Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says despite being delayed by the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, the pension scheme for tourism workers will be introduced on January 1, 2022. Mr. Bartlett, who was speaking at the official opening of the 444-suite Ocean Eden Bay Hotel, in Trelawny, on December 9, said the introduction of the scheme is also coming...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says $20 million has been allocated to assist some 651 craft traders, who have been impacted by the pandemic, under a ‘Special Winter Tourist Season Capacity Building Support Programme’. The initiative, being spearheaded by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), will benefit licensed and coronavirus (COVID-19) compliant craft traders across the island. Minister Bartlett said...

Canadian airline, Swoop, has expanded service to Jamaica with the addition of bi-weekly non-stop flights between Toronto and Kingston on Wednesdays and Fridays. These are in addition to four weekly flights now provided from Toronto and Hamilton to Montego Bay on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The inaugural flight into Kingston arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport from Toronto...

The recently unveiled mermaid at the Montego Bay Marine Park (MBMP) is gaining popularity and in response to the increasing number of queries from curious visitors, Executive Director, Hugh Shim, and staff at the park have added colour to the statue. They will also be erecting an information board near the water front’s latest attraction. Mr. Shim told JIS News...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has been elected by acclamation as the new Chairman of the Organization of American States (OAS) Inter-American Committee on Tourism (CITUR). Minister Bartlett came out ahead of the candidates from Paraguay and Ecuador for the chairmanship at a meeting on Tuesday (November 30).  Both countries will now serve as Vice Chair of the CITUR. Chair...

Carnival Cruise Line, on December 1, joined Aida Cruises, MSC Cruises, and Holland America as vessels to have made stops in at least two Jamaican ports since the resumption of cruise shipping to the island. Carnival’s other stop was in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, while both Aida and MSC Cruises have visited Falmouth and Ocho Rios. Holland America has made...

The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) will be spending approximately $1 billion to upgrade the Hip Strip, located along Jimmy Cliff Boulevard in Montego Bay, St. James. “We are going to upgrade the entire Hip Strip from the roundabout at KFC straight to Dead End [Beach]. We are spending $1 billion for the upgrading,” said Chairman of the entity, Godfrey Dyer....