Latest

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (centre) symbolically breaks grounds for the establishment of Jamaica’s first Hard Rock Café, at the former Seawind Club in Montego Freeport, on Friday, July 29. Minister Bartlett is joined by (from left) Montego Bay’s Mayor, Glendon Harris; Chief Operating Officer, (COO) of Rockin’ Restaurant Group, Andre Dixon; President of the American Chamber of Commerce, Ronald McKay; and General Manager of Secrets Resort, Emilio Huhn. The facility is being established on the property of Secrets Resorts and is expected to come on stream in November of this year.

Tourism Minister Breaks Ground for International Restaurant Chain

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett recently (July 29) broke ground in Montego Freeport for the establishment of Jamaica’s first Hard Rock Café, an international chain of theme restaurants. The US$2-Million facility, which is being spearheaded by businessman André Dixon, will...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (6th left) is joined by Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) Executive Director, Clyde Harrison (6th right), in perusing configurations on two of the nine fogging machines that were donated to the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) by the Ministry. The presentation was made at the St. James Health Centre in Montego Bay on July 29. Looking on are representatives of the WRHA and St. James Health Department.

Western Regional Health Authority Gets Fogging Machines

A section of the old Hampden wharf in Falmouth, Trelawny, which is to be developed into Jamaica’s first artisan village by the Ministry of Tourism.

$1B Artisan Village to be Built in Falmouth

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), greets General Manager, Altamont Court Hotel, Christopher Jarrett (centre), while hotelier, Kevin Hendrickson, looks on. The occasion was a meeting with tourism investment partners at the Office of the Prime Minister on July 28.

Gov’t Committed to Tourism – PM

The Hon. Senator Ruel Reid, CD, Minister of Education, Youth and Information.

Cabinet Approves Sale of Land for Hotel Project

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (right), is in light conversation with the General Manager of Half Moon Hotel in Rose Hall, Sandro Fabris and his wife, Doris, in the Jamaica Tourism Board (JTB) booth. The occasion was Saturday night’s (July 23) staging of Reggae Sumfest 2016 at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Centre in Montego Bay.

10 years ago Tourism

Tourism Ministry Looking to Use Entertainment to Attract More Visitors

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the Ministry is looking to establish Jamaica as a major destination for entertainment. Speaking to JIS News during Reggae Sumfest’s ‘Reggae Night’ at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Centre in Montego Bay on Saturday (July 23), Minister Bartlett said the aim is to promote the island as the premier location for guaranteed quality entertainment year-round....

Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett, examines craft items on display at the Falmouth Cruise Ship Pier during his tour of the Falmouth development projects on July 21.

10 years ago Tourism

Tourism Minister Looks to China to Boost Earnings

As the Ministry of Tourism seeks to boost earnings from the cruise ship subsector by 2021, portfolio Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the Government will be looking to the Chinese market to help achieve this. “In September I am going to China, and we are going to talk about the possibility of having Chinese cruise emanating from within our area...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left), shares a moment with Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson (2nd left); Deputy Chairman of Grupo Pinero, owners of the Bahia Principe Jamaica Resort, Jose Antonio Moreno; and General Manager of the resort, Antero Mesa. Occasion was Bahia Principe’s staff awards ceremony held at the hotel in Discovery Bay, St. Ann, on July 19.

10 years ago Tourism

Tourism Service Excellence Programme to be Relaunched November

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has announced that the National Tourism Service Excellence Programme (TSEP) will be relaunched in November. Addressing a staff awards ceremony at the Bahia Principe hotel in Discovery Bay, St. Ann, on July 19, Mr. Bartlett informed that former Director General in the Ministry, Carole Guntley, has been assigned the task of reviving the programme,...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left), has the attention of General Manager of Bahia Principe Jamaica Resort, Antero Mesa (centre); and Deputy Chairman of Grupo Pinero, owners of the resort, Jose Antonio Moreno. The occasion was the hotel’s staff awards ceremony on July 19, where the Minister gave the main address.

10 years ago Tourism

Hospitality School by 2018 – Bartlett

Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the hospitality school, which will prepare workers for supervisory and managerial positions in the tourism sector, will be established by 2018. The Minister announced plans to set up the school and a craft institute for the training of artisans, in his Sectoral presentation on June 15. Addressing a staff awards ceremony at...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, addresses Staff Awards Ceremony at Bahia Principe Hotel in St. Ann on July 19.

10 years ago Tourism

Tourism Sector Offers Great Opportunity for Gainful Employment – Minister

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the tourism industry offers one of the best opportunities for social mobility and gainful employment. Delivering the keynote address at a Staff Awards Ceremony at the Bahia Principe Jamaica Resort in Discovery Bay, St. Ann, on July 19, Mr. Bartlett pointed out that the accommodation subsector employs 89,000 people directly, while accounting for...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left) is greeted by Acting Commissioner of Police, Glenmore Hinds (right), as he arrives at the National Police College of Jamaica in Twickenham Park, St. Catherine, on Tuesday (July 19) to participate in the closing ceremony for the Tourism Safety and Security District Constables Training Programme. Also pictured is Minister of National Security, Hon. Robert Montague. During the ceremony, certificates were presented to the first batch of 89 district constables, who have been trained to serve in the island’s resort areas.

10 years ago National SecurityTourism

Tourism Ministry to Provide $1 Billion for Crime-Fighting Equipment

The Tourism Ministry has committed to provide another $1 billion over the next four years to the Ministry of National Security for the acquisition of crime-fighting tools. This was announced by portfolio Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, at the closing ceremony for the Tourism Safety and Security District Constables Training Programme at the National Police College of Jamaica in Twickenham Park,...

Head of the Tourism Linkages Network, Carolyn McDonald-Riley.

10 years ago Tourism

Tourism Expands Linkages Network

The Tourism Linkages Network has expanded its mandate to facilitate connections with other key sectors. Head of the Tourism Linkages Network, Carolyn McDonald-Riley, informed that sports and entertainment, shopping, knowledge, health and wellness, and gastronomy were recently added to the areas of focus. “It is about using food as a greater attraction; focusing on our spas to increase our figures;...