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Bartlett to attend UNWTO General Assembly in Russia

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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett departs the island tomorrow to participate in the 23rd Session of the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) General Assembly in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

During his visit, the Minister will discuss plans for Jamaica to host the UNWTO Regional Commission of the Americas (CAM) meeting as well as a Global Conference on Innovation, Resilience and Crisis Management, in May or June of 2020.

Jamaica was successful in its bid for the Chairmanship of the UNWTO Regional Commission of the Americas (CAM) for the biennium 2019 – 2021. 

“Jamaica is very excited to host members of the CAM for this very important meeting next year. We are also very pleased that it will give fellow members an opportunity to learn more about our Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, which will play host to this meeting,” said Minister Bartlett.

The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, which is located at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, is dedicated to assisting with preparedness, management and recovery from disruptions and crises that impact tourism and threaten economies and livelihoods.

The Minister also shared that he will use his visit in Russia to lobby for more support for Bahamas, immediate past chair of the UNWTO Regional Commission of the Americas, following the damage caused by the passing of hurricane Dorian.

“While in Russia I will be presenting the case overall for further collaboration with the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre in relation to dealing with Caribbean vulnerabilities. In the process, I will be supporting the Bahamas in their own recovery efforts.

I will be partnering with Minister of Tourism for the Bahamas, Hon. Dionisio D’Aguilar, to ensure that a full appreciation for the extent of the damage in the area, and the extent of support that is required is realised by all of the partners,” said the Minister.

All 156-member states are expected to be in attendance in Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation for the General Assembly, which is the supreme organ of the UNWTO.  Its ordinary sessions are held every two years and are attended by delegates of the Full and Associate Members.

The General Assembly is the most important meeting of senior tourism officials and high-level representatives of the private sector from all over the world. It is the principal gathering of the UNWTO and meets to approve the budget and programme of work and to debate ‎topics of vital importance to the tourism sector.

Minister Bartlett is expected return to the island on September 14, 2019.

Media Contact:

Corporate Communications

Ministry of Tourism

64 Knutsford Boulevard

Kingston 5

Tel: (876) 920-4926-30

Fax: (876) 906 1729

Bartlett to Attend 110th United Nations World Tourism Organization Executive Council Meeting

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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett is set to participate in the 110th United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Executive Council Meeting, during the period June 16 – 18, 2019 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Minister Bartlett and his delegation will also use the opportunity to begin discussions with the UNWTO Secretary General, Mr Zurab Pololikashvili, regarding the 2020 CAM meeting as well as the 2020 Global Conference on Innovation, Resilience and Crisis Management, which Jamaica will jointly host with the UNWTO.

“We look forward to hosting the first ever Global Tourism Innovation Resilience and Crisis Management Summit in Montego Bay. Jamaica will also host the 2020 meeting of the Americas. This effort back to back will position Jamaica, not only as the central global reference for innovation, resilience and crisis management but also as the focus of the entire Americas in terms of the deliberations of CAM,” said the Minister.

In addition to the standard Agenda of the 110th Session, the UNWTO will host a special forum titled “Protect our Heritage:  Social, Cultural and Environmental Sustainability” on June 17, 2019. This is in line with the UNWTO’s key priority area and has been especially tailored for Government Ministers, who will have the opportunity to express their views and look for joint solutions.

Minister Bartlett is accompanied by Mrs. Jennifer Griffith, Permanent Secretary and Miss Gillian Baldeo, Communications Director, Product Development. They will return to Jamaica on June 20, 2019.

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

Strange blue lights over the arctic stun travelers

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Travelers were stunned this weekend to spot strange blue lights appear in the Arctic skies. The blue lights appeared in two clear spots in the sky causing stargazers to look on in wonder.

These stunning displays of the Northern Lights above Lapland were captured by photography experts at Lights Over Lapland.

Founder of Lights Over Lapland, Chad Blakley, said; “I first spotted the lights on our Aurora Web Cam which continually captures the night sky above Abisko in Sweden, and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It was completely out of this world!”

Since the sighting, social media has been awash with speculation, however the phenomenon has since been attributed to a scientific experiment from the Andøya Space Center in Norway which launched two rockets that released metallic powder into atmosphere inside the Northern Lights.

“Although every experience with the Northern Lights is different – this one was a complete mystery and surprise even for me,” adds Lights Over Lapland founder Chad Blakley who has been photographing the Northern Lights for the last 10 years. “It just goes to show that there is always something new to experience on a Northern Lights holiday.”

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