The Tourism Ministry is to establish a Recovery Task Force, which will be charged with developing a blue print for a post COVID-19 tourism industry. This was disclosed by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, during a digital press briefing, held today (April 2) to provide an update on the sector. “This is very important to us, as we know that...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the Government is finalising arrangements for the implementation of the $25-billion stimulus package, which includes a $10-billion coronavirus (COVID-19) contingency provision. This will provide support for individuals and entities that have been or are likely to be adversely impacted by COVID-19. “Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, and Minister of Finance and the...

The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has purchased six laptop computers and six cell phones at a cost of $1.5 million, which will enable staff at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) to work from home and have access to the Agri-linkages Exchange (A.L.E.X) platform. They were handed over by Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett to Minister of State in the...

The Ministry of Tourism is reporting that the final arrangements have been made to officially begin the tourism workers’ pension scheme. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, said the contracts have been signed between the fund manager, Sagicor, and the administrators, Guardian Life. He informed that the first tranche of $250 million would be transferred to the fund in short order....

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the appointment of Dr. Elaine Williams as Coordinator of Pandemics at the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCM) is the first key step to dealing with disruptive forces in tourism. The appointment of Dr. Williams, a well-known pathologist, comes at a time when the global travel and tourism industry is being...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says tourism stakeholders have responded positively to the Government’s stimulus package for the sector, to cushion the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19). “The workers of the industry are very heartened by the action of the Government. In fact, they have been indicating their delight that something is being done. We are in the process...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says he has every confidence that the tourism industry will get back to full strength at some point, but devoid of some of its traditional norms and certainly not with a ‘business as usual’ approach. In a podcast on March 27, titled ‘Tourism Resilience and Recovery’, Mr. Bartlett said the coronavirus (COVID-19) will inevitably...