Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says District Constables (DCs) who have been trained under the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) programme will be given strict orders as to the areas in which they must operate. Addressing a graduation ceremony for 90 newly trained DCs at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, in St. James, on July 4, the Minister said the...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has charged graduates of the Tourism Product Development Company’s (TPDCo) District Constable (DC) programme to take seriously the role they must play in safeguarding Jamaica’s tourism sector. Speaking at the graduation ceremony at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James on Tuesday (July 4), Minister Bartlett said now, more than ever, all hands are...

In light of the recent flood rains, which damaged sections of the island, the Dominican Republic has donated 5,000 bags of cement to Jamaica to assist with the rebuilding efforts. Dominica’s official cement company, Domicem, through its Jamaican office, Buying House Cement, made the donation at an official ceremony at Domicem’s local headquarters in Freeport, Montego Bay, on June 22....

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has welcomed the investment by Karisma Hotels and Resorts in the country’s tourism sector. The company has indicated that it intends to pump US$1 billion in a ‘Sugar Cane Jamaica’ hotel development outside of Ocho Rios, St. Ann, over the next decade. The Prime Minister said he is looking forward to the company’s...

Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay, His Worship Michael Belnavis, says food festivals and other entertainment related events have been doing wonders for the economic fortunes of St. Ann. Addressing the press launch of the upcoming Ocho Rios Seafood Festival in the town on June 22, Mr. Belnavis said it is clear that St. Ann, particularly the resort town of Ocho...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the upcoming Ocho Rios Seafood Festival represents a unique opportunity for Jamaica to make further inroads into the lucrative gastro-tourism market. Speaking to JIS News following the press launch of the festival in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, on June 22, Mr. Bartlett added that with food festivals now becoming an attractive draw for...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says despite massive growth projections for global travel and tourism, small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in the sector are yet to reap the full benefit. “As we observe tourism’s impact on the global economy and celebrate the contribution this sector makes in providing one in 11 jobs, we must also question why 80 per cent...