Director of Tourism, Paul Pennicook, says the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) has launched a strategic summer advertising campaign, targeting several cities in the United States (US), particularly those with direct flights into Jamaica. The campaign, he said, includes buys on Facebook and Instagram where “we are now reaching markets that have eluded us in the past”. Mr. Pennicook, who was...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the Government is looking to grow repeat tourist arrivals by at least 50 per cent per year. He said the increase, from the current rate of 42 per cent, would guarantee some certainty in terms of annual arrivals. He was addressing a post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister on...

The Ministry of Tourism will be pursuing the development of a fully functional craft institute and a hospitality school. This was revealed by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, in his Sectoral Debate presentation in the House of Representatives on June 15. Mr. Bartlett said the institutions are crucial to enhancing training and educational opportunities for current and future workers in...

Jamaica has benefited from the first major investment under the ‘Shovel Ready’ programme. Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett on June 14, signed a contract with Karisma Hotels and Resorts for the construction of 5,000 new hotel rooms in Llandovery, St. Ann. The project is to be undertaken over the next five to 10 years, with some 8,000 jobs to...

The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and the Export Import (EXIM) Bank of Jamaica are finalising a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will allow operators of Small and Micro Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs) to access increased banking support. This was noted by Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, during his presentation in the 2016/17 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on...

Jamaica recorded 3.6 million stopover and cruise visitors combined and revenues of US$2.5 billion in 2015. This was disclosed by Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, during his contribution to the 2016/17 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, June 14. He informed that for the winter period, January to April 2016, Jamaica recorded a total of 773,458...

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is to revamp its marketing strategies, to ensure that Jamaica achieves its growth targets in the tourism sector. Making his contribution to the 2016/17 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on June 14,  Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, informed that the JTB will be reformulating its approach to capitalise on the new opportunities presented...