The Tourism Linkages Council and the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), have welcomed the $1-billion loan facility being made available by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) to assist small and medium-sized tourism enterprises to upgrade their properties and attractions. The money will be made available through the National Export-Import (EXIM) Bank. Endorsements came from Chairman of the Council, Adam...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the Government intends to capitalise on the tremendous media exposure and positive publicity that was generated by the success of the country’s athletes at the recent Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He noted that the Jamaica House hospitality hub at the Rio Games “was a big hit” as patrons from around...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says November will signal the start of a very robust cruise-shipping season, beginning with the inaugural visit of the world’s biggest cruise ship. According to Mr. Bartlett, Harmony of the Seas, the third Oasis-class ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet of luxury vessels, will join its sister ships, the Oasis of the Seas and...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has indicated that the sector has seen steady growth in arrivals and earnings since the start of the year. Speaking at a JIS ‘Think Tank’ on September 20, the Minister informed that between February and September, preliminary figures have shown that more than 2.5 million visitors came to the island, with the country earning...

‘Tourism for All: Promoting Universal Accessibility’ is the theme for this year’s observance of Tourism Awareness Week (TAW), slated for September 25 to October 1. Several activities will be held to mark this year’s commemoration, which will incorporate the observance of World Tourism Day on September 27. These include a church service at St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Falmouth, Trelawny,...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says Sandals Resorts International’s planned renovation of the Dragon Bay Hotel in Port Antonio, Portland, could serve to attract more visitors to the town and wider parish. Speaking with JIS News following the recent announcement, Mr. Bartlett said he was elated about the potentially positive prospects which the development presents. He noted that Sandals, which...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has charged the Ministry of Tourism and other stakeholders in the sector to work to double visitor arrivals and revenue. Mr. Holness, who was addressing the post-World Travel Awards ceremony on September 18 at the Melia Braco Village in Trelawny, noted that tourism is one of the key pillars of Jamaica’s economy and...