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Jamaicans Urged to Convert Ideas into Goods and Services to Strengthen Tourism Product

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, is calling on Jamaicans to convert ideas into valuable goods and services as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s tourism product. Mr. Bartlett made the call while addressing the Jamaica Youth Tourism Summit...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left) greets Executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Dr. Carey Wallace, at the Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo) 30th Anniversary Thanksgiving Church Service held on Sunday (April 19) at the Grace Missionary Church in Kingston.

PHOTOS: TPDCo 30th Anniversary Thanksgiving Church Service

Leader of Government Business in the Senate and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, delivers an address at Friday’s (April 17) meeting of the Senate at Gordon House in Kingston.

Casino Gaming Regulations Approved in the Senate

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (second right, head table), addresses members of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Board during a luncheon hosted in his honour following his meeting with members of the IDB Board of Directors in Washington DC, on Tuesday (April 7). Others at the head table (from left) are Executive Director of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC), Professor Lloyd Waller; Executive Vice President of the IDB, Jordan Schwartz; and Director of Tourism Trade and International Relations in the Tourism Ministry, Christina Edwards.

Minister Bartlett Calls for Caribbean Tourism Bank

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (right), addresses over 90 travel advisors from Northeast United States during the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) Travel Advisory Reception at Catherine’s Restaurant in Laurel, Maryland, on April 7.

Tourism Minister Lauds Over 90 Travel Advisors in Northeast US Market

Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism, Hon. Tova Hamilton (third right, front row), poses with students from Mulgrave Primary School in St. Elizabeth, which is among the beneficiaries of 20 dual‑fuel 15,000‑watt portable generators donated for distribution to educational institutions most affected by Hurricane Melissa. The generators were handed over during a ceremony held on Tuesday (April 7) at the National Education Trust (NET) Building, Caenwood Centre, Kingston. The donation was made possible through a collaboration involving Jamaica Vacations Limited (JamVac) and the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) Foundation, based in Geneva, Switzerland, with support from its local affiliate, MSC Jamaica Limited. Other participating stakeholders include (from left, back row) Senior Education Officer, Region Four, Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Everette Riley; NET Executive Director, Latoya Harris-Ghartey; MSC Jamaica Limited Managing Director, Roger Hinds; JamVac Executive Director, Joy Roberts; Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) Executive Director, Dr. Carey Wallace; Assistant Chief Education Officer in the Education Ministry

2 months ago EducationHurricane Relief & RecoveryTourism

20 Generators Donated to Aid Recovery in Hurricane-Affected Schools

Schools hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa on October 28 will receive additional support through the distribution of 20 generators, provided by the National Education Trust (NET) in partnership with Jamaica Vacations Limited (JamVac). The new 15,000 watt dual fuel portable generators were officially handed over on Tuesday (April 7), during a ceremony at the National Education Trust (NET) Building, Caenwood...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left, seated); Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange (second left, seated); Owner of the Jamaica Kingsmen Caribbean Premier Leage (CPL) T20 Cricket Franchise, Fawad Sarwar (second right, seated); and CPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Pete Russell (right, seated), sign documents during a press conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston on Tuesday (March 31) to announce the new franchise. Looking on (from left, standing) are: Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby; Tourism Director, Donovan White; Chief Medical Officer for Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the CPL, Dr. Akshai Mansingh; CWI CEO, Chris Dehring; and Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) President, Dr. Donovan Bennett.

2 months ago CultureGender AffairsSportTourism

CPL Return to Jamaica to Boost Sports Tourism and Economic Activity– Minister Bartlett

Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, says Jamaica’s re-engagement with the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 cricket tournament will bolster sports tourism and stimulate economic activity nationwide. Speaking during a recent press briefing at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, Mr. Bartlett welcomed the development as a significant milestone for cricket in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. He underscored the broader...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, speaks during the reopening ceremony for Eclipse at Half Moon Resort in Rose Hall, St. James, on Thursday (April 2).

2 months ago Tourism

Nearly 4,000 Worker Housing Units Planned Amid Tourism Boom in Montego Bay

Jamaica’s tourism boom is now being channelled into housing for sector workers, with plans underway to deliver nearly 4,000 units in and around Montego Bay, St. James — the nation’s tourism capital. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, announced that arrangements are being finalised for the construction of 2,250 housing units at Grange Pen, St. James. He explained that, together with...

3 months ago InvestmentTourism

Tourism Minister Highlights Tourism’s Impact on Jobs and Livelihoods

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, is emphasising the critical role of the tourism sector in sustaining livelihoods across Jamaica, noting that its impact extends far beyond hotels and attractions to support workers, businesses and communities islandwide. He made the remarks during the reopening ceremony for the Bahia Principe Runaway Bay hotel in St. Ann on Wednesday (April 1). Mr....

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (second left), interacts with (from left) Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang; Half Moon Chairman, Guy Steuart; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Delano Seiveright at the reopening of Eclipse at Half Moon in Rose Hall, St. James, on April 2.

3 months ago Hurricane MelissaHurricane Relief & RecoveryTourism

Tourism Sector Experiencing Strong Rebound Following Hurricane Melissa

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says Jamaica is now experiencing an 80 per cent recovery in visitor arrivals. The Minister, who made the announcement during the official reopening of Eclipse at Half Moon in Rose Hall, St. James, on Thursday (April 2), said this signals a strong rebound after the devastation of Hurricane Melissa in October 2025. Mr. Bartlett...

3 months ago IndustryTourism

Expanded Air Connectivity Fuelling Jamaica’s Tourism Recovery

Expanded air connectivity is central to Jamaica’s tourism recovery and long-term growth, says Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, who notes that several new and increased flight routes are now coming on stream. Speaking at the reopening of Bahia Principe Runaway Bay in St. Ann on Wednesday (April 1), Mr. Bartlett highlighted significant developments in airlift arrangements across key international markets....

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, addresses the official reopening ceremony for Bahia Principe Runaway Bay in St. Ann on Wednesday (April 1).

3 months ago Hurricane MelissaHurricane Relief & RecoveryIndustryTourism

Tourism Sector Nears Full Recovery After Hurricane Melissa

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the sector is rapidly approaching full recovery from the impact of Hurricane Melissa, with arrivals now nearing pre-disaster levels. He indicated that continued room restoration across the island, coupled with sustained demand for Destination Jamaica, is positioning the sector for a strong rebound in the months ahead. Mr. Bartlett was speaking during the reopening...