Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the Government continues to provide much-needed support to small and medium tourism enterprises (SMTEs) that are being impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic These include artisans and craft vendors, transportation providers, restaurants and eateries, bed and breakfast operators and farmers. “Within the last few months, we have built out a robust support structure...

Jamaica is poised to benefit from some US$2 billion in foreign and local direct tourism investments over the next two years. Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, said that these projects will yield more than 7,000 new hotel rooms and generate more than 20,000 new full and part-time jobs. He was delivering the opening 2021/22 Sectoral Debate presentation in the House...

Viking Cruises has joined the Norwegian Cruise Line in ‘home-porting’ one of their vessels in Jamaica. Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, announced on Tuesday (April 20), that Viking Cruises will have a Jamaican itinerary starting August. Viking joins the previously announced Norwegian Cruise Line, which is scheduled to begin service from Montego Bay that same month. “They (Viking Cruises)...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the training of more than 7,000 hospitality workers has been done as a key strategy to reposition the industry for the post COVID-19 era. Mr. Bartlett, who was opening the 2021/2022 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on April 20, said the Government is committed to developing a competitive and productive workforce...

The Government is looking to develop a contingency plan designed to pilot the tourism industry’s recovery from the economic fallout sparked by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, said that this is in recognition that some of the partners and stakeholders in the sector are experiencing some “cash crunch difficulties” as a result of COVID-19. He said...

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is to undertake a competitive bidding process to identify suitable providers of medical insurance and health logistics coverage for purchase by tourists who are visiting Jamaica. This follows Cabinet’s approval for the JTB to be the coordinating entity for the mandatory medical insurance coverage programme for visitors to Jamaica who hold foreign passports. Minister of...

Tourism stakeholders are appealing for strong take-up of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine among workers and operators in the resilient corridors. Chairman of the Tourism Resilient Corridors Committee, John Byles, told JIS News that the move will propel Jamaica to “the front of the line” as a nation “that is taking the vaccination exercise very seriously.” “We are calling on all...