With Hurricane Matthew – now a Category 4 system – heading towards Jamaica, the Ministry of Tourism has activated its Tourism Emergency Operations Centre (TEOC), which is currently coordinating emergency services for the local tourism sector. Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, underscored that "we have decided to activate the centre at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston. It is...

The Ministry of Health is aiming to attract over 100,000 medical tourists to the island within the next 10 years. Director of Policy Planning and Development in the Ministry, Howard Lynch, said the sector has the potential to provide tremendous economic benefits to the country. “At a growth rate of 20 per cent in 10 years, it is estimated that...

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) has launched a National Community Tourism Portal, which is a web-based platform to promote licensed community-based tourism enterprises across the island. The portal, launched at the Devonshire at Devon House in St. Andrew, today (September 28), is part of the Government’s US$15-million Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) project, being implemented by JSIF through funding...

Cabinet has approved the transfer of ownership of the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St. James, to the Ministries of Finance and the Public Service, and Tourism. The management, operation and marketing of the facility will be handled by the Ministry of Tourism. Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, who made the disclosure at a recent JIS Think...

Executive Director of the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), Christine Hendricks, is lauding the Tourism Ministry for enabling access to some of the island’s best beaches by the physically challenged. Mrs. Hendricks noted that retrofitting the Boston Beach in Portland with wheelchair ramps and international standard design for bathroom fixtures as part of the Ministry’s National Beach Development...

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...