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Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, took the issue of the planned increase in Air Passenger Duty (APD) to British Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the House of Lords in London this week. Mr. Bartlett, who was guest speaker at the Caribbean Council's annual Parliamentary reception held at the House of Lords at Westminster, charged that the increase in...

Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, is encouraging young people to take up jobs in the tourism industry. The Minister, who was addressing the inaugural Tourism Youth Expo and Career Fair held last Wednesday (April 8) at the Ritz Carlton Resort in Montego Bay, said that tourism was a viable career option, and efforts would be made to guide the youth...

Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, says that the provision of efficient utilities services is essential to the success of Jamaica's tourism. "The relationship between the utilities and tourism is symbiotic, as we cannot deliver on a quality experience to the visitor, without excellent utilities," Mr. Bartlett told the Easter Festival of the Caribbean Utilities Employees Association(CUEA), at the Starfish Resort,...

Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, has stressed the importance of service excellence in enhancing and improving the tourism product. "It is imperative that we strengthen our total tourism product by diversifying our product offerings, enhancing the quality of the product offerings and by elevating the service level," he stated at a recent press briefing held at his New Kingston office....

Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, is reporting growth in the sector since the start of the winter tourism season on December 15, 2008, despite the economic challenges facing the world. Speaking at a media briefing on Thurday March 19, at the Ministry, in New Kingston, the Minister pointed out that up to March 15, the country has welcomed 464,589 stop...

Prime Minister Golding has endorsed the establishment of the new Sandals Foundation, which aims at improving the lives of residents of troubled communities through educational and environmental outreach. The Prime Minister described the foundation as "a tremendous initiative" and congratulated Sandals' chairman, Mr. Gordon 'Butch' Stewart, and his son, Adam Stewart, for spearheading the programme. He also urged other companies...

Chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Godfrey Dyer, has said that Jamaica stands to reap significant benefits from several projects and initiatives, for which funds from the facility have been earmarked. These activities, he informed, include those associated with the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in China, and a flight arrangement with American Airlines. In an interview with JIS News,...

Business interests within the local tourism and hospitality sector are invited to participate in the 'Opportunities Jamaica 2009' Expo, to be staged by Jamaica Trade and Invest, on March 26, at the Half Moon Conference Centre, in Montego Bay, St. James. Speaking at a JIS 'Think Tank' today (March 18), at the agency's head office on Half-Way-Tree Road, President of...

Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, has said that Jamaica is one of a few countries in the world experiencing growth in tourism, despite the global economic crisis. Mr. Barlett attributed the achievement to his Ministry's tourism strategy, when he addressed a community meeting held by the Jamaican High Commission in London, on Saturday. "Tourism is the only industry (in Jamaica) that...

The Jamaica Tourist Board, along with Worldwide Group Travel, is excited to announce its newest venture in the bridal market - the Jamaica Destination Weddings & Honeymoon Exposition. The "Jamaica Only" Destination Weddings and Honeymoon Exposition will be held at the Holiday Inn Westbury in Carle Place, New York, United States of America (USA) on Sunday, March 29, 2009 from...

Efforts to beautify Jamaica's resort areas have been intensified under phase two of the Spruce-Up Jamaica programme. The programme, which was developed during 2008/2009, aims at providing extensive beautification work in seven parishes - St. James, Westmoreland, Trelawny, St. Ann, Portland, St. Catherine and Kingston. It is a collaborative effort between the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) and the National...

Thirteen persons and nine organisations within the tourism industry have been selected as finalists for the inaugural staging of the Tourism Service Excellence awards, slated for March 28, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, in Montego Bay, St. James. The finalists include: House Keeping Attendant at Beaches Boscobel, Fiona Hartley; Grounds Supervisor, Royal Plantation, Kirkland Johnson; Public Relations Manager, Sandals Grande,...