Minister Bartlett Highlights GTRCMC’s Strides in Bolstering Global Tourism Resilience

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) has been making significant strides in strengthening the industry’s resilience globally through innovative programmes and strategic alliances.

Among the GTRCMC’s key areas of focus is climate tourism resilience, according to Mr. Bartlett, who was addressing the opening ceremony on day one (February 17) of the Third Global Resilience Conference and Expo at the Princess Hotel in Green Island, Hanover.

He pointed out that through strategic partnerships with organisations such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Airbnb, initiatives have been launched across the Caribbean to support small tourism enterprises and coastal communities.

“[Additionally], through collaboration with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), we developed guidelines and frameworks to prepare destinations for health emergencies, enabling them to weather the storm of COVID-19 and any further pandemics more effectively,” Mr. Bartlett outlined.

The Minister noted that in advancing entrepreneurial resilience, the GTRCMC has extended its efforts to areas such as Jordan, in which cultural heritage projects have been developed to empower local entrepreneurs.

He said this has enabled them to better protect and promote the nation’s historic sites, adding that these initiatives align “tourism growth with heritage conservation”.

Meanwhile, as part of its ongoing commitment, the GTRCMC has expanded its reach by establishing six centres globally. These locations serve as hubs for proactive crisis management, focusing on the ability to foresee potential disruptions, mitigate risks, manage crises and recover swiftly.

In this regard, Mr. Bartlett thanked delegates visiting from those locations for attending the conference.

The Centre’s focus on innovation is being further demonstrated during the conference and expo, being held under the theme ‘Building Tourism Resilience Through Digital Transformation’.

The two-day event has brought together international tourism leaders, policymakers and industry experts to explore cutting-edge digital tools, financial strategies and policy innovations.

The conference features extensive discussions on crucial topics, including artificial intelligence in tourism, data analytics, cybersecurity and the application of digital technologies in developing countries.