News

Bartlett: Tourism Underrated in Jamaica

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - November 26, 2011

Above: Goldeneye in Jamaica

By the Caribbean Journal staff

There is a general ignorance of tourism’s contribution to Jamaica, according to Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett, and there is evidence that some people are prepared to position the industry in a way as if to say it is of no real value to the country.

Bartlett said too many, especially at the tertiary education level, view tourism in a negative light, and there is a lack of understanding of the contribution of tourism to Jamaica’s GDP.

Bartlett was speaking at the closing ceremony for a Tourism Product Development Company training seminar in the areas of “Protocol Professional Etiquette” in Montego Bay’s Secrets Resort.

Accordingly, Bartlett said the Ministry of Tourism had commissioned a study to indicate the true contribution of tourism to the economy.

“We are determined that, even in an unfinished state, that data is going to be made available to those who are thinking through this whole process, to ensure that the industry, which is the lifeline of Jamaica, is not destroyed in a process to create fiscal equity across the board,” he said.

Some 185 countries have now embraced tourism as the centrepiece of their economic recovery programmes, he said, including some advanced economies.

Caribbean Journal talked to Bartlett earlier this year in a wide-ranging interview on Jamaican tourism.

Popular Posts w punta cana

A New All-Inclusive W Hotel Is Opening This Year in Punta Cana 

The first-ever all-inclusive W Hotel in the Caribbean is opening this year in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Caribbean Journal has learned.  The hotel, part of a broad expansion for parent company Marriott International, is on the list of expected 2024 […]


Why Grenada Is a New Caribbean Luxury Hotspot

beach house silversands

From its world-renowned chocolate to its pristine beaches to a region-leading focus on sustainability, Grenada is as fascinating and unique as destination as you’ll find in the Caribbean.  But in the last few years, the lush Eastern Caribberan island has […]


5 Adults-Only Resorts to Visit Right Now in the Caribbean 

galley bay

Sometimes you just want that extra degree of serenity, of privacy, of seclusion. There is a reason, after all, that adults-only resorts are booming in popularity, particularly in the Caribbean: travelers want to know that when they arrive, they know […]


Related Posts la bougainvillea beach with pink sand

American Airlines Just Added a New Destination: Governor's Harbour, Eleuthera

Pink sand beaches, lovely little boutique hotels, centuries of Bahamian history. And did we mention Tippy’s? There’s a reason why Governor’s Harbour in Eleuthera has become one of the hottest destinations in The Bahamas. Now, it’s easier to get there […]


Spanish Hotel Groups Investing $2 Billion in New Jamaica Projects

jamaica tourism

Spanish hotel companies are investing $2 billion more in Jamaica, according to Jamaica Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett.  Bartlett says the government has concluded talks with three major Spanish hotel giants for projects beginning this year.  That will include new luxury […]


Caribbean Photo of the Week: Black River, Jamaica

jamaica photo caribbean black river

The latest Caribbean Photo comes from Caribbean Journal reader Lloyd Linton, who sent in this lovely shot of the Black River in Jamaica. Have you taken a great photo in the Caribbean? Send it to news@caribjournal.com with CPOTW in the subject […]


SUBSCRIBE!

Sign up for Caribbean Journal's free newsletter for a daily dose of beaches, hotels, rum and the best Caribbean travel information on the net.


No. Thank You