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Tourism Minister Says Jamaica on Track to Achieve Good Winter Season

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says Jamaica’s tourism sector is rallying from the aftereffects of Hurricane Melissa with renewed optimism, and is on track to achieve a good winter season. Speaking to nearly 100 travel advisors and other industry...

A cannon at the Morant Bay Fort at the old courthouse in Morant Bay, where a recent site inspection was carried out by members of the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) and St. Thomas Municipal Corporation.

Works to Upgrade Morant Bay Fort Set for Completion by March 2027

Media Relations Officer at the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), Christopher Burke (right), assists Santa and his elf in handing out gifts to attendees at the JTB's recent Christmas Treat held at Devon House in Kingston. The event, held for tourism workers and their families, engaged attendees in festive activities and entertainment, and provided a variety of treats.

PHOTOS: Jamaica Tourist Board’s Christmas Treat

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, addresses a tourism partners’ meeting at the Iberostar Hotel in St. James on December 13.

Minister Bartlett Commends United Response Behind Swift Post-Hurricane Repatriation of 25,000 Tourists

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (seventh right), is surrounded by tourism workers who were issued vouchers valued at $100,000 each under the Tourism Housing Assistance & Recovery Programme (THARP) at the official launch of the initiative on Tuesday (December 16) at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston. Sharing the moment are Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) President, Christopher Jarrett (centre); and in the background (from left) are Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) Executive Director, Dr. Carey Wallace; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Jennifer Griffith; Chairman of the Jamaica Recovery Task Force, John Byles; and Chairman of the Jamaica Tourism Cares Relief Coordination Committee, Jessica Shannon.

700 Tourism Workers to Benefit from Housing Assistance Programme

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlet, addresses the MBJ Airports Limited Appreciation Breakfast at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St. James, on December 13.

2 months ago Tourism

Tourism Minister Underscores Citizens’ Resilience in Jamaica’s Post-Hurricane Recovery

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says Jamaica’s post-Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts are a testament to the citizens’ mental resilience and emotional strength. Additionally, he notes that the discipline and composure of the Jamaican people are to be admired, and have been key to the country’s steady recovery while maintaining order. “I want to commend Jamaica to the world in this....

Visitors arrive at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay on the eve of the December 15 start of the 2025/26 winter tourist season.

2 months ago Tourism

Tourism Workers Commended for Role in Jamaica’s Post-Hurricane Melissa Recovery

As Jamaica’s tourism industry continues to rebound in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, sector employees are being commended for their indomitable spirit, which has been central to the island’s recovery. Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, underscored that the workforce remains the sector’s most iconic asset, stating, “the recovery cannot be complete without the workers of our industry”. He shared first-hand...

Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) Training Manager for the Western Region, Megan Mollison (left, front row), is pictured with Clinical Director at Dr. K.A.D. Morgan & Associates, Verol Billett (fifth left, second row); Managing Director of Amstar Destination Management Company, Arla Vernon (front row, centre); and Administration Officer in TPDCo’s Training Department, Romario Bennett (right), alongside Amstar DMC team members. The photograph was taken following the culmination of TPDCo’s Post‑Hurricane Melissa Pilot Mental Health Intervention Programme for tourism workers at Amstar’s Montego Bay office.

2 months ago Tourism

300 Tourism Workers Benefit from Post-Hurricane Pilot Mental Health Intervention Programme

Some 300 tourism workers across the sector have benefited from a pilot Mental Health Intervention Programme implemented by the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) in response to the impact of Hurricane Melissa. The four day pilot, which concluded on Monday (December 15), comprised 10 face to face sessions, each accommodating up to 30 participants. The sessions were facilitated by a...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, delivers remarks at the annual Staff Appreciation Breakfast for Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) workers, held at the airport on Monday (December 15).

2 months ago Tourism

Ministry to Launch THARP to Assist Tourism Workers Impacted by Hurricane Melissa

The Ministry of Tourism is to launch the Tourism Housing Assistance Recovery Programme (THARP), which aims to aid tourism workers whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Melissa on October 28. This was announced by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, on Monday (December 15), during the annual Staff Appreciation Breakfast for Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) employees, held at the airport...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (at podium), delivers remarks during the annual Staff Appreciation Breakfast for Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) workers, held at the Kingston terminal on Monday (December 15). During the event, Minister Bartlett officially opened Jamaica’s 2025/26 winter tourist season and expressed confidence in the sector’s rapid rebound following Hurricane Melissa. Listening is Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) President, Christopher Jarrett.

2 months ago Tourism

Tourism Sector Declared 71 Per Cent Ready as 2025/26 Winter Season Opens Post-Hurricane Melissa

As the 2025/26 winter tourist season officially commenced on Monday (December 15), Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, announced that the sector is 71 per cent ready to accommodate arrivals in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa. The sector closed following the passage of the category-five system, which made landfall on October 28 and left many hotels and attractions along the west...

Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (second left), with General Manager of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), Robert Honeyghan; Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green (third left), and Chairman of the UDC, Norman Brown, as they discuss the UDC’s lead role in clean-up efforts in Black River, St. Elizabeth, on December 13.

2 months ago Tourism

Tourism Officials Hail Decision to Place UDC in Charge of Black River Clean-Up

Tourism officials and industry stakeholders are throwing their support behind the Government’s decision to place the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) in charge of the Black River, St. Elizabeth, clean-up. Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Dr. Andrew Holness, announced on December 13 during a visit to the town, that the UDC has been assigned the task of cleaning up Black...

2 months ago Tourism

Tourism Remains Key to Island’s Economic Recovery

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has noted that tourism remains central to Jamaica’s recovery efforts following Hurricane Melissa. Minister Bartlett was addressing a special church service held at the Burchell Baptist Church in Montego Bay, St. James on Sunday (December 14), where he was joined by officials from the Ministry and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), along with civic...