Positive Tourism News

KINGSTON, JAMAICA (June 20, 2017) – The votes have been tallied, and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) has again been named “Favourite Tourist Board in Canada” by Canadian travel agents in Baxter Travel Media’s annual Agents’ Choice Awards. This is the twelfth consecutive year that the JTB Canada team has received this honour.

 In his thank you letter to Canadian agents, Paul Pennicook, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism, thanked agents for again voting for the Jamaica Tourist Board and added: “This award is a testament to how hard everyone is working as a team to deliver an exceptional product. We have a great team in place who offer outstanding service to travel agents, who in turn offer an unforgettable Jamaica experience to their clients.” 

"It is such an honour to receive this award for the twelfth consecutive year,” said Philip Rose, Regional Director for the Jamaica Tourist Board in Canada. “Travel agents are one of our most important partners. In fact, in 2016 we saw 54% of Canadians book their Jamaica trip through an agent. The JTB Canada team regularly works and meets with Canadian travel agents, providing them with the tools they need, product updates, and hosting them on familiarization tours on the island so they can best sell Destination Jamaica.”

 Baxter Travel Media are the publishers of Canadian Travel Press and Travel Courier, two of the top travel trade publications in Canada. The Baxter Travel Media Awards are the largest travel agent survey of its kind in Canada, with more than 5,500 agents voting in various categories.

Photo Caption: Above: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left) and Skift President Carolyn Kremins

(HM Skift President) KINGSTON, JAMAICA (June 8, 2017) –Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett met with Skift President Carolyn Kremins to discuss the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Government of Jamaica and World Bank Group Conference on Jobs & Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism, taking place November 27 – 29, 2017 in Montego Bay. Skift is the largest industry intelligence platform, providing media, insights and marketing to key sectors of travel.

In commemoration of the 2017 UNWTO’s International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, the event is a collaboration between the Government of Jamaica, international development firm Chemonics International and the UNWTO. This conference is of especially momentous importance because it is the first time the UNWTO will stage a world conference on tourism in the Caribbean or the Americas. The conference will bring the world’s spotlight to Jamaica and the Caribbean, both of which rely heavily on the economic power of tourism. The participating heads of state, planners, policy makers, developers and investors will discuss the need for public-private-partnerships with the mission of sustainable tourism for development.

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KINGSTON, Jamaica; June 1, 2017: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett on Tuesday (May 30) launched the Destination Assurance Councils (DACs) for six resort areas, which are tasked with ensuring that the quality, standards and integrity of Jamaica’s tourism product are maintained.  The launch took place at the Eden Gardens Wellness Resort and Spa in Kingston.

The Destination Assurance Councils, which replace the Resort Boards, are expected to identify the needs of the industry and monitor the progress of developmental initiatives in resort areas. This is in keeping with efforts to ensure that Jamaica provides the attractive and secure tourism product which is marketed to its visitors.

In his address, Minister Bartlett called on the DACs to play their part in ensuring that the Jamaican experience is safe, secure and seamless for our visitors, adding that “people travel for the experience, so we need to make it special so that it leaves a positive impact on the visitors and creates an ambiance that doesn’t leave them second guessing the quality of the destination.” 

Minister Bartlett said the Ministry, its agencies and the DACs will focus on enhancing the tourism sector in Jamaica by way of their pooled expertise, noting that “the aim of the partnership is to improve standards, the physical development of the resorts and engage with citizens to ensure that Jamaica is viewed as favorable to visitors, facilitating growth in the sector.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica; May 09, 2017:  Newly-appointed member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) High Level Task Force on Tourism and Security, Hon. Edmund Bartlett will join world tourism leaders at the group’s inaugural meeting in Madrid, Spain, on Wednesday for preliminary discussions on the current safety and security situation facing the global tourism sector.

The Minister, who accepted the invitation to represent Jamaica in the newly established taskforce in March of this year, says the meeting is very important as it will determine the priorities of the group moving forward.

“I am very excited to be a part of this important taskforce on tourism and security as it is in-keeping with the focus of Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism, which is actively pursuing our goal of providing Destination Assurance. This meeting will allow us to have an open discussion, so that we can begin to collectively tackle the problem impacting the sector across the globe,” says Minister Bartlett.

“It is an honour for me to represent the country in this taskforce because in a sense it positions Jamaica as a reference point for global governance. As a country representative we will, among other things, get to respond to the needs of Member States by developing and adopting crisis communications plans,” he added.  

Source: SFLCN.com

Los Angeles, CA – The Caribbean Heritage Organization (CHO) and the family of the late reggae legend Bob Marley are pleased to announce the institution of the “Robert Nesta Marley Humanitarian Award” to be awarded annually during the CHO Caribbean-American Heritage Month Salute to Hollywood & Excellence Awards gala held in Los Angeles in June.

“Bob Marley was not only the greatest reggae singer that has ever lived” says Marva Griffiths Herman, Founder & Executive Director of the Los Angeles-based organization, “but he was a global ambassador of peace, equal rights, justice, brotherhood and generosity. We are very humbled that the family has allowed us to dedicate this award in his honor.”

The Robert Nesta Marley Humanitarian Award recognizes individuals/entities that are making positive impact on society with their time, actions and dedication.

“We are honored to have our father represent this prestigious award that pays tribute to those who are positively impacting their communities through their good works and the inspiring examples they set for others. Both our parents instilled in us the idea that the success of the individual means the success of the community, and it is a blessing to see that idea continues to flourish around the world. We give thanks to the Caribbean Heritage Organization for recognizing those who are carrying that legacy forward into the 21st Century.” – The Marley Family.

Source: Ministry of Tourism Jamaica

HM Falmouth Invasion: Five schools received Awards on Wednesday, February 8, 2018 for their successes in the recycling competition for schools in and around Trelawny. They were awarded prizes for collecting plastic bottles. The winner, Holland High School, won $2.5 million, which was presented to them by Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, during the Falmouth Invasion lunch hour ‘awareness raising concert’ in Water Square. Seen here flanking Minister Bartlett (6th from left) as they received the first place certificate and a cheque are Holland High’s Tourism Action Club members (l-r):  Charmalee Smart, Ramonia Sterling, Neoka Williams, Tanya Walters, Tavion Ross, Club Coordinator, Aiyesha Lawrence-Reid, Adrian Bonney, Shamoya Anderson, Abigail Black and Kerrian Bell. Other awardees include Hague Primary and Infant School in 2nd place; William Knibb Memorial High School, 3rd place; Duncans All-Age 4th and Salt Marsh Primary School 5th place.

For further information contact:

Kingsley Roberts

Source: South Florida Caribbean News (Sflcn.com)
Caption: Mr. Noicely with his daughter, Miss Jaime Noicely (previous scholarship recipient) along with members of JWOF.

JWOF accepting applications for “Powerful Women…Next Generation” Scholarship

MIAMI – Applications are now being accepted for the Jamaican Women of Florida “Powerful Women…Next Generation” scholarship.

The scholarship, renewable annually, is awarded to a first or second generation, Jamaican-American female high school student attending college in Fall 2017.  Valued at $1,000 yearly, the scholarship will encourage the recipient to achieve her four-year educational goal at a tertiary institution. So far, three students have been recipients of the JWOF Scholarship.

Source: Ministry of Tourism Jamaica

Scores of tourism officials and stakeholders led by Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, the Mayor of Falmouth, Councillor Colin Gager and Custos of Trelawny, Paul Muschett will participate in a sensitization march through the streets of Falmouth on Wednesday, February 8, 2017. 

The march is aimed at encouraging residents and business interests to keep the resort town clean and foster civic pride. Following the march, participants will converge in Falmouth square for a high energy lunch hour ‘awareness raising concert’, which will see performances from entertainers Aaron Silk and Mackie Conscious to name a few.

Dubbed the Falmouth Invasion, the march will start at 9:30 am in Water Square and proceed along Seaboard, Tharp, Market, Duke, Victoria, Rodney, Queen and Cornwall Streets ending in Water Square. The efforts are being led by the Ministry of Tourism working in collaboration with the Solid Waste Management Working Group of the Sustainable Destination Alliance of the Americas (SDAA) initiative.

SOURCE: JIS. GOV

PHOTO CAPTION: ["Prime Minister Andrew Holness is presented with books on the development of Singapore by Daniel Seah (third left), Deputy Director, Singapore Corporation Enterprise during a meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister today. Looking on are: (L-R) Mrs Audrey Sewell, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister; Diana Edwards, President, Jampro; Metry Seaga, Chairman, Special Economic Zone and Dr Eric Deans, CEO, Special Economic Zone .]

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, this morning (January 26) met with Daniel Seah, Deputy Director of Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE) and representatives from the Special Economic Zone Authority (SEZA) to discuss the partnership between both governments to develop Jamaica’s Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

Prime Minister Holness said that the “development of the SEZ will greatly impact Jamaica’s economic development as all Jamaicans should benefit from the Zone."

Photo Caption: U.S. Vice President Mike Pence (center) Karen Pence (Left) Jamaica’s Ambassador Hon. Audrey Marks

Source Article by: Derrick Scott ~ Source: South Florida Caribbean News

Washington, DC – Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Her Excellency Audrey Marks, extended best wishes to United States President Donald Trump and his Cabinet for a successful tenure in office.

Ambassador Marks who was the nation’s representative at the Chairman’s Global Dinner, hosted by Presidential Inaugural Committee Chairman Thomas Barrack, on January 17, used the opportunity, on behalf of the Government of Jamaica to congratulate the President on his election victory.

Source: Jamaica's Ministry of Tourism

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 25, 2017: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that Jamaica’s tourism sector received a massive boost last week with the announcement that some US$250 million is being invested in the sector to develop hotels under three major tourism development projects.

Speaking at the press launch of the expanded Spruce Up Jamaica programme at the historic Devon House recently, the Minister said, “the third week of January was the most powerful for Jamaica’s tourism industry in a long time. This is the largest set of investments we have had announced in the space of a week, as combined they value approximately US$250 million.  The accumulated job potential of this is significant with nearly 5,000 jobs being created.”

Just last week, while he was in Spain, Minister Bartlett signed an agreement with representatives of the Excellence Group of Luxury Hotels and Resorts to build two hotels in Oyster Bay, Trelawny, which will add over 700 rooms to the island’s room-stock.  The first hotel, which will open in the first half of 2018, will be built at a cost of US$110 million. The project is expected to generate some 2,000 new jobs in the construction and operation phases.

Ministry of Tourism

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 24, 2017: The Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) today (January 24, 2017) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts to develop a Craft Development Institute (CDI) in St. Ann’s Bay.

The signing, which took place during the press launch of the expanded Spruce Up Jamaica programme, is significant as the institute will be the first of its kind in the country.  

The MOU outlines in detail, the role the entities will play in the development and management of the craft institute. TPDCo will play a major role in the project as they will execute the development of the CDI, as well as all the activities directly related to the Spruce Up Jamaica programme on a day-to-day basis.

Source: South Florida Caribbean News (SFLCN)

Singer Estelle, International Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Paul Salmon and the Inaugural Shirley Chisholm Award Highlights the Evening

New York – Doug E Fresh, Barbadian born American rapper, record producer and beat boxer, known as ‘The Human Beatboxer,’ is among the 2017 honorees at this year’s Annual Legacy Awards Gala of the American Foundation for The University of West Indies (AFUWI), a registered US charity.

The New York City, black-tie event which will be held on February 23 at The Pierre Hotel in New York City, is AFUWI’s signature event. Now in its 20th year, proceeds from the Gala provide an average of 50 scholarships annually for students across The UWI’s four campuses.

Source: Ministry of Tourism ~ www.mot.gov.jm.

ACCOMPONG TOWN, Cockpit Country, Jamaica; January 9, 2017: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has revealed that the 279-year-old Maroon community of Accompong is to have pride of place as the first cultural heritage location to be promoted worldwide as part of a new marketing initiative being driven by the Ministry’s Tourism Linkages Network.

“We will make Accompong the first destination and we will now place the anniversary festival on the calendar of events and market the community alongside the destination when we go abroad to market experiences in Jamaica”, said Minister Bartlett. He noted that, “we are satisfied that the authenticity of this experience will enhance Jamaica’s presence in the global arena.”

The Ministry’s plan for the community was outlined by the Minister as he gave the keynote address at last Friday’s festival commemorating the 279th Anniversary of the signing of the peace treaty by the Maroons and the British. “We are going to work with Colonel Ferron Williams and his cultural committee to build out this festival experience to make it a calendar event that is promoted to all visitors who come to Jamaica,” the Minister said.

Source: Caribbean360.com

GEORGIA, USA, Friday January 6, 2017 – Whether you’re determined to ditch the pounds piled on over the holidays, or are among a growing number of travellers who demand fitness facilities to compliment vacation fun, destinations worldwide are at your service to cater to every healthy living need.

A New Year health kick doesn’t have to mean detox, denial and downright misery, however, a fact illustrated by freelance travel writer Joe Minihane who compiled CNN’s Top 10 fitness vacations for the New Year.

The Caribbean secured two places on the list in the shape of Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

12 months to celebrate and promote the contribution of the tourism sector to building a better world. This is the major goal of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017 that will start in few days.

The United Nations General Assembly declared 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development recalling the potential of tourism to advance the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The International Year aims to support a change in policies, business practices and consumer behavior towards a more sustainable tourism sector than can contribute effectively to the SDGs.

"This is a unique opportunity to build a more responsible and committed tourism sector that can capitalize its immense potential in terms of economic prosperity, social inclusion, peace and understanding, cultural and environmental preservation” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

The property, which Sandals is billing as a “six-star” resort, will break ground next to the existing Sandals Grande Saint Lucian Resort in Spring 2017. It gets its LaSource name from Sandals’ Grenada resort.

The 350-room-and-suite resort will feature some of the brand’s latest innovations, like an infinity-edge sky pool, SkyPool Butler Suites and all-butler swim-up “Rondoval Suites,” a first for the chain.

The resort will also include a main stage with a 20-foot LED screen and a “mobile DJ party scene.”

“We pride ourselves on continuously raising the bar and Sandals LaSource Saint Lucia will completely re-energize the tourism market in Saint Lucia,” promised Sandals Chairman, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart.  “Since we first opened Sandals Regency La Toc in 1993 we have consistently invested millions of dollars to re-imagine our offerings to ensure our resorts and the Saint Lucian destination is among the best in the world and thereby boosting the local economy.”

NEGRIL, Westmoreland, Jamaica; Sunday, December 18, 2016: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has assured craft traders in the fast developing resort town of Negril that $80 million has been allocated to construct an artisan village in the area.

“I am pleased to announce to you today that we are going to proceed with the development of the infrastructure for the craft entrepreneurs in Negril by way of building out the artisan village here in Negril,” Minister Bartlett told the craft traders when he met with them on the weekend. This as the Minister and other officials from the Ministry of Tourism and its agencies visited the area as part of a winter tourist season motivational tour.

He told the gathering at the Negril Green Island Planning Authority that details of the $80 million project would be outlined to them by the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) early in the New Year.

“Some aspects of the design are already completed and we will have to work with you for full buy-in because one of the things that we want to ensure is that you have very commodious setting and comfort,” he noted.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, December 14, 2016:  A memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a framework for cooperation to further boost and diversify Jamaica’s tourism product, was signed on December 13, 2016 by the Jamaica Tourist Board and home-sharing accommodation company Airbnb.

Ahead of the signing, at the Jamaica Tourist Board’s New Kingston offices, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett expressed his excitement about the positive impact he expects the partnership to have on the travel experience of visitors and Jamaica’s tourism product overall.

“This partnership will help expose our visitors to our rich culture and showcase the warm Jamaican hospitality for which we are known the world over. I also believe great things will come from this, as we cooperate in areas of common interest, including marketing Jamaica as a tourist destination; promoting sporting events as well as our festivals and other cultural events; and fostering responsible home sharing,” said Minister Bartlett.

The Airbnb digital platform is currently used by approximately 140 million people in more than 34,000 cities and 191 countries.  Its growing popularity has caused some concern locally from tourism interests, as it currently surpasses some major hotel chains in terms of number of beds offered and market valuation.

WASHINGTON, DC – Fellow Jamaicans and Friends of Jamaica,

I greet you warmly at this special and most wonderful time of the year.

Jamaicans across the globe look forward to Christmas for so many compelling reasons.  It is a time for celebration and festivities as we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ; for family gatherings; and for sharing with those less fortunate.  It is also a time for quiet reflection and an opportunity to look forward to a new year, full of hope and new beginnings.

As 2016 draws close to an end, we can look retrospectively on a year that was quite eventful across the globe.