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Minister Bartlett committed to ensuring tourism entities are COVID compliant

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Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has indicated his commitment to ensuring that tourism entities, especially the small and medium tourism enterprises (SMTEs), are COVID compliant.

Minister Bartlett, who gave the assurance during a recent tour of tourism entities in Hanover and Westmoreland, said: “My Ministry in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, has been devising initiatives to ensure that all stakeholders particularly the small and micro enterprises are COVID compliant.

The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), through the Linkages Network, has been at the forefront of ensuring that these small players in the sector have the gadgetry and personal protective gear available to them.”

The Tourism Linkages Network (TLN) has been donating tourism protective kits, that include infrared thermometers, touchless hand sanitizers, touchless garbage bins, buckets retrofitted with pipes as well as masks.

“These protective kits, which are valued at J$20Million, will be distributed across the island to 500 small tourism entities, such as the vendors who sell fish and bammy at the border of Westmoreland and St. Elizabeth, to ensure they are operating within COVID guidelines.

This is part of our overall product assurance, so visitors and locals feel confident that what they are buying is safe, especially in this new COVID-19 era,” added Minister Bartlett.

SMTEs, through a mixture of loans and grants facilitated by the TEF and its partners, have also been given a lifeline with access to over J$ 2 Billion in funding to help them retool and rebound amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

#rebuildingtravel

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

Bartlett: J$250 million paid over to Tourism Workers Pension Scheme Fund Manager

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J$250 million paid over to Tourism Workers Pension Scheme Fund Manager – Bartlett

Bartlett: J$250 million paid over to Tourism Workers Pension Scheme Fund Manager

Jamaica’s Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett says the initial $250 million of the $1 billion committed to long-awaited Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme by the Government has been paid over to the newly selected-fund manager, Sagicor Jamaica Limited.

“The long awaited Tourism Workers Pension Scheme has reached another milestone. We can now announce that we have an Investment Manger which is Sagicor and the Fund Administer is Guardian General. Additionally J$250 million of the J$1 billion from the Ministry’s injection has been disbursed to seed the fund to ensure these workers have a pension,” said Minister Bartlett.

He noted that he is currently awaiting the House’s approval of the regulations, which will pave the way for the Scheme’s implementation, once industry workers return to their jobs.

“The well-being of our workers in the industry remains a priority for us at the Ministry of Tourism. We are forging ahead with this scheme because we want to ensure that after the coronavirus (COVID-19) has passed, the pension program will be in place,” said the Minister.

The pension scheme is a defined contributory plan supported by legislation and will require mandatory contributions by workers and employers.

The tourism workers’ pension scheme is designed to cover all workers ages 18-59 years in the tourism sector, whether permanent, contract or self-employed, the ministry said. It further noted that this includes hotel workers as well as persons employed in other tourism sub-sectors such as craft vendors, tour operators, red cap porters, contract carriage operators and workers at attractions.

Benefits will be payable at age 65 years or older.

The Ministry of Tourism is providing $1 billion to seed the fund, so that immediate benefits can accrue to qualified pensioners, who have met the vested period of five years.

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

Jamaica Tourism Ministry to Postpone All Public Activities in March

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The Jamaica Tourism Ministry wishes to advise the public that all previously advertised activities for March have been postponed until further notice.

This decision is in keeping with the new COVID-19 health protocols, regarding public gatherings declared by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, at an emergency press briefing held at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday evening.

The Prime Minister shared that “Where the law requires, the granting of a permit for any event or gathering, no permit will be issued within the next 14 days. That means any event, whether entertainment event, any gathering that requires the issuing of a permit. Permits that were already issued will be rescinded.”

He also asked that organizers of business meetings and large gatherings follow the protocols that have been established for personal care and hygiene.

Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett says, “We must err on the side of caution in light of the new COVID-19 developments in the country. I have had several meetings with my team about these upcoming events and believe it is in the best interest of the public as well as the staff of the Ministry to postpone these events until it is safer to do so.”

Therefore, in the interest of public safety, the Ministry of Tourism will be postponing the following events:

  • Tourism Linkages Speed Networking event scheduled for March 12 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre
  • Tourism Worker’s Pensions Sensitization session scheduled for March 12 at Royalton Blue Waters
  • Tourism Worker’s Pensions Sensitization session scheduled for March 13 at the Montego Bay Civic Centre
  • Tourism Worker’s Pensions Sensitization session scheduled for March 13 at Glistening Waters in Falmouth
  • Tourism Service Excellence Awards scheduled for March 14 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre
  • TPDCO’s Call for Licence Applications roadshow scheduled for March 16-26 across the island
  • Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival scheduled for March 21 in Newcastle, St. Andrew

The Ministry will continue to monitor the situation and be guided by the protocols for the public health and safety outlined by the Office of the Prime Minister.  However, considerations are also being made, where appropriate, to execute some of these events remotely utilizing virtual communication applications.

“We are very technologically savvy, and I am sure we can have some of these events remotely. However, we are still fine tuning these details and will advise the public once decisions have been finalized,” said Minister Bartlett.

The Ministry regrets any inconvenience these changes may cause and encourage the public to follow all health advisories to avoid spread of the virus.

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

Hotel room boom sparks investments

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Jamaica is being prepared for a boom in hotel rooms over the next five years. It is expected that 12,000 new rooms will be added to existing room stock over that period, brining millions of US dollar investment to the island.

The investment line-up includes US$250 million by H10 Hotels to build 1000 rooms in Trelawny and over US$500 million by Amaterra to build out 5000 rooms across a multifaceted development also in that parish, starting with at least 1,200 hotel rooms for which ground was recently broken.

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett outlined these investment deals at his Sectoral presentation in Parliament yesterday.

“Jamaica’s tourism is experience record growth in arrivals and earnings and this has attracted more investment in our highly sought after product. What we are seeing is surge in hotel construction and expansion from various chains who see Jamaica as a very viable tourist destination.

TOURISM TEAM: Minister of Tourism, on Edmund Bartlett (4TH left) is flanked by executive members of his team at the Ministry of Tourism following his Sectoral Presentation to Parliament on Tuesday, April 30, 2019. From left are: Executive Director of the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), Dr Andrew Spencer; Chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Hon Godfrey Dyer; Regional Director, Jamaica Tourist Board, Odette Soberman Dyer, and Executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Dr Carey Wallace

In fact, data from JAMPRO has indicated that Foreign Direct Investments in 2017 generated US$173.11 million or 19.5% of total Foreign Direct Investment,” said Minister Bartlett

The parish of Hanover is set for an investment of US$500 million by Princess Hotels & Resorts on 2000 rooms while Hard Rock will be building 1100 rooms in Montego Bay.

Over in St Ann, the first phase of the Karisma development will see US$200 million invested in building 800 rooms and Moon Palace is to spend USD$160 million in 700 rooms.

Recently, 120 rooms were opened at S Hotel in Montego Bay and later this year the Wyndam Hotel in Kingston will add 250 more rooms with 220 by AC Marriott, also in Kingston.

Outlining these projects, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett expressed elation that his target of having 5,000 hotel rooms within five years earning US$5 billion, was being exceeded, as he made his presentation in Parliament’s Sectoral Debate today.

Even as the development of hotel rooms continue apace, Minister Bartlett reported to the House that the tourism industry was undergoing daily changes requiring appropriate response to remain relevant, fashionable and viable. This, he said, called for innovation and the development of new systems, processes and methodologies to reimagine the sector.

For further information contact:

Corporate Communications Unit

Ministry of Tourism,

64 Knutsford Boulevard,

Kingston 5.

Tel: 876-809-2906

Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Bartlett pumps J$200 million into Linkages Networks

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Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett has committed J$200 million to the Linkages Networks to help build out more products to enhance the visitor experience and ensure more inclusive growth in the sector.

Speaking at the launch of the new Top Events Jamaica Initiative yesterday at Devon House, Minister Bartlett said, “This year, we will be spending 200 Million dollars on the Networks to create the level of inclusiveness that connects the ordinary Jamaican to the tourism product and the product to the ordinary Jamaican.

This will be a huge game changer and we are going to change the narrative and also change the feeling of the public that tourism is only for the bigger suppliers and doesn’t include the smaller players.”

The Tourism Linkages Network’s (TLN’s) main focus has been to bring local tourism suppliers in contact with other sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing. In doing so, the Linkages Network creates more economic opportunities for our local tourism suppliers who can then earn more.

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (1st R) paused for a photo at the track and field display at the launch of the new Top Events Jamaica Initiative yesterday at Devon House

Driving this inclusive growth are five networks geared towards building out authentic Jamaican experiences for the visitors and increasing the earning potential of small suppliers and they are – Gastronomy, Sports and Entertainment, Shopping, Knowledge and Health and Wellness.

The new Top Events Jamaica initiative, being spearheaded by the TLN, is designed to increase visitor participation in events and activities island-wide through strategic partnerships and leveraging the power of technology, social media, and advertising.

In highlighting the importance of this new platform, Minister Bartlett, said, “Top Events will place all our best entertainment products and offerings under one roof. In doing so we are allowing visitors and locals alike to chance to find these offerings with the click of a button. Top events will be a critical element that brings together our authentic Jamaican entertainment products under one roof through the use of technology.

This type of interface is critical in the age of technology especially given that entertainment forms a large part of why people travel and as such there is value in building out more products of this nature to drive arrivals and growth in the sector.”

The Top Events initiative will include a microsite and an easy to use mobile app to increase visitor awareness and participation in the over 900 events held in Jamaica each month. To qualify for listing on Top Events, event organizers must meet the predetermined criteria outlined by the TLN that guarantees continuity in the content delivery and effective data capture.

The TLN’s Sports and Entertainment Network (SEN) will be the driving force behind Top Events Jamaica and the body ultimately responsible for the final selection of “Top Events” to be added to the event calendar.

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

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Bartlett commits J$300 million to strengthen Jamaica’s Community Tourism

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Community Tourism island wide, will receive a major boost following the commitment of approximately J$300 million by Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett.

The money will be disbursed to sixty three (63) communities across the country to have small events and activities to attract more visitors, and increase potential earnings of small tourism suppliers.

“The building out of more tourism products under our Linkages Network, forms part of our overall growth strategy to attract more visitors by adding value and enhancing their experiences. Adding value has become a benchmark in the highly competitive tourism industry and when you are able to give more you will have a better value proposition for visitors than your competitors.

These community tourism projects will provide authentic Jamaican experiences, whether it be food or entertainment, for our visitors and increase earnings for our suppliers,” said Minister Bartlett.

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (2nd R) engaged a batch of the first cohort of students to be trained at the M-Academy. M-Academy, which was launched today in Kingston, is a Jamaica Social Investment Fund and Main Events partnership providing alternative Livelihood and Skills Development.

The announcement was made today during the official launch of M-Academy at the Chinese Benevolent Centre in Kingston. M-Academy is a Jamaica Social Investment Fund and Main Events partnership that will provide alternative Livelihood and Skills Development. The main objective of the initiative is to provide demand driven skills in event production to 100 students from 7 parishes across Jamaica.

In endorsing the move, Minister Bartlett added that, “I am pleased that this initiative will help build the capacity of our young people who will in turn be able to earn and meet the demands in the entertainment sector, which is inextricably linked to tourism.

This means that we will be able to rely more on local talent to seamlessly execute mega productions such as festivals and conventions, which attract thousands of people.”

The M-Academy training program will initially certify 100 at risk youth in various aspects of world class event management and production skills by one of the leading entertainment companies in the Caribbean.

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

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Major tourism attraction to be developed around birthplace of Jimmy Cliff

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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has indicated plans to fully develop the community of Somerton in St. James, where cultural icon Jimmy Cliff was born, as a major tourism attraction.

“The town of Somerton holds the rich cultural history of some of the most celebrated Jamaicans such as former Prime Minister PJ Patterson, former Governor General Sir Howard Cooke’s family, Lennie Little-White, renowned film maker, Ms. Violet Neilson former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Bishop Herro Blair.

Perhaps the most celebrated of all is Grammy award winning singer Jimmy Cliff who still lives in Somerton and even filmed some of his greatest work here. We are excited about this history that has helped to fashion the community and can be positioned and leveraged as a major tourism attraction and generate economic growth,” said Minister Bartlett.

Minister Bartlett made the announcement at the official ground breaking for the Somerton to Fording road rehabilitation project yesterday [March 28, 2019]. The project will see restoration work on the roadway from fording to the Somerton square which will be named the Jimmy Cliff highway. The general scope of work will include road signage, construction of drains and asphaltic concrete repairs and overlay.

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (2nd Right) and Dr the Hon James “Jimmy Cliff” Chambers (C) today participated in the official ground breaking ceremony for the Somerton to Fording road rehabilitation project. Joining in the moment are (from L-R) Bishop Reverend Dr. Herro Blair, His Worship the Mayor, Councillor Homer Davis, Dr. Carey Wallace, Executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Mrs. Jennifer Griffith, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Lennie Little-White and the Hon Godfrey Dyer, Chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund.

“The community needs to now be repositioned, it needs to be reimagined and today represents the start of that reimagining. We are going to doing as series of infrastructure work aimed at preserving the rich cultural history.

We are going to develop a Jimmy Cliff museum and restore the waterfall where Jimmy Cliff frequented. So the aim is to create Somerton as an important tourist attraction around Jimmy Cliff and that will bring pilgrims and fans from all over the world who have been inspired by his accomplishments.”

The community of Somerton in St. James is located eleven miles from Montego Bay, and is known for having birthed and raised a long list of distinguished Jamaicans. The most noted is Dr. the Hon James Chambers, known professionally as Jimmy Cliff. He is a ska and reggae musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and actor. Cliff is one of only two living musicians to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honor that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievements in the arts and sciences.

“I am a son of the soil and I will always be. My house remains in Somerton because this is where I want to be so I welcome these developments and thank everyone who will be a part of it,” said the world renowned singer and actor, Dr. the Hon James ‘Jimmy Cliff’ Chambers.

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Jamaica voted one of the best destinations in the world

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Jamaica has been listed in the Top 25 Best Destinations in the World for 2019 on renowned travel website TripAdvisor. The island is the only country in the Caribbean to do so, and ranks among destinations such as London, Rome and Paris.

Jamaica was ranked #14 on the TripAdvisor® Travelers’ Choice™ Awards’ “World’s Best Destinations” list and is also listed as the best destination in the Caribbean.

Negril’s Seven Mile Beach was also named the 10th Best Beach in the world and fifth Best Beach in the Caribbean on the 2019 TripAdvisor® Travelers’ Choice™ Awards’ for Beaches. TripAdvisor recognized 352 beaches around the world.

Award winners for the Best Destinations awards were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants and attractions in destinations worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period, as well as traveler booking interest on TripAdvisor.

While winners for the Beaches awards were determined based on the quantity and quality of traveler reviews and ratings for beaches on TripAdvisor, gathered over a 12-month period.

Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett says, “Jamaica is very pleased to once again receive these incredible accolades from the acclaimed travel website TripAdvisor. We have been increasing our efforts to better meet the needs of our visitors, by focusing on securing meaningful investments and improving on the variety of quality offerings in the destination. We want to thank all of our visitors for choosing Jamaica and we are always ready to welcome them to our shores.”

TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel site, with over 730 million reviews and opinions covering the world’s largest selection of travel listings worldwide. It covers approximately 8.1 million accommodations, airlines, experiences, and restaurants.

For all of the 2019 Travelers’ Choice Top 25 Destinations, go to tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Destinations.

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Bartlett welcomes Tourism Graduate School for 2020

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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett has welcomed the establishment of a Graduate School of Tourism by 2020, which will be based at the University of the West Indies’ Western Campus.

“This project has been a vision of mine for many years and to see this vision now become a reality under the leadership of Professor Dale Webber, Principal of the University of the West Indies augurs well for tourism and our human capital development strategy.

The graduate school of tourism will be an ideal complement for the training and certification that is already being done through our Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation which is the institute we established for professionalizing the industry so workers can have their competencies recognized through certification” said Minister Bartlett.

The Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation’s (JCTI’s) focus is on certifying workers in the sector to the highest level, which means that they will be able to go anywhere in the world and match their qualifications with the best there is.

To date, JCTI has certified in excess of 600 persons. They include Certified Hospitality Educators to deliver the AHLEI programs; Certified Hospitality Supervisors; tutors for the ACF certification programs; over 22 chefs, including Executive Chefs, Sous Chefs, Culinarians and Pastry Culinarians.

The announcement was made at the University of the West Indies’ Western Campus official ground breaking. The University of the West Indies (UWI) offers world class, accredited higher education programs to Jamaica, the region and the globe.

The new site, which will be located at Barnett Oval in Montego Bay, aligns with the University’s commitment to increase participation in tertiary and higher education whilst strengthening their partnership opportunities with stakeholders in Western Jamaica.

Principal of the UWI, Professor Dale Webber, in welcoming the new graduate school of tourism said, “What separates the U.W.I from other Universities is our graduate studies and research so we see the Global Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, which is currently housed at our Mona campus, as part of the School of Tourism portfolio.
Now we have a new vehicle at this Western Jamaica campus Barnett site to establish the school and offer tourism at a higher level with Masters and Phd programs.

“This is a monumental step towards a total reimaging of tourism, where we will be able to have workers trained and certified at the highest levels. With this higher level of training and certification, they will be able to not only meet the demands of an ever-changing global industry but will be able to demand more in terms of jobs and compensation,” added Minister Bartlett.

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Minister Bartlett to deliver remarks at ground-breaking ceremony for new site at UWI Western Jamaica Campus

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Tourism Minister Hon Edmund Bartlett will offer remarks at the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a new site within the Western Jamaica Campus.

The new site aligns with the University’s commitment to increase participation in tertiary and higher education whilst strengthening their partnership opportunities with stakeholders in Western Jamaica.

WHO: The Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, CD, MP

WHAT: Invites coverage of the ground-breaking ceremony for the new site within the UWI Western Jamaica Campus

WHEN: Friday, March 22, 2019, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Barnett Estate Lands, Fairfield Road, Montego Bay, St. James

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