Executive Director of the Tourism Product Development Company, (TPDCo), Dr. Andrew Spencer, says the agency has refocused its operations and is now looking at a new model for the sector, post coronavirus (COVID-19). “The fundamental difference in what we do now is that before we would have routine product quality assessment looking for some of the regular things that we...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the protocol that will facilitate the reopening of the tourism industry is almost complete and will be rolled out shortly. “It entails a whole range of responses that the workers of the industry will have to make and also quite a bit of infrastructure adjustment that the hotels will have to make, as...

The Government is to consider extending the time given for tourism workers in a specific age group to contribute to the Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme, in light of the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This applies to tourism workers aged 59, who are being specially accommodated under the scheme. Government Senator, Matthew Samuda, gave the assurance as he piloted...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says a new generation of post COVID-19 travellers (Generation C or GEN-C), will reshape the way global tourism is marketed for the conceivable future. Speaking with JIS News on April 30, Mr. Bartlett said that tourism-dependent countries like Jamaica will have to take the lead and be more proactive in their approach in what...

The House of Representatives on Tuesday (April 28) approved the Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme Regulations, which outline the registration process for employed and self-employed persons under the pension scheme. In his remarks, Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, noted that the approval of the regulations will pave the way for implementation of the Scheme. He pointed out that prior to the...

The Ministry of Tourism is providing 11 free online courses for tourism workers as part of the Government’s thrust to ensure the continued development of employees in the sector. The courses, being offered by the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation (JCTI), are now available and will run until late July. Areas of training are laundry attendant, gift room attendant, kitchen...

The Universal Service Fund (USF) has partnered with the Ministry of Tourism to facilitate Wi-Fi access in the delivery of the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation (JCTI) online courses. Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, who made the disclosure at the virtual launch of 11 free online courses being offered by the JCTI for hotel industry workers, on April 22, said...