Jamaica is looking to capture a larger share of the global gastronomy market, estimated at US$2.1 trillion last year, by positioning its local cuisine as a key driver for tourism and economic growth. Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, said that culinary experiences are a primary driver of tourist expenditure. He noted that last year, global tourism saw 1.4 billion...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has announced that the Tourism Workers Pension Scheme has now surpassed $5 billion in savings since its inception. “I would like to indicate, by way of out-turn, that the world-class, world-standard, historic Tourism Workers Pension Scheme, in its first two years… notwithstanding [Hurricanes] Melissa and Beryl… stands now at $5.1 billion,” he said. Mr. Bartlett...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, announced on March 6 that all hotels are expected to be fully operational by December 2026, following the devastation caused to the sector by Hurricane Melissa. He noted that while early stakeholder assessments had suggested that only about 80 per cent of rooms would be available, the recovery outlook has since improved. “The energy and...

Two of Jamaica’s premier festivals will converge on Saturday, March 7, when the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival partners with the Jamaica Food and Drink Festival to deliver a one-of -a-kind gastronomic showcase. The event will be held on Saturday, March 7 at Hope Gardens, from 12:00 noon to 10:00 p.m. Director of the Tourism Linkages Network, Carolyn McDonald Riley,...

A sum of $1.46 billion will be allocated in fiscal year 2026/27 to advance initiatives that expand market access and promote climate-resilient practices for targeted beneficiaries in the tourism and agriculture sectors. The allocation, provided under the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) II, is detailed in the 2026/27 Estimates of Expenditure, which was recently tabled in the House of Representatives...

The Government has unveiled a strategic roadmap for the 2026/2027 fiscal year, aimed at significantly diversifying its tourism source markets and positioning Jamaica to reach a historic milestone of eight million annual visitors and US$10 billion in earnings by 2030. Governor-General His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, while delivering the Throne Speech at the ceremonial opening of Parliament...

The fourth staging of the Global Tourism Resilience Day Conference and Expo (GTRDCE) will be held in Nairobi, Kenya, from February 16 to 18. The three-day event will take place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). Under the theme ‘Tourism Resilience in Action: From Crisis Response to Impactful Transformation’, the focus will be on building a sector capable of...