March 09, 2023

BARTLETT RECEIVES TOURISM LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN GERMANY

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Wednesday, March 8, 2023: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, was today honoured with a “Lifetime Achievement Award For Promotion of Sustainable Travel & Tourism” by the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) International Travel Awards. The coveted award was presented to Minister Bartlett at the PATWA World Tourism & Aviation Leaders’ Summit at ITB Berlin in Germany.

The PATWA International Travel Awards recognize individuals and organizations that have excelled and are involved in the promotion of tourism from different sectors of the travel trade such as aviation, hotels, travel agencies, tour operators, destinations, government bodies, tourism ministries and other service providers related directly or indirectly to the industry.

Thanking PATWA for the recognition, Minister Bartlett said, “I am honoured and humbled to receive this Lifetime Achievement Award. I am passionate about tourism, and I am equally passionate about the sustainable development of tourism. It is the only way that the industry can be leveraged as a catalyst for economic growth and the transformation of communities and nations.” He added that: “For long-term success tourism must be economically viable, socially inclusive and environmentally friendly. This award is proof that my advocacy is getting traction and has not fallen on deaf ears.”

As one of the world’s leading tourism ministers, Mr. Bartlett has become a powerful voice and tireless advocate for global tourism resilience and sustainability. Most recently, he was inducted into the Global Tourism Hall of Fame and received the Travel Pulse award for Global Tourism Innovation.

Additionally, he is the Founder and Co-Chair of the Global Tourism Resilience & Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) headquartered at the University of the West Indies, Mona, which is dedicated to conducting policy-relevant research and analysis on destination preparedness, management and recovery due to disruptions and crises that impact tourism.

Under his leadership, tourism has been positioned as a catalyst for sustainable and inclusive growth, through job creation, Public Private Partnerships (PPPS), wealth creation and community transformation. Minister Bartlett also co-edited the book: Tourism Resilience and Recovery for Global Sustainability and Development: Navigating COVID-19 and the Future,’ with GTRCMC Executive Director, Professor Lloyd Waller.

Minister Bartlett is currently attending ITB Berlin, the world´s biggest travel show and convention, which attracts thousands of tourism professionals and key players from the global travel industry. The event runs from March 7-9, 2023 under the theme: “Open for Change.”

In keeping with continued efforts for tourism recovery, while in Germany, Minister Bartlett and a high-level Ministry of Tourism delegation will hold bilateral meetings with other government representatives as well as meet with key tourism partners and investors.

The Minister will be the keynote speaker and a panellist during the “New Narratives for work in travel” ITB session. He will also give the keynote address at a Global Travel & Tourism Resilience Council event, titled: “Celebrate Global Tourism Resilience Day.”

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February 22 2023 

CHTA head – keep politics out; work on seamless process for incentives

Barbados Today

A leading regional tourism industry official is warning Barbados and other tourism-dependent countries not to let politics stand in the way of them pushing forward with industry-related projects.

At the same time, President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Nicola Madden-Greig told Barbados TODAY that learning from best practices in other jurisdictions could help to propel the development of the sector.

Insisting on the need to focus on building economic and social development through tourism, Madden-Greig said it is important for government, opposition parties and the business community to be on the same page when it comes to the building out projects in the sector.

“It is very important that strategic thinking is put into place and an understanding that these projects that we have are not just projects in and of themselves but a tool to economic growth and development . . . Once again, it requires buy-in because sometimes it is political issues that stall projects. I am not sure about the on-the-ground situation in Barbados, but if both sides of the divide in terms of the politics have the same vision for the country, it makes it a lot easier,” she said.

Acknowledging that some projects, depending on the scope of the investment and the requirements, could take longer to get started than others, Madden-Greig said having that buy-in across the board was absolutely necessary to help speed up the process.

“We are lucky in Jamaica that our tourism ministers over the years have been on the same page and we in the private sector have been on the same page. We have never made tourism a political issue. There has always been joint collaboration across the divide and I think that is something I would encourage any other destination, any other island, to make sure that tourism is not politicized. It is something that is a catalyst for growth, it is something that everybody has to be on the same page with in terms of development,” she suggested.

“I think if we continue to [look at] the best practices that have happened across jurisdictions then it is something we can move forward with and some of those projects may move a little faster,” she added.

Madden-Greig, a former president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association, also indicated that incentives were critical for the continued development of the tourism industry. According to her, how those incentives were provided could make a difference to whether people were encouraged to invest.

“We moved away in Jamaica from the Hotels (Incentives) Act to what we call an Omnibus Tax Incentive, the Fiscal Incentive Act, which still gives benefits, but now instead of it being discretionary where you have to go to a minister and apply, it is up front. You know exactly what you are going to get and everybody knows exactly what you are going to get,” she said.

For several years, officials of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) have complained about difficulties in accessing concessions under the Tourism Development Act (TDA) and the Tourism Development (Amendment) Act (TDAA).

Under the TDA, there is an application and three-step approval process, which involves the Minister of Tourism notifying the applicant of the approval, refusal or request for additional information to be submitted.

However, small hotels in Barbados have complained repeatedly that while they were able to make an application for concession on some items, it was the onerous and bureaucratic process that continued to result in delays with each application.

Madden-Greig, who was speaking with Barbados TODAY on the sidelines of the first Global Tourism Resilience conference in Jamaica, suggested that Barbados and other jurisdictions could learn from changes made in Jamaica when it came to the process of granting concessions for the vital industry.

“I know in some jurisdictions they still have discretionary incentives where you have to assess the project and depending on what the project is that would determine what level of concession you get. Our concessions are also now in perpetuity, so you don’t have to go back and apply again and again and have a discretionary conversation with the minister. That has given a level of confidence in investment

“It is a model that has worked for Jamaica. It was a big change for us, a massive change. I think that is maybe a model that other jurisdictions could look at. Incentives are important. You can’t really do without them. You do need to incentivise not only tourism, but all industries with the goal of growth. But making it seamless and transparent, making it easy, is what is important,” explained Madden-Greig.

[email protected]

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January 25,2023

Barbados to Host 41st annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace

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Compiled & Presented

by

Elizabeth Borsting

<[email protected]>

Drum roll please...Barbados has been selected by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), the Caribbean’s leading association representing the interests of national hotel and tourism associations, to be the host island for this year’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace happening May 9-11 at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in Bridgetown.

For the first time in the organization’s history, Barbados will be the backdrop for one of the most influential trade association gatherings. The Caribbean Travel Marketplace is CHTA’s largest annual event bringing together those who buy and sell the region’s tourism products and services. Not only will this shine a spotlight on Barbados and its alabaster beaches, luxe accommodations, culinary offerings and attractions, but it will also have a significant economic impact on the island as well.

The second annual Caribbean Travel Forum & Awards will be one of the many highlights and will take place ahead of the official opening of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace. The forum, which focuses on key elements of tourism, includes the opportunity for buyers and sellers to conduct business on the final two days of the tradeshow.

Following a tumultuous time in the travel industry’s history, Barbados finds itself in the midst of an exciting renaissance. I’m hoping you might be interested a sharing with your readers the significance of CHTA selecting Barbados for its 41st annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace and the impact this not only has on the Caribbean’s travel industry, but on the Bajan people as well.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

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January 20, 2023​

CMC

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Jamaica is preparing to launch the first ever Global Tourism Resilience Institute that will coincide with the observance of Global Tourism Resilience Day on February 17, 

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has announced.

Bartlett, addressing the launch of the Global Tourism Resilience Conference to be held from February 15-17, said that the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) “has been expanding its footprints across the world”.

“The development of the academic platform for the Centre has taken on a new lease on life, and we will be launching the first ever Global Tourism Resilience Institute at that conference as well,” he said.

GTRCMC executive director, Professor Lloyd Waller, said that the Institute will provide several offerings.

“We are in the process of establishing an Institute to focus on resilience and not just tourism resilience. We will be offering short certificate courses, diploma courses as well as an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) to provide persons with the skills and knowledge, in terms of methodologies for being resilient,” he stated

The conference will be hosted by the University of the West Indies Regional Headquarters with Prime Minister Andrew Holness, participating in the discussion on the importance and impact of resilience building.

The organizers have said at least 40 international speakers are also slated to make presentations.

Approximately 200 persons have been invited to physically attend the inaugural hybrid Global Tourism Resilience Conference, and more participants are expected to join virtually.

Caribbean Today