Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, is reporting that the island welcomed a record two million visitors for the first five months of 2019. “That is the first time in the history of Jamaica that within the first five months of the year, we have brought two million visitors to Jamaica,” he said. He was speaking at the official opening of...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the opening of the US$6.5-million R Hotel in New Kingston will have an immediate impact on the overall economy of the country. “A venture such as this one brings with it job creation, an important effect as the Government seeks to reduce, even further, Jamaica’s unemployment rate. And you will know that...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the Caribbean is focused on building resilience in order to protect the future of tourism, on which so many countries depend. He said that the threats facing the sector are dynamic and range from environmental issues, such as climate change and global warming, to epidemics and pandemics, terrorism and cybercrime. “Not only is...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the current trend of digitalisation means countries now have to be mindful of not only tangible threats, but also the growing invisible threats associated with electronic activities. The Minister, who is participating in a two-day meeting in the United States Virgin Islands on the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Action Network on Post-Disaster Recovery,...

Debate on the Tourism Workers Pension Bill, which seeks to establish a defined contribution pension scheme for tourism workers, began in the House of Representatives on May 22. The legislation was piloted by Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett. In his address, Mr. Bartlett said the pension scheme will require mandatory contributions by workers and employers. “The plan will cover...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the Hospitality and Tourism Management Programme (HTMP), which is established in secondary schools across the island, is purposed to take the industry to new heights of professionalism and world-class service. Mr. Bartlett, who was speaking to high-school students and teachers at Royalton Resorts in Trelawny on May 8, outlined that the programme will be...

The Government has set sights on Lucea in Hanover as it looks to develop the resort centres across the island. “Lucea is very much on our radar, and the Lucea port is very important,” said Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, during a recent tour of the US$5.7-million Hampden Wharf Development Project in Falmouth, Trelawny. “The Prime Minister and I...