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Minister Bartlett: Tourism is at the heart of Jamaica’s post-COVID economic recovery program

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Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett says Jamaica’s tourism sector is critical to Jamaica’s economic recovery from the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking recently at the Rotary Club of Kingston East & Port Royal 22nd Anniversary and Virtual Board Installation Ceremony, the Minister said: “Tourism is very resilient, and the sector will be at the heart of Jamaica’s economic recovery. However, it cannot be business as usual.”

He added that: “The pandemic has given us a unique opportunity to look at tourism through a different lens.  As we rethink – re-imagine – tourism for the post-COVID-19 world, we must ensure that it is rebuilt on a safer, more resilient and equitable framework.”

The Ministry of Tourism is therefore considering a number of new strategies in an effort to mitigate the economic fallout caused by the pandemic.  This is being led by the Land Based Working Group of the COVID-19 Tourism Recovery Task Force, which has put together a strategy report with recommendations to build resilience along the tourism value chain.

“Jamaica is facing one of the greatest economic challenges of this century.  This is why my Ministry, Agencies and tourism partners are exploring measures to ensure that the tourism sector comes out on the right side of history. In this way, the tourism sector will live up to its potential as a catalyst for economic and social prosperity,” said the Minister.

He explained that “one key strategy will be to strengthen linkages and create a tax incentive program for large-scale farms and warehousing, aimed at purchasing from local farmers and selling in the industry. The investment size would range from US$12 to US$15 million. Also, we are creating an enabling financial environment through collaboration with the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), EXIM Bank and Small and Medium-sized Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs).”

Mr. Bartlett also noted that the Ministry will be exploring the island’s competitive advantages with the aim of transforming Jamaica into a logistics supply hub for the region’s tourism sector.

“We are one of the largest tourist destinations in the Caribbean, we have the largest international airport and have the potential to develop our agriculture and agri-processing, and we are close to the bigger supplier markets: USA, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.  We must take advantage of this. In addition, we want to promote island cruises by creating a home port and moving guests over the island for five to seven days,” he said.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, Corporate Communications, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: 920-4926-30, Fax: 920-4944

Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica Ends Visit with Minister Bartlett

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The Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, His Excellency Hiromasa Yamazaki, (seen left in the photo) on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, paid a farewell courtesy call on Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices.  

During the meeting, Minister Bartlett thanked the Ambassador for his contribution in strengthening relations between Jamaica and Japan. He also presented him with a token of appreciation.

Ambassador Yamazaki, who was appointed as Japan’s top diplomatic representative in Jamaica in 2017, is slated to conclude his tour of duty shortly.

About the Ministry of Tourism

The Jamaica Ministry of Tourism and its agencies are on a mission to enhance and transform Jamaica’s tourism product, while ensuring that the benefits which flow from the tourism sector are increased for all Jamaicans.  To this end it has implemented policies and strategies that will provide further momentum for tourism as the engine of growth for the Jamaican economy. The Ministry remains committed to ensuring that the tourism sector makes the fullest contribution possible to Jamaica’s economic development, given its tremendous earning potential.

The Ministry is leading the charge to strengthen the linkages between tourism and other sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and entertainment, and in so doing encourages every Jamaican to play their part in improving the tourism product, sustaining investment and modernizing and diversifying the sector to foster growth and job creation for fellow Jamaicans. The Ministry sees all this as critical to Jamaica’s survival and success and has undertaken this process through an inclusive approach, which is driven by the Resort Boards, through wide-scale consultation.

Recognizing that a collaborative effort and a committed partnership between the public and private sectors will be needed to achieve the Ministry’s targets, central to its plans is maintaining and nurturing its relationship with all key stakeholders. In so doing, the Ministry firmly believes that with the Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism Development as its guide and the National Development Plan – Vision 2030 as its bench-mark, together it can achieve its goals for the benefit of all Jamaicans.

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Jamaica Tourism Minister: We Must Meet the Demands of the Post-COVID Generation

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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says global tourism players must prepare to meet the new demands of the Gen-C travelers, the post-COVID generation, whose return to travel will be crucial to the recovery of the global economy. 

Making his sectoral debate presentation in Parliament earlier today, the Minister noted that: “As we get to the fulsome recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the coming weeks and months or even a year, we will all have had a shared global experience that is intergenerational.  We are now all part of Generation C – the post-COVID generation. GEN-C will be defined by a societal shift in mindset that will change the way that we look at and do many things.”

He added that: “Post-social distancing, we will go back to offices and workplaces, and eventually back to a world that will include seeing friends and family, perhaps smaller gatherings, reimagined cultural and sporting events, and eventually to GEN-C travel. We must therefore prepare to welcome these GEN-C travelers in a safe and seamless way, to protect lives while securing our livelihoods.”

The Minister pointed to data that shows that the impact of their return to travelling will be significant, as across the world, travel and tourism account for 11% of the world’s GDP and creates more than 320 million jobs for workers serving 1.4 billion travellers annually.

“These numbers do not tell the whole story.  They are just part of a connected global economy of which travel and tourism are the lifeblood — various sectors from technology, hospitality construction, finance, to agriculture are all interdependent with travel and tourism,” said Minister Bartlett.

One key initiative that the Ministry of Tourism has undertaken to facilitate GEN-C travel is the formulation of world-class tourism health and safety protocols. The Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), an agency of the Ministry, along with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), formulated the tourism protocols, following extensive consultation with the Ministries of Health, National Security and Foreign Affairs as well as other local and international partners.

Minister Bartlett explained that “our protocols have received the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) ‘Safe Travels’ stamp, which will allow travellers to recognize governments and companies around the world that have adopted health and hygiene global standardized protocols.” He underscored that the fundamental elements of the tourism protocols include sanitization, face masks and personal protective equipment, physical distancing, training and real-time health monitoring and reporting.

Another key initiative, which is critical to restarting the tourism economy and GEN-C travel, is the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre. The Centre, which is housed at the University of the West Indies, has so far developed satellite centres around the world, including in Seychelles, South Africa, Nigeria and Morocco.

The Centre is set to host a virtual panel discussion tomorrow (June 25), with experts from around the world, who will be sharing ideas and solutions around issues vital to restarting the global travel industry.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, Corporate Communications, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: 920-4926-30, Fax: 920-4944

Tourism and Health Ministries Collaborate to Safely Fully Reopen Borders

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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, and Health and Wellness Minister, Hon. Christopher Tufton, have jointly lauded the collaboration that enabled today’s Jamaica Tourism full reopening of its borders to international travel and, in particular, the restart of the country’s tourism industry.

Over 100 health workers were on hand for the first commercial passenger flight to touchdown at the Sangster International Airport following the reopening of the borders.

Minister Bartlett was pleased with the execution of the protocols led by the health team in screening and testing the passengers off American Airlines Flight 2446 from Miami with a mix of tourists and Jamaicans who, in the words one passenger, described going through the protocols as “So far so good.”

Describing today’s arrival of just over 600 visitors as “a soft opening of the tourism industry and by extension the economy of Jamaica,” Minister Bartlett said, “this morning it was the fulfilment of the realization of real collectivism.”

The Tourism Minister, who led a team in welcoming the joyful group of passengers, commented, “Never in recent times have all the key partners and key elements come together so seamlessly in such a short time to create a seamless flow of a process.  This is going to see not just Jamaica position itself as being one of the first countries to be open, but also one where the protocols are all in place. Everybody understands them and the responses in terms of action are in keeping with those protocols.”

While commending the collaborative effort of the many agencies involved, Minister Bartlett singled out the Ministry of Health and Wellness as “the backbone of this whole effort.”

Minister Tufton, who kept a watchful eye on the procedures, said, “our health protocols have been put in place, working closely with tourism (and) we’ve spent the last couple of days working out the logistics here on the ground at the airport working with a range of agencies.”

He said it was still early days yet “but so far so good; we have over a 100 public health officials on the ground” and with persons complying with the directives given, it should be a seamless process. He said the number of persons who have expressed an interest in flying here over the next couple of weeks was very encouraging.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, Corporate Communications, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: 920-4926-30, Fax: 920-4944

Bartlett: Adequate systems in place for reopening of Jamaica’s tourism sector

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Bartlett: Adequate systems in place for reopening of Jamaica’s tourism sector

Bartlett: Adequate systems in place for reopening of Jamaica’s tourism sector

Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has expressed confidence that adequate systems have been put in place for the reopening of Jamaica’s tourism industry. This, as he lauded the efforts of tourism partners and stakeholders for the preparations that have been made at the Sangster International Airport to facilitate the smooth reopening of the sector on Monday (June 15).

Minister Bartlett and key stakeholders had a walk-through of all areas of the airport through which the passengers will travel, with special emphasis on Immigration and Customs, before being tested for signs of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) prior to departing the airport for their respective vacation spots.

Minister Bartlett said the logistics were in place to enable as seamless a process as is possible for the dawning of a new era in tourism. He commended all partners and players who have been working overtime to make sure all parts come together effectively.

He underscored that the airport team had introduced numerous changes to facilitate social distancing consistent with stipulated health protocols. Furnishings within the airport have been arranged, technology to capture the temperature of passengers and sanitization stations installed to satisfy health requirements under COVID-19.

While maintaining that the processing of arriving passengers on Monday “will not be an insurmountable task,” Minister Bartlett said: “We’re really hoping that our locals and visitors alike will have an experience that they will be comfortable with bearing in mind the many challenges posed by this pandemic. This is a very unique situation and we are doing our best to manage it properly.”

He said while everything was being done “we also ask for understanding that this is not perfection where everything will necessarily go as we planned but certainly what we have done is to put in place that which will enable a start on which we can now work to achieve perfection.”

Included in the high-level team that toured the facility were Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health & Wellness, Dunstan Bryan; Chief Medical Officer, Dr Jacqueline Bisasor-McKenzie; Regional Technical Director, Western Regional Health Authority, Dr Diane Campbell-Stennett; Director of Tourism, Donovan White; Senior Advisor/Strategist in the Ministry of Tourism, Delano Seiveright, President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, Omar Robinson; Director of Projects, Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), Stephen Edwards; JTB Regional Director, Odette Dyer and JDF Captain Jevan Brown, in charge of logistics.

The airport team was led by Chief Executive Officer, Shane Munroe and Chief Operations Officer, Peter Hall.

The reopening of the sector will commence with some six flights landing at the Sangster International Airport from Jetblue, American and Delta Airlines. Passengers will be a mix of tourists and Jamaicans returning home.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, Corporate Communications, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: 920-4926-30, Fax: 920-4944

World Ocean Day Message from Jamaica Tourism Minister Bartlett

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Jamaica Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett issued the following message on this World Ocean Day, June 8, 2020:

Our world has been plunged in unprecedented times as we seek to address and effectively manage the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in our daily lives. As such, we are compelled to “stop, look, and listen” in order to chart a new course towards effective recovery and sustainable development.

The travel and tourism sector has been hard-hit with the first quarter of 2020 and current projections showing the worst results for international tourism since 1950 and abruptly ending a 10-year period of sustained growth since the 2009 financial crisis.

In the light of approximately 90% of Jamaica’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) being generated in coastal areas, a sustainable ocean offers a viable option for economic and tourism recovery plans.

In this regard, I welcome this year’s theme for the United Nations World Oceans Day – “Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean”- being celebrated on 8 June 2020. It has become increasingly clear that innovation facilitated by technology and digital transformative tools will be instrumental in advancing small island developing states (SIDS) such as Jamaica towards developed status.

This concept of a “new normal” fueled by innovation will push solutions for tourism recovery will see a deeper diversification in geographic source markets and non-traditional tourism products; deeper linkages within and across sectors; training and development of tourism workers and a greater focus on resilience and sustainable tourism.

Oceans and seas cover two-thirds of Earth’s surface, with an estimated 80% of the volume of world trade transported by sea. With this consideration and reaffirming our belief that nature promotes sustainable solutions, the blue economy has an important role to play in the immediate and long-term recovery of the global economy.

Jamaica shares a special affinity with oceans and seas beyond being a Small Island Developing State, recalling the signing of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in Montego Bay in 1982. As host of the International Seabed Authority, Jamaica continues to reaffirm its commitment to multilateralism and collaborative responses to disruptive shocks that threaten sustainable development – no one should be left behind.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, Corporate Communications, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: 920-4926-30, Fax: 920-4944

Preparations in High Gear for the Reopening of Jamaica’s Tourism Sector

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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett has lauded local tourism partners for the high level of preparation evident in key sub-sectors of the tourism industry to protect tourism workers and visitors from the threat posed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19), ahead of the phased reopening of the sector.

On Wednesday, Minister Bartlett led a team on a tour of the Sangster International Airport, a number of hotels in Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, the Coral Cliff and Margaritaville entertainment entities and Hospiten hospital. He said this was the start of a series of inspections of various tourism related locations to get first-hand knowledge of their level of preparedness and measures for the management of activities that will have to be instituted when the industry is reopened on June 15, 2020.

Given the degree of preparation that was observed, Mr Bartlett expressed that “the resilience that we want to build will enable us, first of all, to manage the risk and then be able to respond to anything unforeseen,” making Jamaica, perhaps, “one of the most prepared destinations in the Caribbean area.”

At the Sangster International Airport, Chief Executive Officer, Shane Munroe and Chief Operations Officer, Peter Hall highlighted the installation of plexiglass screens at counters as well as cutting-edge electronic devices, including thermal sensor cameras and hands-free equipment that will boost the capacity of public health frontline workers.

Preparations at Hospiten include dedicating a special wing to dealing with COVID-19 related cases. Country Manager, Samuel Diaz said his company was playing a key role in health security and that in addition to the hospital along the Elegant Corridor, there are medical stations located at several hotels as well as at the airport and seaports in Montego Bay and Falmouth. Hospiten’s Commercial Manager, Chevoghne Miller assured Minister Bartlett of the hospital’s full support in treating with COVID-19 for the safety of Jamaicans and visitors alike.

At the Holiday Inn, Sandals Montego Bay, Deja Resort and Jamaica Inn, protocols ensuring the safety of both tourism workers and guests are being implemented covering all areas, including rooms, restaurants and beaches. This will include the observance of social distancing and the wearing of masks.

“I am satisfied so far that the entities are buying and preparing the necessary COVID equipment and that the ability to use and manipulate this equipment are being taught and internalized by the workers,” said Mr Bartlett. He added that the examples seen at the locations visited showed that “we are all preparing ourselves with the layer of protection that the industry must provide to ensure that the people of Jamaica will not, in fact, be unduly exposed to the virus.”

Noting that “all of Jamaica is not at the same level of readiness,” Minister Bartlett said, what he termed, a resilience corridor, was being established “that will enable us to better protect our workers, manage the experience of the visitor, better account for the activities and also to be better able to track and trace their movements in order to ensure that there is the highest level of risk management as possible.”

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MEDIA CONTACT: Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, Corporate Communications, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: 920-4926-30, Fax: 920-4944

Jamaica Tourism Ministry Provides 10,000 Masks For Frontline Industry Workers

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The Jamaica Tourism Ministry has provided 10,000 masks for frontline industry workers as part of safeguards against the novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), when the sector reopens.

The masks, one element of the personal protective equipment (PPE) used in the fight against COVID-19, were handed over to industry representatives by Portfolio Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett.

The presentation was made during a virtual ceremony at the Ministry’s offices in New Kingston on Friday (May 29).

“We are recommending that all the workers of the tourism industry should wear their mask. The Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has already made that a condition for all of us, and the medical fraternity has supported that; so we want to assist in ensuring full compliance,” Minister Bartlett said.

The wearing of masks in public spaces globally has been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), as part of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.

According to Mr. Bartlett, this latest initiative, being undertaken through the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) and Tourism Linkages Network, a division of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), is another Ministry intervention aimed at safeguarding workers’ wellbeing.

“We are spending just a little over $5 million in this exercise and we are excited that it will do a number of things,” he said.

The Minister explained that not only will the initiative facilitate the provision of much-needed protective cover, but will contribute to economic sustainability by generating opportunities for small enterprises to create a cottage industry through the making of masks.

“So far, we have some 22 small entrepreneurs who are making masks for us to make up this 10,000, and we are going to add some more as we go along,” he informed.

Mr. Bartlett also explained that due to the industry’s vulnerability to pandemics and epidemics, rigorous development of safeguards, such as screenings, is consistently being undertaken to protect locals and visitors.

He said that until a vaccine is found “we have the responsibility to manage the risk that this virus is causing in our own space and build layers… of protection so that the risk can be reduced.”

“The Ministry of Tourism continues to create innovative and game changing policies and strategies while we manage the virus. We are committed to making sure that of all the people who have to interface with the industry… that the workers, in particular, are protected because they are our frontline people,” Minister Bartlett added.

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Media contact: SHANNA K. SALMON, SSalmon@jis.gov.jm

Minister Bartlett to toast 126 couples in Jamaica Tourist Board’s virtual destination wedding ceremony

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Minister Bartlett to toast 126 couples in Jamaica Tourist Board’s virtual destination wedding ceremony

Minister Bartlett to toast 126 couples in Jamaica Tourist Board’s virtual destination wedding ceremony

Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett is set to give a special toast for 126 couples who will be participating in an upcoming virtual wedding. The Jamaica Tourist Board has partnered with DestinationWeddings.com to host a virtual, symbolic wedding ceremony for couples who had to postpone or cancel their Jamaican, other warm weather destination weddings, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The registration closed on Tuesday May 12, with 126 Couples set to participate in the virtual ceremony being hosted live on Zoom from Laughing Waters, Jamaica on May 17, 2020.

The ceremony will include the exchange of vows, live music, a unity ceremony, scenic shots and Minister Bartlett’s special toast.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed life as we know it drastically. While we encourage persons to practice physical distancing, we also want to remind them that this does not mean we have to cancel social engagements. Though they may not be able to visit us in person, we are so happy to welcome these couples to our island virtually to celebrate love in one of the world’s leading wedding destinations – Jamaica,” said Minister Bartlett.

“It is important that we show the world that love is not cancelled and Jamaica has so much to offer to make their special day meet all their expectations. Though they had to cancel their special days in person, we hope that this will make up for it until they are able to visit us in the near future,” he added.

The couples who participate in this unique celebration, will also receive a very special offer. If they book their destination wedding at any of the 17 Jamaica resort partners, they will receive: 3 free nights in an upgraded room category plus an additional, exclusive amenity during their stay; a complimentary wedding package; complimentary arrival service (escort service through customs from the Jamaica Tourist Board with use of the Club MoBay airport lounge); and complimentary departure service via Club MoBay.

“We’re excited to be hosting this virtual symbolic wedding and look forward to welcoming these couples when they visit us for their physical celebrations, when the time is right,” said Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, Corporate Communications, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: 920-4926-30, Fax: 920-4944

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International Expert to Strengthen Tourism COVID Resilience Plan, says Bartlett

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Jamaica Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett has announced that his Ministry hired international crisis recovery expert Jessica Shannon to the COVID-19 Tourism Recovery Task Force’s secretariat in an effort to strength the country’s resilience plan for the sector.

Speaking at a digital press briefing hosted by the Tourism Ministry earlier today, Bartlett noted that “she comes to us with a wealth of experience in crisis management. Her work with PWC internationally is going to play a big role in our being able to draw on international best practices, based on her own experiences.”

Shannon is a Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) Advisory Partner and has served as their deployed point partner throughout the Ebola crisis, focusing on the response and recovery efforts in West Africa. In this context she served as a senior advisor to private companies and government organizations in the design of strategy, policies and protocols as well as risk identification and monitoring.

“She was very essential in working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention among others to work out the protocol for the Ebola pandemic. … So, bringing her on board, particularly for her to focus on fine-tuning the protocols over the next few days, is going to be seminal, in terms of enabling us to deliver that protocol the Prime Minister wants in short order,” he added.

In addition to her current client engagements, she is part of a small task force established to refine and drive the implementation of PwC’s global near- and mid-term strategic transformation in the wake of COVID-19. 

She has been a Subject Matter Expert for the G20 think tank on economic and financial resilience and a speaker at conferences hosted by Harvard University, the World Bank and the United Nations.  Prior to PwC, she gained strategy experience as a management consultant with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and on the global leadership team at EY. She also has an MBA from Harvard Business School. 

This is the second addition to the committee from Price Waterhouse Coopers, as it also includes PWC’s Senior Partner, Wilfred Baghaloo, who chairs the COVID-19 General Tourism Working Team sub-committee.

Baghaloo was also the Co-Chairman of the Tourism Working Group for the Jamaica Tourism Linkages Committee which assessed how to ensure more local linkages to tourism industry and the development of local supply industries to the tourism sector.

The Ministry established the COVID-19 Tourism Recovery Taskforce last month, with a public-private sector collaboration consisting of key stakeholders from the tourism sector, the Ministry of Tourism, and Agencies of the Ministry. It will be supported by two Working Teams – one for general tourism and another for cruise tourism – and a Secretariat.

The Task Force has been tasked to bring about a realistic view of the sector’s baseline or starting position; develop scenarios for multiple versions of the future; establish the strategic posture for the sector as well as a broad direction of the journey back to growth; establish actions and strategic imperatives that will be reflected across various scenarios; and establish trigger points to tackle action, which includes a planned vision in a world that is learning to evolve rapidly.

“It is an honor and a pleasure to support the Jamaican tourism sector in this regard. I appreciate the opportunity… I have worked in a number of different crisis response situations to support Governments and the private sector,” said Shannon.

Jamaica Tourism Hires COVID-19 Tourism Recovery Expert
Jessica Shannon

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Media contact:  Corporate Communications, Ministry of Tourism, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: (876) 920-4926-30, Fax: (876) 906 1729