The Ministry of Tourism is advancing plans to implement a Local First Policy, designed to ensure that a greater share of tourism earnings remains in Jamaica. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, made the disclosure during his contribution to the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 23). The Policy will build on the work of the...

Through the Agri-Linkages Exchange (ALEX) programme, more than 2,000 farmers have been connected to tourism demand, resulting in the sale of 2.57 million kilogrammes of produce. Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, made the disclosure during his 2026/27 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 23). Launched in 2017, ALEX is a collaborative initiative of the Tourism...

Jamaica welcomed just over one million stopover visitors along with 664,000 cruise passengers up to May 2026, according to the Ministry of Tourism. Speaking during the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 23), Portfolio Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, noted that these out-turns were achieved with only 70 per cent of the tourism inventory available following...

Director of Tourism, Donovan White, says there has been a 60 per cent increase in visitor arrivals from Caribbean countries over the past three years, underscoring the success of targeted efforts to strengthen regional tourism. He attributed this growth primarily to the expansion of inter-Caribbean air connectivity, noting that increased airline services across the region have made travel between Caribbean...

Officials in two of Jamaica’s premier resort towns, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring unrestricted beach access, supported by strong management practices to provide a safe, seamless, and enjoyable experience for both residents and visitors. They note that the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) has been tasked with overseeing waterfront and major urban development projects, including...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett is inviting diaspora expertise to strengthen the tourism sector. He said that there are Jamaicans overseas who have the “critical skills, global networks and on-the-ground insights” essential for accelerating local problem-solving in disaster response, rebuilding, and climate adaptation. As such, he is inviting engineers, scientists, medical and technical professionals to transfer knowledge and provide...

The Ministry of Tourism is working to position Jamaica as the culinary capital of the Caribbean, as it continues to build out the country’s tourism product. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett said Jamaica will be seeking to partner with several international culinary institutions to broaden the scope and scale of engagement in formal training. “There is a growing cadre of...