KINGSTON, Jamaica, September 19, 2017: In keeping with efforts to bolster protection of the island’s environmental resources, the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) committed some J$8 million to Saturday’s (September 16) staging of International Coastal Cleanup Day (ICCD), while rallying a team of over 400 volunteers to participate in cleanup efforts across the island.

The teams, which comprised staff from TEF, the Ministry of Tourism and its other agencies as well as students, family and friends, were stationed at sites in Kingston, Ocho Rios, Trelawny, Montego Bay and sites on the South Coast.

TEF Executive Director Dr. Carey Wallace, who joined thousands of volunteers at the End of Stones site along the Palisadoes strip in Kingston, said he was pleased to see the excellent turnout, especially of young people. “We have been on board since inception and to date we have committed some $43 million to this very important environmental initiative. This hands-on experience is a powerful way to educated people about the impact of poorly handled waste on the environment. TEF is serious about protecting and preserving our natural resources and we are pleased to be partnering with JET in doing so,” Dr. Wallace said.

ICCD, which is coordinated globally by the Ocean Conservancy and locally by the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET), is aimed at building global environmental awareness. It is dubbed the “world’s biggest volunteer effort to protect the ocean,” with an estimated half million people around the world participating.  There were 150 cleanup sites across Jamaica being coordinated by 95 local groups, including service clubs, schools, public and private sector organisations, NGOs and community based organisations.  It is estimated that some 10,000 volunteers participated this year.  TEF has been the title sponsor for the local event since 2008. 

JET CEO Diane McCauley said that TEF’s involvement is important to the long haul of the programme.  Noting that improper waste disposal is a long term problem, Ms. McCauley said, “It takes time to change attitudes so we look forward to TEF’s continued support.”

The TEF also sponsors JET’s Clean Coasts Project, which seeks to increase awareness of the negative impact of poor solid waste disposal practices on our health, marine life and the environment as a whole. The project includes environmental education for adults and children along with practical strategies for tackling poor solid waste management and marine debris in Jamaica. The TEF has committed some J$114 million to this project to date.

The TEF Act speaks to the importance of encouraging proper environmental stewardship and has provided some $674 million to various environmental initiatives over the years.

Kingston, Jamaica; September 12, 2017: As part of efforts to build out the tourism sector, the Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo) recently hosted nine (9) Community Tourism Entities (CTEs) at a Jamaica Community Tourism Development workshop at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston. Under the theme “Toward Success,” the three-day workshop aimed to guide aspiring community based entrepreneurs and to assist existing community tourism executives in the further development of their businesses.

The Community Tourism training follows the completion of the Community Tourism Toolkit, which includes the “Handbook for Community Tourism Enterprises” and “Guide to obtaining a Jamaica Tourist Board Licence.” Together, the guides provide detailed information on the best practices for sustaining a CTE and the process for licensing the business. The Community Tourism Toolkit was created through the partnership of the Ministry of Tourism, the Jamaica Tourist Board, TPDCo and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF).

Mr. Deron Dixon, Director of Corporate Services at TPDCo, who brought greetings on behalf of the agency, said, “You have taken a bold step and your attendance shows that you are interested in growth and development. By taking advantage of trainings such as these, you are also making a significant contribution to the socio-economic development of communities, which will assist in our country’s development as we work to make our home a place where visitors can come and feel at home.”

Mrs. Joy Roberts, Deputy Executive Director of TPDCo, highlighted the importance of Community Tourism Entities and the impact they have on the tourism sector. She went on further to say that CTEs offer a unique and gratifying experience for visitors, particularly the millennials who are keen on visiting the homeland of the likes of Bob Marley and Usain Bolt.

The training exercise was led by expert tourism professionals Hugh Shim, Executive Director of Montego Bay Marine Park Trust; Judy Karwacki, owner of Small Planet Consulting; and Terry Hood, Principal of the Northshore Leadership Project; both of whose businesses are based in Vancouver, Canada.

Community Tourism is a promising aspect of tourism in Jamaica as it focuses on introducing the culture and history of Jamaica to both locals and visitors. The experience differs from the resort type vacation as it offers an educational and enriching experience. Most noteworthy however is the economic contribution to the local communities as individuals are able to gain employment through these businesses. 

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Monday, September 11, 2017:  KINGSTON, Jamaica, Sunday, September 10, 2017:  Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has leveraged his position as Chairman of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) Board of Affiliate Members to appeal for aid for Caribbean islands recently devastated by Hurricane Irma.

Irma, the most powerful Atlantic hurricane in recorded history last week left a path of death and destruction across the Leeward Islands and the Northern Caribbean.

Bartlett noted that aid will most likely come from the UNWTO Sustainable Tourism - Eliminating Poverty Initiative (ST-EP) Foundation, which promotes poverty alleviation through the provision of assistance to sustainable development projects in developing countries.

While expressing deep sympathies to the people of the Caribbean impacted by Hurricane Irma, Minister Bartlett thanked the UNWTO for pledging to assist in rebuilding the tourism industry in the affected countries. “We are all a part of the regional tourism family, so it is important that we are willing to help each other in times of need. This week I will be in Chengdu, China, along with over a thousand tourism officials from around the world, for the 22^nd Session of the UNWTO General Assembly and I plan to use the opportunity to appeal to my colleague Affiliate Members for further assistance to affected countries,” said Minister Bartlett.

“Many of the islands devastated by the hurricane are heavily dependent on tourism.  It is important that we assist in any way possible to help them to rebuild the sector,” Bartlett further shared.

Meanwhile, Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the UNWTO, called for an emergency meeting to discuss the impact of recent hurricanes on the travel and tourism industry and the future of tourism Caribbean member nations. He passed on, “heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims and stands ready to support the affected countries, where tourism is a pillar in the lives of so many people, to recover as swiftly as possible.”

Kingston, Jamaica: September 08, 2017….The Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo), the agency with responsibility for managing the Rio Grande Attraction in Portland, has implemented a new ninety-minute rafting trip on the world-famous Rio Grande River, in addition to the  legacy  trip of  two or three hours.

The new route, which becomes available September 18, is for individuals who wish to enjoy a shorter version of the sought after experience.

The new short route will begin at Rafter’s Rest and end at Shotover. This new starting point will eliminate the need for persons to be escorted from Rafter’s Rest to the previous starting point at Berrydale.

Rio Grande, which is known as the birthplace of rafting in Jamaica, has maintained its status as a premier rafting experience for visitors and locals to Portland. Located approximately 108 km or 2 hours and 15 minutes from either Ocho Rios or Kingston, an excursion of this nature offers a relaxing and tranquil contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city.

The slow scenic tour of the Rio Grande is led by licensed raft captains who are trained in First Aid and CPR, and possess excellent swimming capabilities. Additionally, the River Rafting Authority and other Government agencies ensure that all laws and regulations are observed for a seamless and exhilarating experience.

Refreshments and Craft Items are also on sale at Rafter’s Rest.

For further information and bookings, visit the Rio Grande Attraction at Rafter’s Rest in St. Margaret’s Bay, Portland. Tel: (876) 993-5778 or Email rgrande@cwjamaica.com

KINGSTON, Jamaica; September 3, 2017: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has expressed deep sadness at the passing of Pablo Piñero, the president and founder of the Grupo Piñero company – which includes mega-hotel Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts.

“On behalf of the Government of Jamaica, I offer my condolences to the family and friends of Pablo Piñero. The tourism industry across the globe has certainly suffered an extreme loss and I am sure I speak for all industry leaders across the globe, when I share how very grateful we are for the invaluable contribution he has made to the development of the sector,” said Minister Bartlett.

The 76-year-old was fundamental in Grupo Piñero becoming one of the largest and most influential Spanish hotel chains in the world, with properties in Jamaica, Mexico, Dominican Republic and Spain.  The company also manages over five million hotel stays per year, has 26 four- and five-star hotels totalling 11,000 rooms and employs around 10,000 people.

The Minister described Pablo Piñero as an outstanding entrepreneur and a global icon in the tourism and hospitality industry.

“He was an exemplary gentleman whose passion and zeal for excellence in hospitality is unmatched. I am truly happy that his company invested so heavily in Jamaica. The Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts resulted in job creation for thousands of Jamaicans. It has also helped to strengthen the global appeal of brand Jamaica by expanding the hotel offerings in the island and significantly impacting the room count,” said the Minister.  

Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts opened in Runaway Bay, St Ann, in 2007, and is now one of the largest hotels in Jamaica with an impressive room-count of over 1300. 

KINGSTON, Jamaica; August 30, 2017: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has disclosed that the country earned a record US$2 Billion during the first eight months of this calendar year from 2.8 million visitors. 

The figure represents an increase of 8.3 percent in gross foreign exchange earnings than the US$1.83 billion earned last year over the same period. In addition, cruise passenger arrivals were up 5.1 percent for the same period.

“My mission is to enhance the retention of the dollar from this US$2 Billion. In fact, the latest report from the World Travel & Tourism Council indicates that the retention of the dollar, from the consumption side has risen to 70 percent. The Tourism Linkages Council is going to drive that value added that is needed to take the retention levels in Jamaica from 30 cents to at least 50 cents, for the total dollar that is spent,” said Minister Bartlett.

He also highlighted that direct contribution from tourism to the GDP at the moment is 8.4 percent but the induced and indirect contribution is now 27.2 percent. So tourism remains one of the few labour intensive sectors and directly employs 106,000 Jamaicans while generating indirect jobs for one in four persons, linked to sectors such as agriculture, creative and cultural industries, manufacturing, and construction.

The Tourism Minister was speaking at the press briefing to report on the year-old TEF/EXIM Bank Small Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTE) Loan Facility, at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices on August 30, 2017.

According to reports received from the EXIM Bank, as at August 29, 2017, they have received twenty-eight completed loan applications, totalling J$509.9 million, under the SMTE loan programme. 

“The excellent response of SMTEs to the loan facility is proof that it is welcomed and well needed. Operators of SMTEs, who access up to $25 million dollars at 5 percent interest, over 5 years, will now be able to better respond to the demands of our thriving tourism sector,” said the Minister.

Twenty-two applications totalling J$408.9 million have also been approved with disbursements to date (August 30, 2017) totalling J$311.16 million, exceeding the initial tranche of J$300 million received for disbursement. 

It is anticipated that the remaining approvals will be disbursed in short order.  Six applications totalling J$101 million are being processed, which will bring total approvals in excess of J$500 million.

These applications fall in the following approved categories: Attractions (J$84.50 million); Small Accommodations (J$105 million); Gastronomy (J$25 million); Linkages (J$32 million); Shopping (J$30 million); Manufacturing (J$47.5 million); Services (J$48.4); Spa & Wellness (J$12.5 million); Domestic tours and Car rentals (J$125 million).

“Over the last year this loan has enabled the continuation of the growth of tourism as a discreet sector. I am able to say to you today, that the industry has expanded by 36 percent over the last ten years. That compares favourably to the overall economy itself that has expanded by only 6 percent over the same period. So tourism has grown six times the rate of growth of the GDP,” said the Minister.

The loan facility was launched last September, with a commitment of $1 billion from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) to provide well-needed loans to small and medium-sized tourism enterprises (SMTEs) to boost the sustainable growth of the industry.  

TEF presented EXIM Bank with the first tranche of J$300 million last September and during today’s launch, which marks the second phase of the loan, TEF provided another tranche of J$350 million towards the further development of the programme.

“The impact of building these underpinnings is creating greater expenditures – that is, the tourist is spending more in the country because we have more to offer them.   It is important to note that building the capacity to provide more of what the tourists require when they get here is to build out the production and enable the consumption patterns of the tourist, to favour the retention of the dollar in our destination,” said the Minister.

In closing, Minister Bartlett urged financial institutions to do more to support small businesses so they can better equipped to respond to the demands of the tourism sector. 

KINGSTON, Jamaica; August 24, 2017:  Online marketplace and hospitality service Airbnb has committed approximately J$8.3 million to the Government of Jamaica, towards the staging of the UNWTO, GOJ, World Bank Group Conference on Jobs & Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism.

This makes the mega-technology company the first platinum sponsor for the conference, which is scheduled for November 27-29, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St. James.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett welcomed the sponsorship, sharing that it will strengthen the projected impact the conference will have on the future of Jamaica’s tourism sector.

“This conference will not only be the single biggest international tourism event ever held on local soil but is also going to be one of the most important events that is held in the country’s history.  I am so happy to have Airbnb on board and look forward to working with them on a number of different projects which I am certain will benefit the people of Jamaica in the near future,” said Minister Bartlett.

Airbnb’s Regional Director for Central America and the Caribbean, Shawn Sullivan, gave the commitment to Minister Bartlett during a meeting at his company’s California headquarters on August 23, 2017.

“Today was an excellent day for Airbnb. It was another step in us solidifying and making more prominent, our relationship with the Government of Jamaica.  Airbnb sees Jamaica as a premier destination in the Caribbean and in the world,” said Mr. Sullivan.

Airbnb is a trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations around the world online. It connects people to unique travel experiences, at any price point, in more than 34,000 cities and 191 countries.

The market for Airbnb in Jamaica is rapidly growing and is extremely lucrative. Their web site currently boasts thousands of active hosts and active listings locally. Jamaica also welcomed upwards of 32,000 visitors via Airbnb last year, benefitting many communities across the island, including Trench Town in Kingston, and generating income for many homeowners.

The Minister is currently in California, where he is also expected to engage in strategic meetings with American technology mega-companies Google, LinkedIn Corporation and Uber Technologies Inc.

The meetings are in tandem with two of the five strategic pillars of the Ministry – building new products and fostering new partnerships; and will also be used to promote the UNWTO, GOJ, World Bank Group Conference on Jobs & Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism, scheduled for November 27 – 29, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre. 

He is joined by Senior Advisor/ Communication Strategist, Delano Seiveright and Jamaica’s Honorary Consul to Los Angeles, Lorna Mae Johnson. He is expected to return to the island on August 27, 2017.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; August 22, 2017:  Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is to collaborate with the Government of Jamaica in the staging United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Government of Jamaica and World Bank Group Conference on Jobs & Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism, being held in November at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St. James.

During his recent trip to London, Bartlett met with the WTTC’s Senior Vice-President of Government and Industry Affairs, Helen Marano, who expressed strong collaborative support for the historic conference.  This is in tandem with widening global support for the conference from major international institutions such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.

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,” explained the Minister.

The Conference will also incorporate a presentation of the Caribbean Legends Awards, the first of its kind, which will be a collaborative effort involving Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (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.

November’s global conference will also seek to identify successful models and future partnership initiatives that will contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the publication of the second UNWTO Affiliate Members Global Report on Public-Private-Partnerships.

“I am proud of the strong partnership we have had with the WTTC, in particular, over the years.  They are the movers and shakers in the travel and tourism industry and I am positive that when the details of this collaboration are finalized it will   strengthen Jamaica’s presence as a tourism powerhouse on the global stage,” said Minister Bartlett.

The WTTC is an international organization that brings together all major Travel & Tourism stakeholders, including presidents, chairs and CEOs of over 150 of the world’s foremost companies spanning hotels, airlines, airports, tour operators, cruise, car rental, travel agents, rail and the emergent sharing economy.

London, United Kingdom – August 9, 2017: Headlining a packed dinner with United Kingdom (UK) Travel Industry executives in London, Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett charged them to increase to 250,000 the number of UK stopover tourist arrivals to Jamaica, thereby exceeding Barbados as the leading Caribbean destination for British visitors.

Last year Jamaica saw 210,000 tourists from the UK, just a few thousand less than the 218,000 UK stopover visitors to Barbados, that country’s main source market for tourists and historically the favourite in the Caribbean for Brits.

Minister Bartlett, speaking at a dinner at the popular Boisdale restaurant in London’s busy financial district, Canary Wharf, charged UK Travel executives to aggressively build on last year’s 5.8 percent growth and the near 40 percent growth in British tourists visiting Jamaica over the last three years.

“Jamaica is hot. With a repeat visitor rate of 40 percent and a surge in wedding and honeymoon UK vacationers, including Prince Harry and dozens of his friends coming to Jamaica recently, we can easily eclipse our friendly neighbor Barbados, commonly known as Little England, as the number one destination for Brits in the Caribbean,”  Bartlett noted.

Bartlett is leading a small team of tourism officials to London, UK for a blitz of engagements with industry stakeholders across the airline, hotel, tour operator, travel agency and media sectors. The visit is timed with IAAF World Championships at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.

As part of promotional efforts timed with the Championships, the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) in conjunction with travel industry partners had 150 of London’s famed black taxi cabs emblazoned with the moniker Less Traffic and More Jammin coupled with colourful Jamaica-themed images depicting an inviting scene of the island. Additionally, the JTB has pushed and sponsored Jamaica Garden Terrace at the popular Scottish-influenced Boisdale Restaurant featuring Jamaican food as well as musical performances from well-known Jamaican artistes. Over a 120,000 people work in close proximity to the Terrace, an area with headquarters to many well-known banks, financial institutions and professional services firms such as Barclays, Citigroup, HSBC, JP Morgan, KPMG, Morgan Stanley, RBC and Reuters to name a few.

Bartlett is accompanied by Chairman of the JTB, John Lynch; Director of Tourism, Paul Pennicook,  Senior Advisor/Strategist, Delano Seiveright and Deputy Director Marcia McLaughlin along with JTB officials based in the UK.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; July 31, 2017: Having spent $2.8 billion from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) in the Montego Bay area over the last ten years, the Ministry of Tourism is ploughing an additional $1.2 billion over the next four years to enhance the physical appearance of the resort town.

The Ministry’s commitment to support Montego Bay as the island’s largest resort area and the fastest growing city in the Caribbean was spelt out by Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett on Friday (July 28, 2017), at the Royal Decameron Hotel. The Invest Mobay breakfast forum hosted by the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and industry, looked at “Unlocking the Opportunities in Tourism - Reviving the Hip Strip.”

With the money being provided by TEF, through development agencies such as the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), “we’re going to be reconfiguring the entire area from Dump Up Beach straight through to Dead End, which includes the Hip Strip” said Minister Bartlett. The area earmarked spans the coastline from Pier 1, going east along Howard Cooke Boulevard, Gloucester Avenue and Kent Avenue.

Underscoring the importance of partnerships, he said “the private and public sectors together have combined to create a new-look experience that is going to define a new attraction and indeed a new presence of Montego Bay in the global tourism market,” said the minister.

Among the projects to be funded by TEF are $600 million for the creation of a closed harbour park, $35 million to resurface the road from Summit Police Station on Sunset Boulevard to Dead End on Kent Avenue. Also, utility wires along the Hip Strip will be relocated underground.

Montego Bay’s streets are also receiving attention, with $60 million provided by TEF to be spent by November through the municipal corporation. As part of this programme, further attention will be given to the airport round-about.

Underlying what is being done, Minister Bartlett said that, “Jamaica and Montego Bay must become the centre of beauty and aesthetic in the Caribbean.” To further this cause, landscaping of the Elegant Corridor, east from the airport to Greenwood, will be done at a cost of $252 million. The Flanker community is also listed among projects to be undertaken with a special $40 million programme on the drawing table.   

At the same time, the Montego Bay Convention Center is being refurbished at a cost of $200 million “to make it fit for purpose” in time for the UNWTO World Conference on Sustainable Tourism November 27 to 29, this year and further afield, water distribution for communities around Montego Bay is to be improved with $120 million provided by TEF. A contract was signed on Thursday (July 27, 2017) with Rural Water Supply, to expand the Canaan source, to improve distribution to communities such as Orange, Irwin Heights, Johns Hall and Amity Hall.

Also, the communities of Lilliput, Grange Pen, Greenwood and Barrett Hall will be able to access electricity supply legally with the implementation of a $125 million squatter upgrading and Rural Electrification Programme.

Minister Bartlett said, though all this effort augured well for the improvement of social and physical infrastructure, while building out the economic framework for the development of the Montego Bay community, more needed to be done and the Ministry of Tourism was working with the Ministry of National Security on addressing penal reconstruction  along safety and security.

Minister Bartlett informed the forum that, as the most important tourism city in the English-speaking Caribbean, Montego Bay represented some 35 percent of the national tourism product and with a national target of the industry earning US$5 billion by 2021 Montego Bay should be providing 20 percent of that.