Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has welcomed heightened optimism among sector interests about the industry’s growth prospects and its potential to contribute significantly to further boosting the economy. This comes against the background of an anticipated higher number of visitor arrivals this year. At a recent meeting in Montego Bay, several business interests and stakeholders hailed tourism as a significant...

The Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) has hailed Jamaica’s success in significantly reducing visitor harassment, saying it augurs well for future relations. During a three-day fact finding trip to the island, the FCCA team led by President, Michelle Paige, said Jamaica has done a tremendous job in tackling the problem head on, noting that there were clear signs that guests...

Changes have been made to the Customs Tariff Regime, which will enable ground transportation operators in the tourism sector to diversify, upgrade and replenish their fleets. This was disclosed by Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, while opening the 2017/18 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives yesterday (April 4). The new framework will see an increase in the upper cost,...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the new arrangements for the administration of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) will ensure accountability and the transparency in the disbursement of funds. He noted that the requisite accounting and administrative systems will be put in place to enable the Ministry and other tourism interests to continue to have full access to project funding...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says Jamaica’s hotel room capacity will increase by more than 1,000 during the 2017 calendar year. “Over 3,000 rooms are currently (available) or are being made available, which we never had the winter before. Of that amount, close to 2,000 have already been added or will be coming on stream in the next few weeks...

The Government is on course to implement the proposed tourism workers' pension scheme in September. This was disclosed by Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, while delivering the opening presentation in the 2017/18 Sectoral Debate in Parliament on Tuesday, April 4. Mr. Bartlett said Cabinet has approved the drafting of the Tourism Workers' Pension Act, which will facilitate the scheme. The...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says several projects are coming on stream under the Shovel-Ready Initiative. “The initiative seeks to directly assist investors by obtaining preliminary development approvals, conducting carrying capacity studies, assessing appropriate land utilisation and installing preliminary infrastructure,” he said. The Minister was opening the 2017/2018 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on April 4. His address...