Building a Better Jamaica - Tourism

Tourism sector gets 10% duty waiver on refurbishing material

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:46:23 +0000

Release Date:

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Sandals to spend US$20 m on J'can properties; 1,000 jobs expected from project
BY TANESHA MUNDLE Observer staff reporter mundlet@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, July 29, 2010

HOTELIERS and other players in the tourism sector are set to benefit from a 10 per cent duty waiver on the importation of material that will be used to refurbish their facilities, under a new programme called the Tourism Industry Refurbishing Programme (TIRP).

Budget cut for tourism intern programme

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:30:29 +0000

Release Date:

Friday, July 23, 2010

Published: Friday | July 23, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner Barrington Flemming

WESTERN BUREAU:

The economic crunch has forced the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) to slash its budget by $5 million for the 2010 Tourism Summer Intern Programme.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett made the disclosure following the recent launch of the 2010 programme at the Tourism Centre in Montego Bay, St James.

"Last year, we had a budget of $15 million. This year, based on the economic situation, we have had to reduce our budget to $10 million, " Bartlett explained.

US$10 Million Tourism Marketing Initiative Yields Success

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:35:39 +0000

Release Date:

Thursday, July 22, 2010

KINGSTON (JIS):
Thursday, July 22, 2010

There are indications that the marketing initiative undertaken by the Tourism Ministry in key overseas markets, to counter the negative publicity generated by the West Kingston unrest, is yielding fruit.

Overseas Partners Confident of Jamaica's Safe Status

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:57:18 +0000

Release Date:

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

KINGSTON (JIS):
Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Courtesy of Jamaica Information Service

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says despite the West Kingston unrest in May, there is confidence among the country's overseas tourist market partners that Jamaica remains a safe vacation destination.

PM Launches Tourism Summer Internship Programme

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:52:48 +0000

Release Date:

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

MONTEGO BAY (JIS):
Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Courtesy of Jamaica Information Service

Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, on Friday (June 16) launched the 'Spruce Up Jamaica' Summer Internship Programme, through which approximately 800 students from across the island will be employed at tourism-related entities over a six-week period.

Bartlett to woo African American hotel owners and developers to Jamaica

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:29:46 +0000

Release Date:

Friday, July 16, 2010

Friday, July 16, 2010
Jamaica Observer

MINISTER of Tourism Edmund Bartlett will be attempting to attract more investment in the tourism sector when he addresses the 14th annual International African American Hotel Ownership and Investment Summit and Trade Show slated for the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami, Florida on July 21-24.

Bill to Indemnify Negril/Green Island Planning Authority

admin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:18:31 +0000

Release Date:

Friday, July 16, 2010

KINGSTON (JIS):
Friday, July 16, 2010

Cabinet has given approval for the introduction of a Bill to indemnify the Negril/Green Island Area Local Planning Authority for approvals granted and other acts done in good faith between March 24, 1984 and the date of the commencement of the Act.

Entitled the Town and Country Planning (Negril Green Island Area Local Planning Authority) (Validating and Indemnity) Act, the Bill will be introduced in the Houses of Parliament and when passed, will sanction the approvals and acts as carried out validly.

Resurrecting the sunken city

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:13:26 +0000

Release Date:

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Will Port Royal finally return to life?
BY JULIAN RICHARDSON Assistant Business Co-ordinator richardsonj@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, July 11, 2010

DESPITE Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett's passion when he announced a restoration programme for Port Royal two weeks ago, residents of the historic Kingston harbour town still look down on the plan with scornful superlatives.

Ministers Turn on new Traffic Lights on Mobay's Elegant Corridor

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:46:56 +0000

Release Date:

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

MONTEGO BAY (JIS):
Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Three more traffic lights were commissioned into service along the Sangster International Airport to Greenwood section of the Northern Coastal Highway, Montego Bay, known as the "Elegant Corridor", on Friday July 2.

This brings to 13 the number of traffic lights on the corridor, to assist in managing the flow of traffic and improve the safety of pedestrians and motorists.

Bartlett Welcomes CARICOM Focus on Tourism

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:46:10 +0000

Release Date:

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Montego Bay (JIS)
Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Courtesy of Jamaica Information Service

There is unity within the region regarding the need for further negotiations with the United Kingdom (UK) for adjustments to their Air Passenger Duty (APD), which continues to negatively affect the Caribbean tourism market.

Minister Bartlett Backs Regional Tourism Marketing Strategy

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:39:45 +0000

Release Date:

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Montego Bay, (JIS)
Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett is in support of a regional marketing strategy for the sector, which he says is a new approach that would give visitors an opportunity to have "multiple experiences" in one vacation.

Market the Caribbean as one destination

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:34:19 +0000

Release Date:

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Proposed regional tourism marketing fund
JamaicaObserver.com Wednesday, July 07, 2010

MONTEGO BAY, St James – Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett is throwing his support behind a new regional marketing strategy to give visitors an opportunity to have “multiple experiences” in one vacation.

Bartlett was speaking yesterday at the Caricom heads of government meeting where he joined discussions about the proposed establishment of a regional tourism marketing fund.

More than 130,000 Canadians visit Jamaica in '09

admin — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:46:16 +0000

Release Date:

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Jamaica Observer

MORE than 130,000 Canadian visitors came to Jamaica during the 2009/10 winter tourist season, representing an increase of some 11 per cent over the same period of the previous season.

Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett said this is the "strongest numbers" ever for Canadian visitors to Jamaica. He was speaking with a group of Canadian travel partners recently in Toronto.

Falmouth soon to be declared a resort area

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 13:53:11 +0000

Release Date:

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Published: Thursday | June 24, 2010
Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com

The Government seems set to heed calls from the police and residents for the rustic town of Falmouth, Trelawny, to be declared a resort area.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says plans to declare Falmouth a resort area have been on the drawing board for some time and the designation should be in place within two to three months.

Tourism campaign trail in high gear

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:13:28 +0000

Release Date:

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Published: Wednesday | June 23, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com

Tourism minister Edmund Bartlett is pulling out all the stops to lure visitors to the island as he continues a whirlwind tour of the three countries which provide the majority of the visitors to Jamaica.

JTB Honours Outstanding Travel Industry Personnel

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:33:53 +0000

Release Date:

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C., (JIS):
Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Courtesy of Jamaica Information Service

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), in association with the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), has presented awards to two distinguished travel industry personnel, Ed Kritzler, former JTB public relations executive; and David Swanson, contributing editor for National Geographic Traveller Magazine.

Tourism Minister in London for Promotional Blitz

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:15:44 +0000

Release Date:

Monday, June 14, 2010

LONDON, (JIS):
Monday, June 14, 2010

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, is in London for a one-week series of meetings, visits and press events, as part of a $10 million tourism promotional blitz, aimed at preventing any loss in revenue to the sector as a result of the recent activities in Western Kingston.

In an interview with the JIS News London on Monday (June 14), Minister Bartlett said the programme was aimed at restoring trust and confidence in the destination.

Ed Barlett Leads Tourism Team to New York

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:56:48 +0000

Release Date:

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C.,(JIS):
Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Jamaica's Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, is leading a team of tourism officials participating in the special Caribbean Week activities in New York, June 6 to 12.

During the weeklong programme of events, Mr. Bartlett and Director of Tourism, John Lynch, will update New Yorkers on Jamaica's latest tourism developments.

Tourism Ministry to Undertake US$10 Million Promotional Blitz

admin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:08:08 +0000

Release Date:

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Kingston, (JIS)
Tuesday, June 01, 2010

The Ministry of Tourism and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) will spearhead a promotional blitz in key North American and European tourist markets, in a bid to prevent a projected US$350 million loss in revenue, as a result of the recent activities in West Kingston.

The campaign, details of which were finalised over the past weekend during meetings and consultations with Ministry officials and sector stakeholders and interests, is projected to cost some US$10 million, and gets underway on June 4.

Tourism could lose US$350m — Bartlett

admin — Mon, 31 May 2010 22:09:03 +0000

Release Date:

Monday, May 31, 2010

By HORACE HINES Observer staff reporter
Jamaica Observer
Monday, May 31, 2010

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett estimates that the loss incurred by the tourism sector, resulting from last week's civil unrest in which the security forces and gunmen from Western Kingston, loyal to Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, were locked in fierce firefights for two days, to be up to US$350 million.