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Bartlett Joins Discussions on Developing a Global Tourism Recovery Plan

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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, recently participated in a global ministerial panel discussion on rethinking the global travel and tourism industry with a comprehensive recovery plan, which encourages innovation and investment to rebuild destinations.

The discussions took place earlier this week during the annual International Tourism and Investment Conference in London, held in partnership with the World Travel Market (WTM), which took place on a virtual platform, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, consequent social distancing and global travel restrictions.

“The aspirational objectives of destinations for recovery in the   post-COVID era are increasingly being reflected in the rolling out of comprehensive recovery plans for the tourism sector which seek to leverage the collective power and resources of key stakeholders including: governments, international tourism bodies, hotels, airlines, cruise lines, booking agencies etc.,” said Bartlett.

“Recovery has become almost synonymous with resilience-building. The sector needs to become more adaptable, resilient and agile.  This pandemic has presented us with a unique opportunity to transition towards a more balanced tourism as it is anticipated that more international tourists will opt for “sustainable” destinations in the post-COVID era,” he added.

Other Ministers joining the panel included Hon. Nigel Huddleston, Minister of Tourism, UK; Hon. Najib Balala, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Kenya; Hon. Marcelo Álvaro Antônio, Minister of Tourism, Brazil; and Hon. Elena Kountoura, Member of the European Parliament.

Minister Bartlett also reiterated the call for the establishment of a Global Tourism Resilience Fund to equip vulnerable countries to be able to respond, manage, and to then recover and grow after disruptions. The Fund would especially target destinations that are recognized as facing high vulnerability but have insufficient financial capacity to prepare for and recover quickly from disruptions.

“It is also important for policymakers, industry leaders, investors and financial institutions to collaborate more closely to support investments and provide incentives to support  product differentiation into areas such as health, wellness and the green economy which are linked to the promotion of more sustainable behaviors and practices by all involved in the tourism value chain,” said Bartlett.

The global tourism investment summit was organized with the goal of helping to accelerate the recovery of travel and tourism businesses and restore travelers’ confidence after the COVID-19 pandemic. It brought together global leading voices and luminaries across different segments to discuss the future of the travel and tourism industry, its challenges, opportunities, financial strategies and mechanisms required to aid its successful recovery.

The three-day summit began on November 9 under the theme: “Invest, Finance and Rebuild the Travel and Tourism Industry.” Bartlett also participated in the resilience panel discussion, on Tuesday November 10, 2020.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, Corporate Communications Division, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: 920-4924, Fax: 906-1729

Tourism must get back on track, Bartlett

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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the industry is a key driver of the Jamaican economy and urges stakeholders to view the unprecedented crisis brought on by the pandemic as a transformational opportunity to help get tourism back on track.

Speaking at the opening of the first-ever virtual staging of the Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX), the Minister said, “Tourism must get back on track. Pre-pandemic, there were 1.5 billion international tourist arrivals; travel and tourism accounted for 10.3% of global GDP, and it employed 1 in 10 persons around the world.  At home, as we welcomed 4.3 million visitors, the sector earned US$3.7 billion, contributed 9.5% to the nation’s GDP and generated some 170,000 direct jobs.”

Bartlett noted that the Government is doing its part to rebuild the economy and tourism will play a key role. He shared that despite Covid-19, proactive measures were being implemented that will ensure a tourism product that is safe, attractive for visitors, and economically viable for all tourism stakeholders.

Despite the challenges caused by the pandemic, Bartlett remains cautiously optimistic as data from the Jamaica Tourist Board indicate that the industry is slowly rebuilding.

Preliminary JTB figures indicate that since reopening on June 15, the country has recorded a little over 211,000 passengers to the island; June to September earnings amounted to US$231.9 million, and hotel occupancy rates are slowly inching up. A 40% increase in arrivals over the winter season when compared to the preceding periods of massive downturn, is also projected.  

“In terms of airlift, most of the major airlines serving the destination are increasing service as the demand picks up. These include the following airlines in the Americas: American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, United, Southwest, Air Canada, WestJet, and Copa,” he said. 

Expedia also reported that searches for Jamaica’s Montego Bay rose 15 percent in July, and Jamaica was among the most-searched-for destinations in the Caribbean.

“I have received reports that some of our hotel properties have reported that they are reaching up to 60% occupancy through a combination of international and local guests, with numbers reaching nearly 90% around holiday weekends,” he said.

The Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) is the premier trade event and the single most important business generator for Jamaica’s tourism industry. It facilitates pre-scheduled appointments for leading wholesalers and tour operators with hundreds of Jamaica’s leading tourism suppliers to conduct business negotiations.

Since its 1990 inception, The Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) has been a joint project of The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB). It is supported by every Jamaican organization involved in the development, promotion and sale of the Island’s tourism product.

According to the organizers, the three-day event, which is being held virtually  this year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, has more than 2,000 buyer and supplier delegates, travel agents and media representatives from countries such as the UK, USA, Canada, China, India, Russia, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina.

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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 Urges International Community to Leverage Smart Tourism in Post-COVID-19 World

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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has underscored the need for tourism interests around the world to embrace and leverage a new smart tourism model, to ensure the success of the industry in the post-COVID-19 era. This as Minister Bartlett continues to make his mark as a thought leader in the international tourism community, with his participation recently in another major international webinar – the SAHIC Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference.

In the long-term, this crisis presents us with an opportunity to harness the potential of digitalization to drive new tourism experiences.

“In the absence of physical travelling experiences, millions of people in quarantine have been seeking out cultural and travel experiences from their homes,” Minister Bartlett said.

He added that “rapid digitalization coupled with emerging technologies, such as virtual and augmented realities, can create new forms of cultural experiences, dissemination and new business models with market potential.”

Mr. Bartlett highlighted that the international community can expect to see the growth of smart tourism, with more destinations increasing the production of visitation data, such as tourists’ time spent at attractions, which will aid in crowd management – which he believes is an essential factor in a post-COVID-19 world. 

“Smart tourism can be helpful in promoting social distancing by focusing on controlling human traffic to major tourist sites like a museum, a cathedral or a public park, as we seek to maintain the quality of visitors’ experiences,” said the Minister.

Bartlett also shared the strategies employed locally that have been impactful, such as the ‘Rediscover Jamaica’ campaign, as well as the health and safety protocols created by the Ministry of Tourism and its agencies working in collaboration with industry partners and other government stakeholders.

“The Re-discover Jamaica initiative has received tremendously positive reception from local residents, with some hotels reporting 50%-60% reservations from locals,” he explained.

“As we look to the future, the gap in seasonal downturns in international tourist arrivals and volatility in the global tourism market can be offset by sustaining these staycation packages that target local residents who have traditionally felt excluded from higher-priced all-inclusive vacation packages that are designed to attract international tourists,” the Minister added.

SAHIC is a two-day virtual event focusing on Latin America and the Caribbean, which featured 9 hours of networking opportunities with key players and strategic sessions with prominent members of the hotel investment community.

Other government speakers included, Hon. Ivan Eskildsen, Minister of Tourism for Panama, and Hon. Gustavo J. Segura, Minister of Tourism for Costa Rica, in regional discussions. Additional speakers included Gloria Guevara Manzo, President and CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC); Brian King, President, Caribbean & Latin America, Marriott International; and Rogerio Basso, Head of Tourism, IDB Invest.

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

Minister Bartlett: Jamaica’s Tourism Ministry to launch Tourism Supplies Hub

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Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett says his Ministry will be developing a Tourism Supplies Hub that will help to position Jamaica as the premier logistics centre in the region. The hub will focus on training and certification of tourism workers, serving as suppliers for cruise and airlines; and resilience and technology support.

The Minister made the announcement recently during his address at the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association’s (JHTA) 59th annual general meeting (AGM), which was hosted virtually.

During his address, he added that this hub would be “a critical response to the cruise companies, which have indicated that they would like to secure supplies from Jamaica as well as additional workers.”

He shared that his Ministry has been proactive with its approach to the cruise industry, by meeting with them frequently to get updates on how the industry will safely re-open.

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“We have been in long discussions with our cruise partners. Although I cannot announce to you today the exact date when cruise will resume in Jamaica, I can tell you that we have been very vigorous in terms of our efforts to redefine the relationships between the cruise industry stakeholders and ourselves,” said the Minister.

“This is being done with the hope of ensuring that a greater level of not just resources will come to Jamaica but that Jamaica will benefit greater from the ability that the cruise lines have to generate more local involvement and more inclusiveness, in terms of the returns from the sector,” he added.

The Tourism Ministry is also seeking to launch a collaborative global marketing campaign that will bring partners in private sector and Government together to speak with one voice and market Jamaica as a COVID-19 resilient destination, based on the destination’s world-class protocols and innovative Resilient Corridors.

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

New Ambulance to Boost Health Security for Visitors and Locals, says Bartlett

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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the donation of a brand-new ambulance by the Tourism Enhancement Fund to the Negril Fire station will boost Jamaica health security for visitors and locals alike.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony on Friday (July 31, 2020), Minister Bartlett highlighted that: “Negril represents a very critical resort area that continues to add to Jamaica’s prestige as a destination and this donation of an ambulance will boost the health security that is needed for this growing town.

Visitors and locals will feel more confident moving around, as the response to health emergencies will be strengthened.”

The Minister spoke also to the importance of the assurance every destination needs to provide, that if something happens there is adequate resources to respond.

“This is what this ambulance will represent for the town of Negril, the assurance that in event of an emergency, the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) at the fire station will be able to respond and respond quickly,” said Minister Bartlett. 

The ambulance, valued at J$18million, will greatly assist the EMS department at the Negril Fire Station which has been without a working ambulance for the past eight months. The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) also provided an additional $7.6 million for the renovation of the fire station in the resort town.

“Last year we embarked on a strategy lead by my Permanent Secretary to reimagine the town of Negril and this forms part of that strategy to boost the resources required under the new destination plan,” concluded Minister Bartlett.

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

SMTEs Have Key Role to Play in Rejuvenating the Economy – Bartlett

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Jamaica Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett says Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs), have a key role to play in reviving the economy, in the aftermath of the fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking recently at the virtual staging of the Tourism Ministry’s signature Christmas in July tradeshow, he said, “The Tourism Linkages Network through initiatives such as Christmas in July is playing a crucial role in this recovery process by stimulating well needed economic activity through partnerships.”

He stressed that “everyone has a role to play in rebuilding the economy and Christmas in July provides an avenue for suppliers to begin to earn again and do their part in rejuvenating the economy.”

Minister Bartlett underscored that assisting local suppliers to meet the demands of the tourism sector through the development of stronger linkages with other sectors, remains a top priority of the Tourism Ministry.

He said, “We remain committed to ensuring that the country’s domestic sectors are better able to supply the products and services that are the necessary inputs of the visitor’s experience.”

The Minister explained that “this is even more critical under the new dispensation brought about by COVID-19, which has put a strain on every sector of the economy, with an added burden on the tourism sector because it is by far the most reliable means of getting the national economy up and running again.”

Christmas in July is an exhibition of locally produced corporate gifts and souvenir items that will enable local entrepreneurs to benefit more from the linkage opportunities available in the tourism industry.

Participants over the years have been chalking up millions of dollars in sales through contracts negotiated at the event. “The 50 highest earners of Christmas in July 2019 made a combined total of J$9.2 million by participating in the event,” Minister Bartlett revealed.

Items on display this year, from 146 entrepreneurs, included locally produced art, fashion and accessories, processed foods, aromatherapy, and souvenirs such as desktop solutions and décor items that are available for purchase. The event also featured a ‘Style Jamaica’ fashion show which showcased apparel by several top local fashion designers.

The tradeshow is organized by the Tourism Linkages Network, a division of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, in partnership with Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA), Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), and the Bureau of Standards.

A gift catalog of all participants and samples of their work will be made available at a later date.

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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 Employees Eager to Help Rebuild Tourism

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Employees of some of Jamaica’s leading tourist attractions have expressed gratitude to be able to return to work and told Jamaica Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett that they were eager to be back playing their role in rebuilding the tourism sector.

Mr. Bartlett toured attractions in the Ocho Rios area, along the North Coast Resilient Corridor recently. He heard first-hand, overwhelming expressions of appreciation from workers, who welcomed the recent decision to reopen COVID-19 compliant attractions effective July 21, 2020. A number of the entities are currently receiving strong support from local patrons.

While awaiting final Cabinet approval for attractions impacted negatively by the COVID-19 pandemic to reopen to international patrons, Minister Bartlett and ministry officials visited Mystic Mountain, Dolphin Cove and Chukka Caribbean Adventures to check their levels of compliance with stipulated protocols and equipment to manage the spread of the virus.

At all three, he was warmly greeted by staff members expressing their excitement to be able to return to work. Their sentiments were encapsulated by Team Leader at Chukka, Alicia Green. “We want to thank you for freeing up tourism so we can all have our jobs back,” she said, supported by resounding applause from her co-workers. “We promise to follow all protocols to remain COVID-free and to have a wonderful time,” she added.

Minister Bartlett underscored that: “We have been opening the industry in a very carefully structured and strategized way” and “we want to ensure also that in the process the jobs come back.”

He expressed deep satisfaction with what he had seen, adding that the partnership between tourism and health was paramount in overcoming the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. While underscoring the importance of health security to the hospitality industry, he stressed the need for tourism to be seen as part of the solution.

Noting that “tourism is the heartbeat of the country”, he expressed that visitors don’t just come here to have a drink and then to move on but to expand the Jamaican market and enable producers to have a larger group of people to feed and to provide goods and services for. “Tourism expands the demand for goods and services and enables jobs, jobs and more jobs as a result,” proclaimed Minister Bartlett.

Jamaica Employees of Tourist Attractions Thankful to Return to Work
The reopening of attractions is welcomed by operators, staff and small tourism enterprise operators like Beverley Creary-Green (right), who is happy that she can again sell her handmade trinkets at Mystic Mountain. She was pleased to show off her handy-work to Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (centre), while Executive Director of Jamaica Vacations (JAMVAC), Joy Roberts (left), looks on.

He said it was important to underscore that point “because I believe there is a ‘disconnect’ in the minds of our people in relation to this industry” which, it is now being realized, impacts so many other industries that are forced to close when tourism shuts down.

Director of Chukka, John Byles, said “I want to express how grateful we are to be seeing that our jobs are coming back, that we have the opportunity to work.”

Mr. Byles, who is also Chairman of the joint public-private sector COVID-19 resilient corridor management team, underscored that “all of us in the private sector commit to joining the partnership. We see it as us protecting ourselves by helping with the surveillance, the enforcement; to help with the entire program of ensuring compliance.”

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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 South Coast Now Open to Tourists says Bartlett

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The Jamaica South Coast is now open to tourists following the launch of a South Coast Resilient Corridor, which runs from Milk River to Negril. In an effort to drive the continued safe re-opening of the tourism sector, Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett. yesterday announced that the new corridor will be introduced on July 15. Much like the North Coast Resilient Corridor, which was introduced in June, this area will welcome visitors with robust health and safety protocols.

While addressing Parliament yesterday, the Minister said: “This expansion, which takes effect on July 15, will enable more visitors to experience the tourism product, while enabling tourism businesses and workers to restart operations in a safe environment.”

He noted that the key protocols of this corridor includes limiting access to only authorised properties to ensure that visitors will be travelling to COVID-compliant locations, as well as ensuring that public and private sector stakeholders are responsible for collaborating, to guarantee the extensive monitoring that is required.

“The protocols were designed based on benchmarks of nearly 20 markets in the Caribbean and globally as well as international health agencies.  They cover big and small hotels, guesthouses, attractions, beaches, transportation, shopping, social activities (restaurants and bars) and cruise ports,” said the Minister.

Mr. Bartlett noted that “the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) is playing a lead role in driving compliance with these protocols. The TPDCo has redeployed existing product quality officers to increase the complement of persons dedicated to overseeing compliance from 11 to 70, to ensure they have proper capacity to manage this task, which entails constant monitoring.”

“Moving forward, the intention is for the TPDCo to work in collaboration with the Ministries of Health and Wellness; Local Government and Community Development; Transport and National Security, along with other tourism partners to enforce protocols along the corridors. To this end the Ministry of National Security, will deploy over 140 TPDCo trained District Constables, to boost the surveillance mechanism,” he said.

In order to become COVID-certified, tourism entities are required to, among other things, submit a recovery plan based on the protocols; introduce proper COVID-related signage, as well as enforce social distancing, hand sanitising, and the wearing of masks.

During his presentation, the Minister also announced that the next phase of the re-opening exercise would see the opening of COVID-19 compliant attractions on July 21, 2020.

“We have already had indications that 23 such attractions, in the vicinity of the North Coast area have become compliant and we have two along the South Coast, including one that is not in this immediate corridor.  One of the reasons we have put the opening of the attractions to July 21, is to ensure that we have that full level of compliance that is required,” he explained.

“The tourism sector reopened to visitors on June 15, 2020 and since then, has welcomed over 35,000 visitors and resident Jamaicans. It is estimated that during the month of July, Jamaica will welcome a total of 41,000 passengers (visitors and resident Jamaicans). This will result in approximately US$80 Million in earnings,” Minister Bartlett 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

Bartlett Announces Over J$2 Billion in Funding for Small Enterprises in Tourism

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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has announced that over $J2 Billion in funding will be made available for Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs). The move, forms part of the government’s commitment to help these small tourism businesses retool and rebound amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding, which was championed by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), will be from multilateral partners and financial institutions such as the Development Bank of Jamaica, World Bank, Jamaica Social Investment Fund, EXIM Bank and Jamaica National Group.

Speaking today at the press briefing where the announcement was made, Minister Bartlett said: “Our SMTEs have been severely displaced due to COVID-19 and have recorded economic fallout of an average of $J2.5 Million each. As part of our recovery efforts for the sector, they will play a significant role by stimulating economic activity and as such this funding of over $J2 Billion which is needed, will assist them greatly to rebuild.”

SMTEs will have access to a suite of loan facilities and grants ranging from a low as J$5 Million up to a maximum of $J30 Million.

The REDI II program, funded by the World Bank and administered by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund, will as part of the project’s COVID response, also allocate J$100 Million for Personal Protective Equipment, training, funding for monitoring officers, communication, manuals, technical capacity building and licensing for tourism and agriculture.

“These initiatives are also geared towards getting our small tourism enterprises formalized, licensed and COVID-19 compliant. Therefore, in addition to the loan offerings, TEF will be donating 500 tourism protective kits that include infrared thermometers, touchless hand sanitizers and touchless garbage bins. The total value of the initiative is $J20.7 Million,” added Jamaica TourismMinister Bartlett.

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

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