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Record Arrivals in July

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the highest number of visitors for any July was recorded this year, amounting to 211,000. In an interview with JIS News, the Minister pointed out that the figure did not include nationals of Jamaica....

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett speaking recently in Montego Bay where he announced the establishment of a special team, headed by Promoter Kamal Bankie, which has been mandated to craft a policy for Jamaica’s entertainment industry.

Minister Bartlett Wants Entertainment Policy for Tourism Sector

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmond Bartlett (right), and Canadian Senator, Don Meredith (left), enjoy coconut water at the 64th staging of the Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show held in May Pen, Clarendon, on Sunday, (July 31). Looking on is Field Officer at the Coconut Industry Board (CIB), Lydia Tucker (centre).

Jamaica on Course to Exceed 3.7 Million Visitors – Farmers Encouraged to Increase Production

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 (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.

10 years ago Tourism

$1B Artisan Village to be Built in Falmouth

The Government plans to spend just over $1billion to develop the old Hampden wharf in Falmouth, Trelawny, into an artisan village. The village will feature 300 shops where craft and other indigenous products are sold, as well as an area to facilitate the production of these items by local artisans. It will be the first to be constructed locally and...

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.

10 years ago Prime MinisterTourism

Gov’t Committed to Tourism – PM

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has assured local and international tourism investors of the Government’s support for the continued development of the sector. He noted that tourism is a key part of the national growth strategy and is a priority area of focus. “Tourism, being such a major part of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), would be the...

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

10 years ago InformationOffice of the Prime MinisterTourism

Cabinet Approves Sale of Land for Hotel Project

Cabinet has approved the sale of 96 ½ acres of land at Success Estate in Rose Hall, St. James, to Celebration Jamaica Development Limited for US$40.1 million for an integrated resort development project. Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, informed that the lands, known as Northern Estate, are owned by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC)....

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...