn Partners and the RJR Gleaner Communications Group with prizes being provided by several other partner entities.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; February 26, 2017: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that he will be providing well needed assistance to stakeholders in Trench Town as they seek to make improvements to the area to position it as the premier community-tourism destination in Kingston.

The Minister, who addressed the stakeholders during a tour of the community recently, shared that he also intends to place Trench Town high on the agenda when he meets with representatives from major cruise lines, in an effort to bring more visitors to the city.

“When I went to the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association to speak to them about cruise development in Jamaica, particularly in Kingston, the first question they asked was ‘what does Kingston have?’ I told them I will come back to you with the details of Kingston’s many offerings and in the interim; you prepare to send us more ships. So I am going back to see them at the global Seatrade conference in March and Trench Town will be included in my report,” he said.

Among the many plans stakeholders have for redevelopment is the creation of fine and applied art pieces across the town, by renowned artist Scheed Cole, CEO of 360 Recycle-Manufacturing Company.

“A lot can take place in Trench Town because of the availability of space. Collie Smith Drive, for example has an island in the middle, which I think can become an attraction. We can create a green space and culinary park, with art being the centrepiece within this space. When you apply art to something it has the ability to take your breath away,” said Cole.

Nora Blake, CEO of JaMIN Tours, a new tour company based in Trench Town, shared that it is also their intention to reposition the way the town has been marketed by making it the gateway to the city.

 “Kingston’s renewal and repositioning as a tourism centre is made alive with community initiatives such as the ones being developed in Trench Town. You are preparing yourself for the experiences that the visitor wants. What Trench Town has succeeded in doing is to bring people, ideas and material value together at a price. Therefore, Trench Town is an experience,” said Minister Bartlett.

The Minister explained that Trench Town exemplified much of what he believes makes tourism in Jamaica special. He therefore urged other community tourism enterprises to follow suit, so that visitors can have a positive and unforgettable experience when they visit our shores.

“You represent an opportunity for replication across Jamaica. You represent something that tourism seeks to foster as it tries to be the agent for transformation, poverty alleviation and creative renewal,” he said.

High on the agenda of the Ministry to improve city tourism in Kingston is changing the perception that people have about the capital, while also assiduously working on the restoration and creation of key infrastructure. This, as the Ministry intends to increase the number of cruise arrivals to the port of Kingston in the upcoming months.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; February 14, 2017:  Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has announced that Kingston is set to welcome more cruise ships, with the next vessel set to dock in the first quarter of 2017. While addressing the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) today (February 14, 2017), he shared that the Ministry of Tourism has placed great emphasis on expanding cruise tourism in the island, with special focus being placed on the restoration of the ports of Kingston and its environs.

“We are going all out to work with the cruise lines. I just came back from Miami, where over the weekend we met with representatives of one of the largest cruise-lines in the world, talking about Kingston and the restoration of cruise activity in the ports of Kingston,” shared Minister Bartlett.

Last December, Kingston welcomed its largest cruise ship ever, the MS Monarch which is operated by Pullmantur, the largest Spanish Cruise line.  The visit was also historic because it was the first time the island had mega-ships in the main ports in Kingston, Falmouth, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios at the same time.

“I am so excited to announce that the MS Monarch will be adding Kingston to its itinerary for the next two years. That is great news for us because we have always felt that destination Kingston has a particular allurement, charm and value of its own that is deserving of recognition,” said the Minister.

The Minister also disclosed that the port of Kingston is set to welcome another cruise-ship, the Noble Caledonia’s MS Serenissima, on March 5, 2017.  

As the Ministry of Tourism continues to position Kingston as a major tourist destination, the Minister shared that more work needs to be done to not only improve the perception that people have about Kingston, but to also work on the restoration and creation of key infrastructure.

“There are not many things that we need to do to revitalize the cruise and tourism industry in Kingston, except for the important investment in creating a port that is suitable for cruise, which is a discussion we are currently having. The Norman Manley International Airport is also being positioned to be a central entrepôt to give the confluence that we require for cruise, air and sea activities,” said Minister Bartlett.

He also urged the councillors to make it their point of duty to assist the Ministry of Security to ensure that the Kingston sees a notable reduction in criminal activities. This as some cruise companies need the assurance that cruise in Kingston will be safe, secure and seamless, before adding Kingston to their itineraries.

The Minister also shared that restorative work will be carried out in Kingston under Spruce Up Jamaica programme to enhance the tourism offerings in the city.

Some J$40 million has been allocated to the building of entranceways to Kingston and J$10 million has been allocated to the restoration of Ward Theatre. Money has also been allocated to develop cemeteries, the Victoria Craft Market and provide economic support through affordable loans to Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs).

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; February 14, 2017: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has lauded legendary musician and actor, Jimmy Cliff (Mr. James Ezekiel Chambers, OM) for his sterling contribution to Jamaican film and music, describing him as “both a trailblazer and influencer; an enduring voice who has helped to make little Jamaica a cultural heavy weight on the world stage.”

Minister Bartlett made his comments as Jimmy Cliff received IRIEF FM’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award at the Somerton All-Age School recently. The award was presented to the renowned entertainer “for his exceptional work as a songwriter, artiste and activist for social justice.”

Mr. Bartlett said, “when we find our own who have done so well to achieve international notoriety we must be able to work and walk with them as they continue the journey over time and to find their place in the pantheon of history so that we can be proud that we lived and they lived among us.”

In his glowing tribute, Minister Bartlett said, “when you go across the world Jimmy Cliff pops up not just as a reference of another human being, but a powerful representation of iconoclastic achievement from a little country that like a boat on a big ocean packs waves that are so mighty to be called tsunami.”

Jimmy Cliff, who has been singing since recording his first single, ”Hurricane Hattie” at age 14, and is credited with introducing Bob Marley to his producer, has been performing internationally for some 55 years.

Underscoring that entertainment is an area in which Jamaica is a world beater, Minister Bartlett said “the Ministry of Tourism and its agencies are committed to fostering the continued development of the entertainment industry and the integration of entertainment into our tourism product.”

He added that entertainment tourism was one of the main niche areas being developed in order to diversify the tourism product and tap into new markets. “This is precisely why we are placing special focus on developing entertainment tourism as part of our growth strategy,” he said.

With the Ministry’s Sports and Entertainment Network actively seeking to capitalize on the tremendous potential of entertainment, Minister Bartlett said “cultural ambassadors like Jimmy Cliff make our work that much easier because through your illustrious achievements Jamaica has inarguably become known as the mecca of Reggae music and a focal point for popular culture.”

Thousands of adults and children, including a number of visitors, packed into the 75-year-old Somerton All-Ago school building and crowded the school yard for the historic IRIE FM event in which several members of the political directorate, scholars, musicians, singers and dancers paid tribute to Jimmy Cliff for his achievement and the influence he has had on their lives.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; February 13, 2017: Years prior to the Cuban Revolution in 1959 that saw the communist Fidel Castro regime come to power, Cruise ships from Miami regularly stopped in Cuba and Jamaica as part of their northern Caribbean itinerary. Now with the easing of US/Cuba relations just under 60 years following the revolution and prompting by Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, Cruise executives are excited about the prospects for a surge in interest for the once charmed route which will prove popular and continue the upward trajectory of Jamaica’s cruise arrival numbers.  

The development comes as Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL), after receiving approval for a one day per week sailing into Havana, Cuba decided to drop Grand Bahama in the Bahamas from its scheduled four-day voyage, sending jitters throughout the tourism industry there. Interestingly, Swiss based cruise giant MSC Cruises has been promoting its itineraries spanning, Havana, Cuba; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Cayman Islands and Cozumel, Mexico this year. Meanwhile, the Cypriot-owned 1,200-passenger Celestyal Crystal cruise ship has been sailing seven-day Cuba itineraries year-round on a people-to-people cruise and land itinerary out of Montego Bay and Havana.  

The Jamaica, Cuba cruise itinerary was just one of the outcomes of a meeting between Bartlett recently with the new President of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s (FCCA) and President of Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCCL), the world's second-largest cruise line operator, Mr. Adam Goldstein in Miami, Florida. Mr. Bartlett was accompanied by Director of Tourism, Mr. Paul Pennicook and Delano Seiveright, Senior Advisor.

“The visit was buoyed by strong growth in Jamaica’s tourism sector last year, with cruise arrivals surging 5.5 percent ahead of the previous year resulting in 1.66 million visitors and a 8.1 percent growth in Cruise passenger earnings totalling US$ 148.6 million or just about J$19 billion.”, Bartlett pointed out.

It also comes on the heels of a historic visit in December by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Minister Bartlett and other tourism officials at the headquarters of Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise operator in Miami.

Senior Advisor, Delano Seiveright in addition to discussions on Cuba, noted that the Tourism Minister also, “focused on ways to facilitate the hiring of more Jamaican crew-members on cruise lines, improving the guest experience at the Falmouth Port in Trelawny, increased utilization of Ports of Calls like Kingston and Port Antonio and new destinations like Black River, St. Elizabeth as well as ways to strengthen the relationship between cruise lines and the Jamaican government.”

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCCL) head honcho Adam Goldstein noted that Jamaica is without a doubt one of the best cruise destinations in the world with incredible potential for global greatness given the rich culture, accommodating personality of Jamaicans and diverse attraction offerings. He commended Bartlett for his hands on, visionary and expert led approach to tourism development on the island. He however urged the Government to move decisively at centralizing the management of the cruise operations as a means of better focusing resources, quickly fixing problems, improve security and allowing for more substantive growth and a broader spread of the benefits to the Jamaican people.

Underlying Jamaica’s growing cruise industry, the island currently hosts six of the largest cruise ships in the world. Currently, the Port of Falmouth is hosting the three largest cruise ships in the world – Harmony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, and Oasis of the Seas, which are all Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL) vessels. In the meantime, Ocho Rios is hosting the Norwegian Epic, the Norwegian Pearl and the Carnival Vista. A fourth ship in the RCCL’s Oasis luxury fleet, which is under construction and set to replace Harmony of the Seas as the biggest ship in the world, is expected to be added to Jamaica’s itinerary in November 2018.

Seiveright noted that Bartlett, reiterated important targets set for the overall tourism sector aiming to secure 5 million visitors by 2021, while also generating US$5 billion in tourism earnings, increase the total direct jobs to 125,000 and add 15,000 new Hotel rooms.

“So far the latest figures show that for 2016, Jamaica recorded total tourist arrivals, stopover and cruise combined, of 3.84 million, 4 percent above the previous year.” – Seiveright.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 19, 2017: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett today (January 19, 2017) signed an agreement with representatives of the Excellence Group of Luxury Hotels and Resorts to build two hotels in Oyster Bay, Trelawny, which will add over 700 rooms to the island’s room-stock.

The Excellence Group, which is renowned for its award-winning luxurious properties, plans to begin construction on their first property in Jamaica in February 2017.

The first hotel will be built at a cost of US$110 million. It will have some 325-rooms and is expected to open its doors to guests in the first half of 2018. The second property, which will have some 400 rooms, will open at a later date.

The Minister signed the agreement with the CEO of the Excellence Group, Antonio Montaner – Ferrer and the group’s Country Manager for Jamaica, Rafael Matas. The Signing took place at Jamaica’s booth at FITUR, which is largest International Tourism Trade Fair for inbound and outbound Ibero American markets, now underway in Spain.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Bartlett expressed that “investment in Jamaica’s tourism sector is booming. We welcome this new project as it marks the entry of yet another major brand to the sector. The entry of the Excellence Group to the Jamaican landscape will certainly broaden the options available to visitors and help to enhance our product offering. I am pleased that both hotels will be luxury properties as the first hotel will be branded as an Excellence property while the second will be operated under the group’s top brand – Finest.”

In welcoming the move Minister Bartlett said “the current investment being made in our country is proof of the confidence the Excellence Group and our many other investors have in Jamaica.  As we continue on our path to meet the objectives outlined in our growth agenda, this development project will aid in our quest to secure 15,000 new rooms in the next five years.”

He emphasized that “another key component of our growth strategy is securing new investments, so we welcome the entry of yet another investor and encourage other players both local and international to invest in Jamaica’s vibrant tourism sector.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 17, 2017:   Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett yesterday (January 16, 2017)  signed an agreement at the Palacio Neptuno in Spain, to host a major global conference to commemorate the 2017 United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

The event, which is a collaborative effort between the Government of Jamaica, international development firm Chemonics International and the UNWTO, will be staged from November 27 to 29 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St. James.

Speaking during the historic signing ceremony, Minister Bartlett expressed that he was honoured to have participated on behalf of the Prime Minister of Jamaica, to concretize arrangements to host such a prestigious event in Jamaica.

“This signing will see an international conference of great magnitude and importance to global tourism, being hosted in Jamaica. We look forward to showcasing our destination but more so within the context of sustainability and the building of public-private-partnerships,” said Minister Bartlett.

Secretary General of the UNWTO, Taleb Rifai shared that the conference will kick-start discussions to create on-the ground activities to develop tourism across the globe from such partnerships.

“We keep talking about the need for public-private-partnerships, but we fail to translate that on the ground in any effective manner. Minister Bartlett together with Ibrahim Osta,‎ Chief of Party for Building Economic Sustainability through Tourism at Chemonics International, will together cooperate in making and designing this very important meeting in Jamaica towards the end of this year,” said Secretary General Rifai.

The agreement is of great historical importance because it signals the first time that the UNWTO will stage a world conference on tourism in the Caribbean or the Americas. 

Minister Bartlett, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Affiliate Members of the UNWTO, described the event as a very unique opportunity as it will also allow the world’s spotlight to be on Jamaica, and by extension the Caribbean, which is heavily dependent on the economic power of tourism.

“Jamaica is a part of the Caribbean archipelago of states which is the most tourism-dependent region on earth. It means therefore, that to be positioned to invite the world to see us in the practice of sustainability tendencies, embracing best practices, and showcasing how we have been able to manage, and grow and build the economic well-being of our people is something, that for us is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Minister Bartlett.  

Two of the expected deliverables from this conference 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.

At a meeting prior to the signing, Minister Bartlett highlighted the great strides Jamaica has made in forming public-private-partnerships in the spirit of sustainable tourism for development, through the Tourism Linkages Network model and financial support provided specifically for Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs).

“Tourism is the fastest way to transfer money from the rich to the poor. We can certainly do this effectively through our Linkages initiatives,” shared the Minister.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 12, 2017:  Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has lauded Kingston City Run Marathon as a unique event which highlights Kingston as an ideal tourist destination to thousands each year. 

While at the launch of the Kingston City Run at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, the Minister shared that “the event is a part of the constellation of marathons across Jamaica which significantly drives arrivals. These marathons are becoming central parts of Jamaica’s tourism product and are therefore now calendar items that can be marketed along with the destination and its other offerings.”

He further noted that the marathon is expected to add value to Jamaica’s tourism product because it has the potential to create new business models.

“Marathons like Kingston City Run bring people who are great subscribers of Airbnb, for example. It is broadening the base of tourism involvement and ‘stakeholdership’ in Kingston because the people who come to Kingston City Run are going to be housed from Trench Town to Norbrook and many of our hotels,” he said

The Kingston City Run is slated to take place on Sunday March 12, 2017 under the theme “Calling all Heroes”. Participants, who are encouraged to wear super-hero inspired attire, will have the unique opportunity to walk or run through some of Kingston’s most iconic attractions.

“I am so happy that there is added focus in Kingston as it has so much to offer. So we are going to make more people come to Kingston. In fact, the sixth network my Ministry will be focusing on is City Tourism with Kingston as its epicentre.  Kingston has its own allurement, excitement and tremendously rich culture and entertainment. We are going to leverage that,” shared the Minister.

Nicola Madden-Greig, co-chair and co-founder of Kingston City Run Organizing Committee shared that the aim for this year’s event is to raise approximately J$5 million for charity.

“This year we will be doing more to support our homeless and vulnerable communities through five main charities: Open Arms Drop in Centre, Marie Atkins Night Shelter, Food for the Poor, Missionaries for the Poor and Alpha Institute. Over the past four years we have been able to raise over J$ 9 million and this has gone a far way in improving the lives of many,” said Madden-Greig.

The organizers have also incorporated new elements in this year’s event.  One such feature is “Give Things a Running Chance”, which hopes to target 1000 inner-city children who cannot afford to participate. They will also be offering a special discount rate to university students of $650.

Registrations can be done online at: www.kingstoncityrun.com, or info@kingstoncityrun.com

ACCOMPONG TOWN, Cockpit Country, Jamaica; January 8, 2017: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that the 279-year-old Maroon community of Accompong is to have pride of place as the first cultural heritage location to be promoted worldwide as part of a new marketing initiative being driven by the Ministry’s Tourism Linkages Network.

“We will make Accompong the first destination and we will now place the anniversary festival on the calendar of events and market the community alongside the destination when we go abroad to market experiences in Jamaica”, said Minister Bartlett. He noted that, “we are satisfied that the authenticity of this experience will enhance Jamaica’s presence in the global arena.”

The Ministry’s plan for the community was outlined by the Minister as he gave the keynote address at last Friday’s festival commemorating the 279th Anniversary of the signing of the peace treaty by the Maroons and the British. “We are going to work with Colonel Ferron Williams and his cultural committee to build out this festival experience to make it a calendar event that is promoted to all visitors who come to Jamaica,” the Minister said.

Since assuming office in 2016, Minister Bartlett has been laying the foundation for the growth and diversification of Jamaica’s tourism industry through five new networks;  Sports and Entertainment, Gastronomy, Health and Wellness, Shopping and Knowledge. They operate under the Ministry’s overarching Tourism Linkages Network, which seeks to drive the development of these sub-sectors to further diversify our tourism offerings, create business opportunities and increase the use of local goods and services within the tourism sector. The new marketing programme is being developed by the Sports and Entertainment Network working in collaboration with the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB).

He said the festival on January 6 each year had become an international event which “opens the door for many thousands of locals and visitors who flock to the mountain settlement each year and immerse themselves in the rich life, culture and history of the heroic Maroons through their music, dance, story-telling, craft and food.”

As Minister Bartlett spoke, many international visitors sat comfortably on the ground listening while savoring meals of freshly jerked chicken and pork.

From as far back as the late 1990s, the Ministry of Tourism through the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) has been working with the Maroons to develop the tourism product from which they have been benefitting through tours.
Some of the physical works such as signage and improvements to the community centre in the area have since deteriorated. Minister Bartlett announced that in addition to $9 million recently provided by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) to repair the roadway from New Holland to Accompong; an additional $20 million will be allocated to repair the roadway to the area.

Signage which had been erected by TPDCo are to be improved and public facilities repaired. Col. Williams was tasked to ensure these amenities will be maintained and kept in pristine condition.

To further enhance the scope of Accompong’s cultural offerings, the tourism ministry will also collaborate with the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) in building a cultural centre for the young people to develop their talents, enhance their capabilities “but more importantly, provide the basis for public education and cultural development,” said Minister Bartlett.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 11, 2017:  Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett today (January 11, 2017) announced that Cabinet has approved the arrangements for the development of Jamaica’s first Hotel School as well as the establishment of Artisan Villages and a Craft Development Institute, to aid in the Ministry’s push to strengthen the island’s human capital. 

Speaking at a post cabinet press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, Minister Bartlett explained that the Hotel School would offer a more practical curriculum and will complement the current hospitality programmes at the country’s tertiary institutions. This is primarily because the institution will operate as both a functional hotel and world-class training institution.

The Hotel School is intended to support development in areas such as Culinary Management, Spa Management and Hospitality Management. “We want to see our people in more supervisory and management roles. We are bringing to the table a very practical curriculum, so that we can go to the hoteliers with confidence, and say that we have the right people with skills and professionalism for their hotels,” explained Minister Bartlett.

He further noted that “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. The school will also be accessible to every Jamaican student studying hospitality and tourism regardless of the tertiary institution that he or she is enrolled in.”

Minister Bartlett alongside, Minister of Education, Youth and Information Senator, Hon. Ruel Reid, kick-started the development process by today signing the agreement to create a Business Case for the Hotel School. The agreement concretizes the engagement of a team of international tourism experts who will conduct research and share knowledge and best practices to facilitate the successful establishment of the hotel school.

The team is led by Donald Hawkins, Professor Emeritus of Management and Tourism Studies, George Washington University, and will produce the business plan that will serve as the official guide for the initiative.

The Minister also outlined that Cabinet’s approval to establish Artisan Villages and a Craft Development Institute (CDI) will significantly boost the Ministry’s efforts to foster the development of the skills of craft entrepreneurs across the island and the effective marketing of their products. The overall strategy also entails the design of a system to produce and distribute Jamaican craft.

“This plan will see a strong partnership between the Tourism Ministry and the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts among other partners, and the collaboration of both local and visiting craftsmen and women to create a truly comprehensive programme. The establishment of the Craft Development Institute and the Artisan Villages is vital if we are to better cater to our cruise visitors in particular,” said Minister Bartlett.

Five artisan villages are slated to be built across the island. They will be one-stop-shop facilities where visitors can see the creation and merchandising of craft items, while enjoying authentic Jamaican entertainment and leisure activities. It will also provide an avenue for Jamaican artists and craftsmen to expose and express their creativity by producing unique indigenous items, thus, limiting the volume of imported craft items that are being sold in the industry.

The Craft Development Institute is scheduled to welcome the first students in the September 2018 school year while the first Artisan Village at the Port of Falmouth is scheduled to open in December 2018.