Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says projections are for 450,000 visitors out of Canada this year, continuing the strong growth in tourist arrivals out of the North American country over the last few years. He said there were 405,000 visitors from Canada last year up from 370,000 in 2016, reflecting a nine per cent increase. “So, they broke the...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says Jamaica’s cruise shipping is poised for even further growth, following commitments and “glowing reviews” from the major cruise lines. Mr. Bartlett, who is currently attending the Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Puerto Rico, said a recent trip to Carnival Corporation’s headquarters in Miami resulted in one of “the biggest cruise endorsements” Jamaica has received...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the current State of Public Emergency in St. James is not affecting visitor arrivals to the country. Speaking at the Prime Minister’s quarterly press briefing at Jamaica House on Wednesday (January 24), the Minister said he and his team are continuing to aggressively market the country as an ideal destination, despite the ongoing...

South coast tourism, considered a distant second to the north coast in terms of visitor arrivals, is poised for a boom in 2018. The region, known for its breathtaking waterfalls, rivers, beaches and mineral baths; charming hotels and guest houses; and delightful eating spots, has benefited from major investment projects, which will bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says an entrepreneurial training and coaching programme to assist local farmers to better understand the tourism industry, will be introduced in the first quarter of this year. The programme will enable the farmers to tailor their production, distribution and logistics to match the requirements of businesses in the hotel and tourism sector. “It is really...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says industry players are satisfied that visitors are still coming to St. James, despite the declaration of a State of Public Emergency in the parish. Mr. Bartlett, who is expected to meet today (January 23) with travel agents and destination bookers as it relates to future bookings for the country, said preliminary results are not...

The Ministry of Tourism stands committed to safeguarding the natural resources, infrastructure and the sector stakeholders that continue to drive economic growth and prosperity. This is being done through the Climate Change and Multi-Hazard Contingency Programme, aimed primarily at strengthening the resilience of the tourism sector against the various natural disasters and emergencies that may disrupt industry operations. The Programme,...