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Only minutes after being officially sworn into office, Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, and his colleague Minister of State, the Hon. Damion Crawford, hit the ground running as they moved swiftly to secure detailed information on the activities of the Ministry which they now lead. Minister McNeill explained that “following the swearing in ceremony we...

Several communities across the island are slated to benefit from grant funding to support community tourism initiatives under the National Best Community Competition and Programme (NBCCP). Chairperson of the National Steering Committee of the NBCCP, Jacqueline daCosta, told JIS News that the grant, to be provided by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), will be used to train persons in...

Against the background of projections for a five percent 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), for the official start of the new season. December 15 marks the start of the season, annually, and the first to disembark...

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...