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Potential Global Economic Downturn and Sargassum real threats to Tourism, says Bartlett

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Jamaica Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has indicated that Jamaica is taking note that the potential global economic downturn and sargassum phenomena are real threats to the tourism industry.

“We recall the recession of 2008 that impacted economies globally and recognize the need to strategize in light of data and trends. Despite this global recession, Jamaica’s tourism grew by an average 3.5% and we will need to learn from those lessons,” said Minister Bartlett.


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There is general concern that the global economy may be on the verge of a slight downturn and possible recession. There is also concern regarding sargassum, which is a type of seaweed that can negatively impact tourist destinations when washed up on shore. 

Minister Bartlett said, “The possibility of a global economic downturn can have a devastating impact on not only Jamaica’s tourism but the region’s tourism. Coupled with this potential threat is now the impending influx of sargassum on our shores. What this means is that we must act decisively and swiftly to collaborate on the best way forward to get ahead of these threats.” 

Minister Bartlett was speaking at a meeting with members of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) today at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, to discuss the threat of sargassum on the island’s tourism. The meeting included senior officials from the Ministry and its agencies, key hotel stakeholders and President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourist Association.

“This meeting with our hotel partners is critical as we seek ways to develop economic resilience. These threats have the potential to negatively impact our livelihoods given the fact that the Caribbean is so heavily dependent on tourism.

Potential Global Economic Downturn and Sargassum real threats to Tourism, says Bartlett
Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (C), at the start of the meeting with key hotel stakeholders at the JHTA to discuss the threat of sargassum on the island’s tourism. Joining Minister Bartlett (L-R) are, President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, Omar Robinson, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Mrs. Jennifer Griffith, Executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Dr. Carey Wallace and Director of Projects at the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Johan Rampair.

Last year, the Caribbean welcomed 29.9 million visitors and contributed 40% of the region’s GDP but if we do not act, we could see our growth in arrivals and earnings go down,” added Minister Bartlett.  

Minister Bartlett also used the opportunity to have partners from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) make a presentation on their suggested strategy to cut off the sargassum prior to it reaching our shores and to get feedback from hoteliers.

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President of the JHTA, Omar Robinson also highlighted the need to urgently identify solutions to “mitigate against any potential fallout this could have on our tourism product.” 

Minister Bartlett added that as it relates to sargassum, “The Global Tourism and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCM) is leading the charge to collaborate and conduct research to come up with workable solutions. Earlier this week, the GTRCM also met with the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, to explore future collaboration regarding research on the sargassum challenges faced by the Caribbean towards identifying solutions.”

Minister Bartlett, through the GTRCM, recently spearheaded a regional sargassum forum which included mechanical engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Precision Engineering Research Group; and noted researchers from the University of the West Indies, Mona and the GTRCM. 

On October 9 and 10 of this year, the GTRCM will host a second summit with leading researchers geared towards climatic disruptions with a focus on sargassum.                     

Media Contact:                                                                                                      

Corporate Communications Division

Ministry of Tourism

64 Knutsford Boulevard       

Kingston 5

Tel: (876) 920-4926-30

Fax: (876) 906 1729

Minister Bartlett meets with Jamaica’s new Consul General to New York

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Jamaica Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett met Jamaica‘s new Consul General to New York, Alison Roach Wilson, during a courtesy call to his New Kingston office on August 2, 2019.

During the discussions, the Minister offered words of encouragement and wished her all the best as she assumes her new role.

Roach Wilson is expected to assume duties this month.

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

Minister Bartlett: J$16 million in contracts earned from 2018 staging of Christmas in July

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Tourism Minister Hon, Edmund Bartlett says that his Ministry’s Christmas in July tradeshow has been a resounding success for local manufacturers, noting that last year at least 30 participants collectively received contracts valued at over J$16 million.

Last year the event, which is hosted by the Tourism Linkages Network and partners, attracted 118 suppliers and 550 buyers. A participants’ perception survey indicated that 50% of respondents received contracts worth $100,000 or less, 43% received contracts of over $100,000 to $500,000 while 7% received contracts worth over $1 million.

Minister Bartlett however stated that the Christmas in July exhibitors, while reaping the benefits of the exposure and contracts from the event, were unwilling to share information on the contracts they received, which limited the Ministry’s ability gauge the true success of this linkages initiative.

Speaking at Christmas in July, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel last week, Minister Bartlett lamented, “It is a pity that we did not receive information from all participants. I hope that this year exhibitors will be more willing to share information on their successes, so we too can see the return on our investment.”

Richard Pandohie, President of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (JMEA), also stressed the importance of data sharing during his address at the event.

“Companies, business support organizations and governments across the world can analyze a variety of information which can provide new insights to make better and faster decisions and decide where to allocate scarce resources, but we can’t have data analytics if less than three per cent of the data is coming in,” he noted.

Christmas in July is an annual tradeshow, which gives local producers of authentic Jamaican gift and souvenir items the opportunity to display their products and network with corporate entities and various industry players.

It is hosted in partnership with the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA), Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) and the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), and seeks to provide Jamaican producers of corporate gifts and souvenirs with the opportunity to access an alternative market segment while adding uniqueness and creativity to product offerings.

“Our linkages initiatives are challenging the private sector to do business differently, they are increasing the consumption of local goods, they are creating employment, and they are generating and facilitating the infusion of tourism spending into the local economy.

I am positive that this year’s staging will be equally fruitful for all participants, if not better. We have pumped some $10 million into this event,” said Minister Bartlett.

This year, some 120 local producers of authentic Jamaican gift and souvenir items displayed their products to corporate entities and various industry players at the event’s fifth staging.

Activities for this year’s staging included a “Style Jamaica Pop Up Fashion Show” – which featured jewelry, bags and accessories made by local artisans.

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism, Jennifer Griffith (left), tests her artistic skills, with guidance from renowned artist Lennox Coke at the fifth Staging of Christmas in July at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on July 18, 2019.

It is also included a mini Artisan Village, where patrons were able to see products being made from start to finish. This is a preview of the Tourism Enhancement Fund-led artisan village that is being constructed at Hampden Wharf in Trelawny, slated to be ready by the end of the year, to coincide with the start of the traditional winter tourist season in December.

All products on display had to be made with materials sourced locally, proven to be at least 70 per cent locally manufactured or assembled highlighting strong Jamaican cultural influences and themes.

An online catalogue featuring all exhibitors will available in October 2019 for people to view products and place orders.

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

Jamaica’s Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme to be a Landmark for Global Tourism Social Legislation – says Bartlett

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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett says the Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme will be a landmark plan for tourism social legislation in the world, as it will be the first of its kind to provide a comprehensive pension plan for all the workers of the tourism sector — whether permanent, contract or self-employed.

Speaking at a Jamaica Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme Awareness and Sensitization Seminar at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston yesterday, the Minister noted that “We now as a result of collective efforts over a period of time, have come together with a plan that will be a landmark plan for tourism social legislation in the world. Jamaica will be the only country in the world that has a comprehensive pension plan for all the workers of the tourism sector.”

The Tourism Workers’ Pensions scheme is designed to cover all workers ages 18-59 years in the tourism sector, whether permanent, contract or self-employed.  This includes hotel workers as well as persons employed in related industries, such as craft vendors, tour operators, red cap porters, contract carriage operators and workers at attractions.

The Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme, which will receive $1 billion in funding from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), will see benefits being payable at age 65 years or older.

“This landmark piece of social legislation in the industry is going to represent in time, the largest pool of domestic savings that this economy would have provided. Real growth comes when we are able to convert domestic savings into investments,” he said.

He further noted that the plan will be of particular interest to workers in the industry who have been employed at a number of organizations over the years on short-term employment contracts.

“The plan will protect contract workers by providing them with a social safety net. It will enable them to join as a self-employed person. So you can move from one company to the other, change your contract, knowing that your retirement plans are secure,” said Minister Bartlett.

According to the Tourism Minister, the scheme is the final piece in a four-point human capital development plan to enhance Jamaica’s tourism workers.

The other three initiatives in the human capital development plan are training, capacity building and creating the ability of tourism workers to have knowledge and convert that knowledge into practical applications; providing a pathway to professionalism and jobs; and improving the social conditions around which the tourism worker lives.

“If we are to build the capacity of tourism to deliver on the prosperity agenda, we must build the capacity of the people, the human capital must be enhanced. We think that there is no equity in this game, if this industry is so big, and it cannot secure the safety, future and social requirements of the people who work in it,” he said.

The Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme Bill was passed in the House of Parliament on June 25 and is in keeping with the Government’s focus on creating a social security network within the tourism sector.

The Ministry of Tourism will host three other Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme Awareness and Sensitization Seminars in Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Negril within the next two weeks, as part of their public awareness campaign.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Corporate Communications Division

Ministry of Tourism,

64 Knutsford Boulevard,

Kingston 5.

Tel: 920-4926-30,

Fax: 920-4944

Jamaica Tourism Marketing Executive Marie Deeble Walker passed at age 58

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Jamaica tourism minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett has expressed deep regret at the passing of former Jamaica Tourist Board marketing executive, Marie Deeble Walker.

“It is with great sadness that I learn of the passing of Marie Deeble Walker. She dedicated more than 30 years of her life working in hospitality tourism. The Jamaican tourism industry remains grateful for her contributions to the development and marketing of our industry.

We remain particularly grateful for her work with the diaspora community, including the staging of reggae music concerts in New York City Central Park’s Summerstage.,” said Minister Bartlett.

Marie Deeble Walker worked at the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), starting in Kingston in 1979, and was later transferred to the New York office as the advertising relations manager.

“I wish to offer my condolences to her friends, family and loved ones as they mourn her sudden passing.  She was the consummate professional with a very warm and jovial personality. Her passing is a tremendous loss for the industry and for those who knew her personally,” said Minister Bartlett.

At the time of her passing, she was the principal of Turnstyle Marketing and Collections — a boutique marketing and public relations agency that provides destination management and sales support services for a number of Caribbean destinations.

She passed away on July 10 in South Florida, United States. She was 58 years old.