Debate on the Tourism Workers Pension Bill, which seeks to establish a defined contribution pension scheme for tourism workers, began in the House of Representatives on May 22. The legislation was piloted by Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett. In his address, Mr. Bartlett said the pension scheme will require mandatory contributions by workers and employers. “The plan will cover...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the Hospitality and Tourism Management Programme (HTMP), which is established in secondary schools across the island, is purposed to take the industry to new heights of professionalism and world-class service. Mr. Bartlett, who was speaking to high-school students and teachers at Royalton Resorts in Trelawny on May 8, outlined that the programme will be...

The Government has set sights on Lucea in Hanover as it looks to develop the resort centres across the island. “Lucea is very much on our radar, and the Lucea port is very important,” said Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, during a recent tour of the US$5.7-million Hampden Wharf Development Project in Falmouth, Trelawny. “The Prime Minister and I...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (centre), greets Bartender of the year 2018, Gossett Brown Jr, during the Tourism Linkages Network’s chef workshop at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston on May 9. At right is Executive Director, Tourism Enhancement Fund, Dr. Carey Wallace. The workshop was held for junior culinary Ambassadors and select members of the Culinary Federation of...

Jamaica’s first artisan village, which forms part of the US$5.7-million Hampden Wharf Development Project in Falmouth, Trelawny, will be ready in time for the 2019/20 winter tourist season. Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, made the announcement following a tour of the site on May 8. He informed that work on the village is more than 75 per cent complete. “We...

Approximately $750 million has, to date, been disbursed to 35 small and medium tourism enterprises (SMTEs), under the National Export-Import (EXIM) Bank’s revolving loan scheme. The businesses were selected from 51 completed applications totalling $941.1 million that the Bank received up to November 2018, Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has said. He was making his 2019/20 Sectoral Debate presentation in...

The Bill for the Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme has been tabled in the House of Representatives, and will be debated soon. At a post-Sectoral Debate press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister on Wednesday (May 1), Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, said the Bill will benefit all who work in the tourism industry, including those who are...