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KINGSTON — The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) has partnered with the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) on a policy and strategy framework for community-based tourism projects in Jamaica. The initiative should significantly boost community tourism, using a collective approach in designing a programme to improve and standardize this aspect of the industry. Speaking at the launch of the national consultation...

MOTEGO BAY — Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, is reporting a 5.7 per cent increase in visitor arrivals for January to August of this year, when compared to the similar period in 2010.  The figures are showing 2,098,964 arrivals up to August, compared to 1,985,784 for last year. Minister Bartlett, who was addressing the opening of Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX)...

KINGSTON — Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says community-based tourism has the potential to significantly boost employment for persons in rural Jamaica, while further driving the development of the product.   Speaking at the National Consultation on Community-based tourism, held at the Devonshire Restaurant at Devon House, in Kingston on September 8, Mr. Bartlett said the policy framework for the community-based...

KINGSTON — Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett, has announced that five Artisan Villages will be constructed over the next five years in resort townships, at a cost of $5 billion. Mr. Bartlett said that the villages will be built in Montego Bay, Falmouth, Port Antonio, Negril and Ocho Rios. Construction of the Artisan Village in Ocho Rios moved one step...

KINGSTON — The town of Ocho Rios in St. Ann is to benefit from major infrastructural development, costing some $1.8 billion, which is expected to see the establishment of new and exciting tourism products, over a five year period. According to Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, this development is part of plans by the Ministry to ensure that the...

MONTEGO BAY — Chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Godfrey Dyer, says the Ministry of Tourism is seeking to aggressively tap into Faith-based Tourism as a very lucrative market. "Jamaica signalled its entry into the faith-based tourism market on June 1, 2011 when we welcomed the Carnival Destiny Cruise Ship in Montego Bay with over 3,000 Christians aboard,” he...

KINGSTON — Carnival Cruise Lines has reached an agreement with the Government of Jamaica, which will guarantee cruise ship ports in Montego Bay and Ocho Rios at least 1.2 million visitors over three years. The effective date of the agreement is March 1, 2011, and it will ensure that both ports maintain current levels of cruise arrivals, despite the competition...

Former Minister of Tourism, politician, former tourism executive, pioneer broadcaster and journalist, Eric Anthony Abrahams, will be accorded an official funeral by the Government of Jamaica. The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, August 17 at the St. Andrew Parish Church starting at 3:00 p.m. Prime Minister Bruce Golding in paying Tribute to Anthony Abrahams, described him as a unique and...

MONTEGO BAY — Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, participated in the handing out of over 4,000 motor vehicle litter bags, valued at $500,000, to operators of ground transport and route taxis in Montego Bay, as the Ministry intensified the environmental phase of its Spruce-up Jamaica campaign on Friday July 28. Addressing participants at the handing over held at the...

MONTEGO BAY — Captain Hook Adventures, Jamaica's latest tourist attraction, was officially opened yesterday (July 30) by Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding. The attraction, located at the Falmouth Pier in Trelawny, is described as the most exciting, authentic pirate dinner show in the Caribbean, featuring live cannons, sword fights, and dance with a true Jamaican flavor.   In his addresses...

MONTEGO BAY — Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding, has charged tourism stakeholders to "get busy" in developing and marketing the country's attractions in order to enhance the visitor experience. He said that there are some "fabulous attractions" in the country, some natural and some that enterprising Jamaicans have created, and "we just have to get busy and we just have...

KINGSTON — Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, is projecting that the tourism sector will grow by 6.5 per cent this year, on the heels of last year's five per cent increase. Addressing Heads of Missions at a meeting at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston on Wednesday June 29, Mr. Bartlett said that the Ministry has adopted a number...