Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says Jamaica must leverage its rich cultural heritage through the performing arts to enhance and diversify the tourism product. He noted that while the island’s natural attractions have been drawing visitors for decades “it is time to recognise the untapped potential lying within the realms of the performing arts”. “The country has witnessed a global...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says that while Jamaica’s natural attractions have been drawing visitors to the island, it is time to recognise the untapped potential of other value-added entities. The Minister, who was speaking to reporters in Montego Bay, St. James, on February 9, said even though the traditional subsectors have undoubtedly been the backbone of the tourism...

The Government is mobilising efforts to carry out cleanup activities and repairs in Negril, Westmoreland, following the impact of flooding associated with heavy tides last week. During a tour of affected areas on Saturday (February 10), Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, shared that while it is considered an emergency, there is a process to be followed. He commended...

As Jamaica continues to register a significant decrease in serious and violent crimes, focus must be placed on closing the gap between the perception and experience of crime in the country, says Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness. The Prime Minister, who was addressing Tuesday’s (February 7) national security seminar at the AC Marriott Hotel in New Kingston, noted...

The inaugural InterCaribbean Airways flight from Bridgetown, Barbados, touched down at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston on Tuesday night (February 6). Bridgetown, the Southern Caribbean hub for InterCaribbean, will operate non-stop flights to Kingston on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with return flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Government Senator, Abka Fitz-Henley, says there has been major inclusion of the ordinary man and woman in the tourism value chain. Closing the State of the Nation debate in the Senate recently, he said the Government has fine-tuned credit facilities at the EXIM bank for small tourism enterprises across Jamaica. “This facilitation has seen tourism loan disbursements via the bank...

Senior Strategist and Adviser in the Ministry of Tourism, Delano Seiveright, anticipates that the world’s largest cruise ship, the Royal Caribbean’s new ‘Icon of the Seas’, will be making future stops in Jamaica, particularly at the Port of Falmouth. The vessel is the latest in the company’s line of Oasis-class ships, which includes the ‘Allure of the Seas’, ‘Oasis of...

Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Hon. Daryl Vaz, says the Universal Service Fund (USF) continues to be instrumental in providing free Wi-Fi access to every part of Jamaica, including remote rural areas. Speaking to stakeholders, including residents, business interests and local officials at the commissioning of free Wi-Fi service in St. Ann’s Bay, St. Ann, on January 26,...

It was a full house at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James on January 28, where scores of people turned out for a thanksgiving service to bid farewell to late local businessman, Robert Hendricks. Mr. Hendricks, who was known to many as “the man who could see tomorrow”, is said to have left an indelible mark on the...