There has been a major increase in hotel rooms over the past decade with the establishment, rebranding and expansion of several properties. “Investment in tourism in Jamaica has grown significantly over the last 20 years and certainly in the last ten years we have had well in excess of US$1 billion of investment in new and refurbished hotels,” Tourism Minister,...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the implementation of the five pillars of tourism growth and networks will further diversify the country’s tourism offerings, create business opportunities and increase the use of local goods and services within the sector. “We have put together a strategy for growth that calls for five pillars which relate to new products, new markets,...

A new tour, showcasing movie locations throughout Jamaica, including the sites of some of the world’s most iconic films, has been launched by popular destination management company (DMC) Caribic Vacations. This comes as Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, continues to urge operators of tours and attractions to innovate and diversity their offerings. Caribic Vacations’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Roy Page,...

The town of Falmouth in Trelawny is being repositioned as a Sustainable Tourism Destination under an Organization of American States (OAS) programme. Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says under the Sustainable Destination Alliance for the Americas (SDAA) initiative, several activities, including the Ministry’s recent ‘Falmouth Invasion’ sensitisation march and concert, will be undertaken to boost civic pride among the town’s...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says tourism remains a pivotal driver of economic growth and prosperity for Jamaica, as it continues to generate increased visitor arrivals and earnings. Addressing diplomats during a Diplomatic Corps Ministerial briefing at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on February 8, Mr. Bartlett noted that the sector performed very well based on data for...

The Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) has been raising the standards of customer service within the industry by identifying, promoting and rewarding excellence in this area. This thrust is being implemented through the National Tourism Service Excellence Programme (NTSEP) which aims to recognise and reward individuals and organisations exemplifying service excellence in the sector. The NTSEP, which was established in...

Chairman of Jamaica’s National Cruise Council (NCC), Michael Belnavis, says the problem of visitor harassment has been seriously curtailed in most of the resort towns where visitors can now freely walk the streets. According to Mr. Belnavis, the Courtesy Corps, a security unit formerly known as the Resort Patrol, and which falls under the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), must...