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MONTEGO BAY — Against the background of projections for a five per cent increase in tourist arrivals for the 2011/2012 winter tourist season over 2010/2011, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, was at the Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay, Thursday December 15, 2011 for the official start of the new season. December 15 marks the start of the season, annually,...

An inaugural COPA Airways direct commercial flight, out of Panama’s Tocumen International Airport, arrived at the Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay, on Sunday December 11, 2011 with approximately 150 passengers. The flight signalled the start of twice weekly service by COPA Airlines to Montego Bay, which should boost Jamaica’s tourist arrivals for the rest of the year. The new service...

Cabinet has given approval for the maintenance of verges and medians in several resort areas of St James and St Ann. The projected cost is  JM $57.2 million which is part of the ‘Spruce Up Jamaica, Nice Up Yuself’ initiative to create an attractive environment in the resort areas.  Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator Arthur Williams told the November 23 post cabinet...

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, has expressed concern about the lack of recognition of Tourism within the education system. “One of the things that worries me most, is the extent to which, for example, at the Tertiary level in this country, Tourism is being looked at in a negative light, and a lack of understanding of the revenue contribution...

KINGSTON — The Ministry of Tourism is reporting net increase of 3,000 additional jobs in the accommodation sector over the past three years, while expansion projects are expected to generate 21,648 direct/permanent jobs across the industry between 2011 and 2013. Figures from the Ministry of Tourism indicate that the industry continues to be a prime job creator, with persons employed...

KINGSTON — Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says that coming out of recent discussions with representatives of the United Kingdom (UK) Government, there is possibility that the Air Passenger Duty (APD) band system could be revised, in favour of a more equitable scheme that would not put the Caribbean region at a disadvantage with the United States (US). Mr. Bartlett...

KINGSTON — Prospects for the local tourism industry remain positive, despite the downturn in the sector globally, with some 1,044,137 airlift seats secured for the upcoming winter tourist season. This represents an increase of 5.6 per cent over 2010, and a 4.7 increase over the 2011 season, Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, told members of the business community and other...

Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, completed his visit to the UK this week with a community meeting at the Jamaica High Commission in London. The event was an opportunity for Minister Bartlett to highlight the 50th Anniversary of Independence taking place next year and the importance of the Jamaican Diaspora in the UK in stimulating interest in the...

KINGSTON — Deputy Director, Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), Jason Hall, says the agency has targeted the sport of golf as a strategic growth area, and as one of the key pillars of the integrated sports strategy, currently being developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. Speaking at the media launch for this year's 48th LIME Jamaica...

MONTEGO BAY — With billions to be invested in the tourism industry over the next few years and more than 20,000 jobs to be created, Prime Minister, Hon. Andrew Holness, says the outlook for the sector remains positive. "Another 15,825 new rooms are expected to be completed between 2011 and 2013, translating into an estimated 21,000 new jobs and this...

KINGSTON — Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has said that any existing resorts seeking to get casino licences would have to meet the necessary investment and expansion requirements as stipulated in the casino gaming legislation. He was speaking against the background of two companion measures – the Casino (Application for Declaration of Approved Integrated Resort Development) regulations 2011; and...

KINGSTON — The House of Representatives has approved two sets of casino gaming regulations dealing with applications, and the games and manner of operations. Tabling the companion measures on October 18 sitting at the Jamaica Conference Centre downtown Kingston, Minister of Finance, Hon. Audley Shaw, explained that the regulations are being presented to Parliament at this time in order to...