Madam Speaker, Most Honorable Prime Minister, esteemed colleagues in this Honorable House, distinguished guests, and the people of Jamaica:
When a visitor steps onto Jamaican soil, they do not merely arrive at a destination, they step into a vibrant, living story. A story composed of our culture’s rhythm, our heritage’s depth, and, above all, the radiant warmth of our people.
Today, I rise not only to report on the progress of the Ministry of Tourism for the financial year 2024/25 and to present our plans for 2025/26, but also to reaffirm a core principle that has guided our work from the outset: tourism must be for all Jamaicans. It must be a catalyst for community development, a driver of enterprise, and a platform upon which dreams become reality.
To my beloved wife Carmen and to our family, thank you for your enduring strength and love that sustains me through the demanding schedule of building Jamaica’s tourism future. Above all, I give thanks to Almighty God for His continued grace and guidance, for it is only through His blessing that we have achieved what many thought impossible just a few short years ago.
I express sincere gratitude to the Most Honorable Prime Minister, Dr. Andrew Holness. His steadfast leadership and strategic vision have enabled our tourism industry to recover, grow, and excel on the global stage in ways that continue to astound international observers. To my Cabinet colleagues, I thank you for your unwavering support as we work tirelessly to integrate tourism within the broader national development framework that will transform Jamaica for generations to come.
I extend deep appreciation to my Minister of State, Senator the Hon. Delano Seiveright and our Permanent Secretary Jennifer Griffith, whose administrative excellence has been the backbone of our ministry’s operations.
To the Ministry team, boards, executive management and staff of our public bodies, I thank you for your governance and strategic oversight that ensures every dollar invested in tourism development delivers maximum returns to the Jamaican people. To the Opposition Spokesperson on Tourism, Senator Janice Allen, I appreciate your constructive engagement on matters of national importance that transcend political boundaries.
And to the people of East Central St. James, your faith, partnership, and unwavering support continue to inspire my every step in this honorable chamber and beyond. Together, we have expanded scholarship opportunities for students who see tourism as their pathway to prosperity. We have implemented youth empowerment programs that are already bearing fruit in communities across our constituency.
We have advanced critical housing developments and community upgrades delivering homes to hardworking families who form the backbone of our tourism industry. These initiatives are more than projects, they are promises kept and foundations laid for a more inclusive future where tourism benefits reach every corner of Jamaica.
INTRODUCTION: A VISION FOR TRANSFORMATION
Madam Speaker, I want you to imagine a Jamaica where the influence of tourism is not limited to resort corridors but felt in the produce of our farmers who supply fresh callaloo to hotel kitchens, the artistry of our craftspeople whose creations adorn resort lobbies, the innovation of our entrepreneurs who develop cutting-edge tourism apps, and the aspirations of our youth who see endless possibilities in this dynamic industry.
This is more than a vision, it is a blueprint for national transformation. It is the essence of our theme: “Thrive in 2025: Linking Tourism to Every Jamaican’s Success.” We are not simply talking about growth in terms of visitor numbers or hotel rooms, though these remain important. We are constructing a tourism sector that is inclusive, resilient, and proudly Jamaican, a movement where every citizen from Negril’s white sand beaches to Morant Point’s rugged coastline can feel the pulse of opportunity generated by this vital industry.
Tourism is not a privilege for a few; it is a national asset that belongs to all of us. It is a shared opportunity that must create pathways for participation by farmers, fishermen, artisans, entertainers, technology innovators, and young entrepreneurs.
It is a collective mission that requires the active involvement of every ministry, every agency, and every Jamaican who believes in our nation’s potential.
Our approach is deliberate and multifaceted. We are working systematically to deepen cross-sectoral linkages that ensure tourism dollars circulate throughout our economy rather than leaking offshore.
We are expanding the boundaries of digital transformation and innovation, positioning Jamaica as the Caribbean’s first truly smart tourism destination. We are strengthening human capital and uplifting communities through comprehensive training programs and infrastructure investments that improve the quality of life for residents while enhancing experiences for visitors. And we are embedding resilience at every level of the tourism value chain, ensuring that our industry can weather any storm, literal or metaphorical, that may come our way.
This is our direction. This is our commitment. This is the legacy we are building for future generations of Jamaicans who will inherit a tourism industry that serves as an engine of national transformation rather than simply an economic sector.
PART I: JAMAICA’S REMARKABLE TOURISM TRANSFORMATION
A Legacy of Achievement That Speaks for Itself
Madam Speaker, when I reflect on the journey we have travelled together over these past years, I am struck by the magnitude of transformation that Jamaica’s tourism sector has undergone. We have witnessed nothing short of a renaissance, a rebirth that has seen our industry emerge stronger, smarter, and more sustainable than ever before. The last several years have seen us solidify our position as a global trailblazer in tourism resilience, innovation, and inclusion, setting standards that other destinations now seek to emulate.
Madam Speaker, allow me to highlight 25 major successes up to 2025.
1. Successful Recovery from COVID-19 – A Global Model Jamaica achieved one of the world’s fastest tourism recoveries through our Tourism Recovery Task Force, Resilient Corridors hosting 800,000 visitors safely, and free online training for 8,000+ displaced workers. By 2024: 4.15 million visitor arrivals, US$4.3 billion in earnings exceeding pre-pandemic levels, and tourism driving 10 consecutive quarters of national economic growth. Madam Speaker, this marks significant progress toward the nation’s ambitious ‘5x5x5’ growth target of securing 5 million visitors and US$5 billion in earnings by the end of 2025.
2. Tourism Workers’ Pension Scheme: World’s first tourism pension scheme launched in 2022, covering workers aged 18-59 with over 10,000 members and J$4 billion in contributions.
3. Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation (JCTI): Certified over 20,000 workers through internationally benchmarked certification in partnership with Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association (JHTA), HEART NSTA Trust, American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI), and American Culinary Federation (ACF).
4. Strategic Airlift Expansion: Major new routes include LATAM non-stop from Lima, World2Fly charter flights from Lisbon, Avelo Airlines from Hartford and Raleigh, American Airlines Miami-Boscobel inaugural service, United non-stop from Denver, and Bahamasair Nassau-Montego Bay.
5. Agri-Linkages Exchange (ALEX): Digital platform linking over 2,000 small farmers directly with hotels, achieving over J$1.2 billion in sales to date.
6. Tourism Linkages Network Expansion: Five networks covering Gastronomy, Health & Wellness, Sports & Entertainment, Shopping, and Knowledge drove deeper integration through Christmas in July, Speed networking, major event partnerships, Event Playbook workshops, Taste of Jamaica App, and Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival.
7. Historic Resort Investment Surge: Over US$3 billion invested or committed, including H10 Ocean Coral Spring (1,000+ rooms), RIU Aquarelle (753 rooms), Princess Grand & Senses (1,005 rooms), with upcoming developments from Unico, Hard Rock, Moon Palace, and others targeting 20,000 new rooms over 10 years.
8. Tourism Innovation Incubator: J$100 million program supporting entrepreneurs with applications growing 550% in 2024, demonstrating exceptional youth engagement.
9. EXIM Bank–TEF SMTE Loan Program: J$2.48 billion disbursed to 509 small and medium tourism enterprises (SMTEs), supporting resilience and business expansion.
10. Cruise Sector Rebound: Over 1.1 million cruise passengers in 2024 marking full recovery, with inaugural visits from Disney Treasure and Celebrity Ascent.
11. Worker and Community Housing Support: The Ministry of Tourism has entered into partnerships with the Ministry of Housing, the National Housing Trust and private housing developers for units in Rhyne Park Estate and Grange Pen, St. James, to be acquired by our dedicated tourism workers. We also welcome the pledge by four major international hotel investor groups, including RCD Hotels, Bahia Principe and Princess Resorts, who have committed to constructing over 2,000 residential units for industry employees combined. This includes apartments and houses for the workers and their immediate relatives.
12. Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC): Headquartered at UWI Mona with satellites in six countries, Jamaica led United Nations (UN) ratification of February 17 as Global Tourism Resilience Day and hosted two global conferences.
13. Development of Jama-Iconic Experience Landmarks: These experiences across the island continue to boost civic pride and visitor engagement.
14. Destination Assurance Framework: World’s first national Destination Assurance Policy, including security audits, resort area councils, and global best practices.
15. National Beach Development Program: Over a dozen public beaches developed or being upgraded, featuring standout facilities like Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay.
16. Montego Bay Convention Centre Revitalization: Consistently ranked Jamaica’s top Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) facility, hosting UN Tourism events, Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), and major global meetings.
17. Carnival in Jamaica: Kingston established as global Carnival capital, generating over J$5 billion in 2025 and attracting thousands of international revelers.
18. Urban Renewal Projects via Tourism: Artisan Village at Falmouth, Eastern Kingston Promenade, St. Thomas Destination Development Plan, and upgrades in Falmouth and Ocho Rios.
19. Airbnb and Short-Term Rental Integration: 2016 MOU led to formal sector inclusion with hosts earning J$32 billion in 2024 via 840,000 guest stays.
20. Global Recognition and Awards Jamaica: Caribbean’s Leading Destination and Global Destination of the Year. Minister Bartlett: Global Tourism Icon, Man of the Year, CHTA President’s Award and RJRGLEANER Communications Group 2019 Pioneer Award.
