The Government will be leveraging the heritage experience in Falmouth, Trelawny, to further develop the area as a tourist destination. Speaking on a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) television programme, Issues & Answers, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, said the Ministry will be working with local stakeholders to develop the area, in line with the heritage elements of the town....

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the partnership with United States-based online company Airbnb will be beneficial to ordinary Jamaicans by affording them ownership of an aspect of the tourism product. Airbnb is an online marketplace that connects people wanting to rent their homes and spaces with people needing affordable accommodation. “We regard this as a broadening of the...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says cruise passenger arrivals are expected to increase to two million in 2017, which would push total tourist arrivals to a record four million. This, he said would put the country in the number-three position in the region, after Mexico and the Dominican Republic, in terms of visitor arrivals. A total of 1.8 million...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says Jamaica has recorded more than US$2 billion in earnings from tourism, so far, this year. Addressing a breakfast event to launch the 2016/17 winter tourist season at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay on Wednesday (December 14), Minister Bartlett said the money was earned from the spending of more than 3 million visitors to...

Local artisans will be given the opportunity to display and sell their products at the upcoming Christmas Village to be held on Friday (December 16) on the Ministry of Tourism grounds in New Kingston. The artisans were among the 180 participants who benefited from training in craft enhancement and business planning, as part of an 18-month Craft Enhancement Programme, which...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the Ministry will be using food festivals as a strategic marketing tool to tap into the lucrative gastro-tourism market. Mr. Bartlett noted that 88 per cent of tourists travel to destinations primarily to partake of the local food, and with Jamaica having one of the finest cuisines in the world, this will be...

Business interests on Jamaica’s south coast are hailing the plan to bring back the rail service to their area, describing it as a step in the right direction. According to them, not only will this be a game changer as it relates to business on the south coast, but is something that will assist in diversifying the country’s tourism offerings....

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the sector has been built “on the altar of inclusiveness,” and should never be perceived as being controlled by a special few. Mr. Bartlett, who toured a number of resorts in Ocho Rios and Montego Bay on December 9 to meet specifically with workers ahead of the start of the winter tourist season,...

Five new tourism subsectors have been added to the country’s offerings as the Government ramps up efforts to promote Jamaica as an ideal tourist destination. The new areas, which form part of the country’s tourism linkages network, are sports and entertainment, shopping, knowledge, health and wellness, and gastronomy. They were established to further diversify the country’s tourism offerings, create business...