Executive Director of the Jamaica Island Nutrition Network (JINN), Patricia Thompson, says gastronomy, or the art and knowledge involved in preparing good food, is essential to the local tourism industry. She noted that tourists spend at least 50 per cent of their budget on food, and in order to experience Jamaican cuisine, they must spend time outside of the hotels....

The Ministries of Tourism; and Education, Youth and Information are collaborating to provide $100 million to launch the first certification programme for high-school students to gain entry-level qualification for the hospitality industry. Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, said the initiative aims to establish a curriculum that prepares secondary students for employment in the sector, while emphasising that “training is a...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says revenue from the tourism sector grew by 12.1 per cent in 2017, delivering $62.2 billion to the local economy. Mr. Bartlett, who was speaking in the 2018/19 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, today (May 8), also reported that the sector is seeing an increase in employment. He noted that in 2017,...

For the first quarter of 2018, tourist arrivals were at record levels, says Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett. Making his contribution to the 2018/19 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 8, the Minister informed that for the period, total arrivals were 1,298,674, an increase of 6.6 per cent, including 625,002 stopovers, up by 6.8 per cent; and...

The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) is to provide $1 billion over the next five years for the provision of housing solutions for tourism workers. This was disclosed by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, during his contribution to the 2018/19 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives today (May 8). He informed that the different types of housing solutions will be...

With the traditional markets of the United States, Canada and Europe all showing growth, Jamaica could be looking at another outstanding year in tourism based on positive developments emerging from South America. Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, and a Jamaican delegation, which included Chief Strategist and Advisor, Delano Seiveright, recently returned from the continent in “high spirits” based on the...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says safety and security issues represent the biggest problems facing global tourism and that Jamaica and the rest of the region must never lose sight of that reality. Addressing the opening of the 33rd annual general meeting and conference of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP) in Montego Bay on April 30,...