Bartlett to Join Global Tourism Leaders for World Tourism Day Celebrations

UN Tourism to Host Official World Tourism Day Event in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Jamaica Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, departed the island yesterday (September 25) for Tbilisi, Georgia, where he will participate in the official global celebrations to mark World Tourism Day (WTD) 2024. The event, organized by the United Nations Tourism (UN Tourism), is set for September 27 under the theme “Tourism and Peace,” and will bring together leaders from across the globe to explore the role of tourism in fostering peace, cultural exchange, and unity.

Minister Bartlett emphasized the significance of Jamaica’s involvement in this year’s WTD celebrations, particularly as the country holds the position of second vice chair of the UN Tourism Executive Council. “Jamaica’s participation in this high-level event underscores our commitment to leveraging tourism as a force for peace and unity. Our spin on the theme, which we have used for Tourism Awareness Week 2024, ‘Tourism and Peace: Out of Many, One Love,’ aligns with this year’s global theme and speaks to our unique history of embracing inclusivity and fostering harmony.”

“Through tourism, we continue to build bridges across cultures and contribute to a more peaceful and interconnected world.”

Tourism Awareness Week (TAW) 2024 is being observed locally from September 22-28.

The World Tourism Day celebrations will feature keynote speeches, ministerial dialogues, and high-level discussions on tourism’s role in promoting peace, economic stability, and sustainable development. Tbilisi, known for its multicultural heritage and historical significance, provides an ideal backdrop for these discussions, which will engage key global stakeholders from both the public and private sectors.

The tourism minister also underscored Jamaica’s recent tourism success, noting that the country has welcomed approximately three million visitors and generated some US$3 billion in earnings since the start of 2024.

“These numbers are a testament to Jamaica’s resilience and the strength of our tourism sector. We are on track to achieve our ambitious target of five million visitors and US$5 billion in earnings by 2025, demonstrating that Jamaica is a leader not only in tourism growth but also in harnessing the sector’s economic power to uplift our people and promote peace,” he added.

Minister Bartlett is slated to return to the island on Sunday, September 29.