PRTravelwire iReport

KINGSTON, Jamaica; March 23, 2017:   Planning is in high gear as the Tourism Linkages Network, a division of the Ministry of Tourism, prepares to stage its fourth ‘Tourism Linkages Speed Networking Event, with the hopes of securing more investment in the sector. The business-to-business networking event will take place on March 29, 2017 at the Hilton Rose Hall Hotel & Spa in Montego Bay and will see the participation of several investors.

The unique event is a flagship initiative of the Tourism Linkages Network and its partners; the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA); the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA); Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and other entities.

The venture is one that the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett is proud of as he believes it is critical to the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to deepen linkages between tourism and other sectors.

Source: Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism

KINGSTON, Jamaica; March 13, 2017: With Jamaica welcoming just over 20,000 German tourists last year, Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett has mandated the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and key Tourism officials to double that number to 50,000 German tourist arrivals into the island by 2020. 

He made the point while meeting with the leadership of the world's largest tour company TUI Group in Berlin, Germany. Minister Bartlett noted that the Tourism Ministry and the JTB will be working closely with TUI to achieve the target. TUI Group brought over 150,000 tourists to Jamaica's shores last year. 

Ministry of Tourism, JamaicaPHOTO CAPTION: Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett (r) makes a point to Mr. Frederico Gonzalez-Denton (l), Associate Vice President, Government Relations of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL); as Mr. Adam Goldstein, President of RCCL and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s (FCCA) and Delano Seiveright (3rd r), Senior Advisor to the Minister note with interest. Mr. Paul Pennicook, Director of Tourism (partially hidden) was also a part of the discussions that involved growing interest in a Cuba, Jamaica cruise itinerary.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; February 13, 2017: Years prior to the Cuban Revolution in 1959 that saw the communist Fidel Castro regime come to power, Cruise ships from Miami regularly stopped in Cuba and Jamaica as part of their northern Caribbean itinerary. Now with the easing of US/Cuba relations just under 60 years following the revolution and prompting by Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, Cruise executives are excited about the prospects for a surge in interest for the once charmed route which will prove popular and continue the upward trajectory of Jamaica’s cruise arrival numbers. 

The development comes as Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL), after receiving approval for a one day per week sailing into Havana, Cuba decided to drop Grand Bahama in the Bahamas from its scheduled four-day voyage, sending jitters throughout the tourism industry there. Interestingly, Swiss based cruise giant MSC Cruises has been promoting its itineraries spanning, Havana, Cuba; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Cayman Islands and Cozumel, Mexico this year. Meanwhile, the Cypriot-owned 1,200-passenger Celestyal Crystal cruise ship has been sailing seven-day Cuba itineraries year-round on a people-to-people cruise and land itinerary out of Montego Bay and Havana. 

Source: http://travel.usnews.com

The British Virgin Islands, or BVI for short, are some of the most exclusive and least developed islands of the Caribbean, but this only adds to their appeal. The resorts, villas, restaurants and other tourist attractions in this paradise are known to emphasize spare luxury over sprawling expansion, and they attract travelers with deep pockets and a love for sailing and seclusion. Many travelers who visit come by ferry boat from another Caribbean isle, especially as some find opulent exile too hard to enjoy for longer than a day or two. And some say it's better to split your time between here, the nearby U.S. Virgin Islands and Anguilla to the east.

Others find more than enough to keep them exclusively anchored by these 60 islands and cays. On Tortola, you'll find mountainous cliffs and chalk white beaches, characterized by changing tides and calm easterly winds. A brief sail away, sleepy Jost Van Dyke offers delicious Caribbean food and drink, one of the region's best New Year's Eve parties, as well as a few outdoor excursions like diving and fishing. On Virgin Gorda, you'll find The Baths, perhaps the most picturesque shore in the British Virgin Islands, and with good reason: It offers unique grottoes amidst gigantic granite boulders (just be mindful of the daytripping crowds). For supreme seclusion, try Anegada; its slow pace, flat terrain and sparkling sand lies almost overlooked in Caribbean Sea.

Source: www.travelpulse.com

Photo Caption: Travelers visiting New York's Jamaica Station got a crazy surprise. (Photo via Flickr/Adam Moss)

There is perhaps no more dreary experience than the morning commute.

Source: Jamaica's Ministry of Tourism

 KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 30, 2017:   Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett leaves the island today (January 30, 2017) to attend an important meeting of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Council of Tourism Ministers and Commissioners in the Bahamas. 

 During the high level meeting, Minister Bartlett will engage his colleagues in discussions on issues including: public/private partnership for marketing the Caribbean in 2017; the creation of an Executive Council of the CTO Council of Ministers and Commissioners; and the Caribbean Leaders Tourism Summit.

Source: http://www.theverge.com/A story that’s been circulating over the past week — “Hotel ransomed by hackers as guests locked in rooms” — should be taken with a little more than just a pinch of salt.

According to a report (since amended) by The Local, the computer system at the four-star Austrian hotel, the Seehotel Jaegerwirt, was hacked and its electronic key system hijacked. Guests were reportedly locked in their rooms by hackers until a Bitcoin ransom worth €1,500 was paid. As a result of the hack, the hotel’s managers have decided to change from electronic locks to good old-fashioned keys.

It’s a juicy story, but not entirely correct. Speaking to The Verge, Christoph Brandstätter, the hotel’s managing director, confirmed that not only were guests not locked in their rooms, the rooms were not remotely locked at all. “We were a little bit surprised about that press really because nobody was locked in their room,” said Brandstätter. “We had a cyber-attack but the only problem was that we could not program keycards for the guests checking in on the same day.” He added: “The keycards and the computers were affected, but the doors were not.”

SOURCE:  SOUTH FLORIDA CARIBBEAN NEWS

Kingston, Jamaica – Jamaican sauce manufacturer Pedro Plains, has much to celebrate this year as the company’s products are available in two of the United States’ major retailers, Winn Dixie and Kroger.

The export only company, which sells products to the US, Canada and Europe, has been exporting into their seventh year, and is now present in many states.

Source: www.caribbean360.com

WILLEMSTAD, Curaçao, Monday January 23, 2017 – has become the third Caribbean destination to sign a deal with homestay network Airbnb.

Following on the heels of Aruba and Jamaica signing agreements late last year, Curaçao officials last week inked a deal that will help promote the island as a world-class vacation destination and create a framework to allow Airbnb and the government to address issues such as taxes, host accommodation standards and regulations, as well as share aggregate data and support Curaçao’s tourism marketing campaigns.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett signed an agreement with representatives of the Excellence Group of Luxury Hotels and Resorts to build two hotels in Oyster Bay, Trelawny, which will add over 700 rooms to the island’s room-stock.

The Excellence Group, which is renowned for its award-winning luxurious properties, plans to begin construction on their first property in Jamaica in February 2017.

The first hotel will be built at a cost of US$110 million. It will have some 325-rooms and is expected to open its doors to guests in the first half of 2018. The second property, which will have some 400 rooms, will open at a later date. The project is expected to generate some 2,000 new jobs in the construction and operation phases.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; January 16, 2017:   Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett today (January 16, 2017)  signed an agreement at the Palacio Neptuno in Spain, to host a major global conference to commemorate the 2017 United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

The event, which is a collaborative effort between the Government of Jamaica, international development firm Chemonics International and the UNWTO, will be staged from November 27 to 29 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St. James.

Source:www.iipt.org

IIPT Caribbean together with the IIPT International Community Tourism Network and Countrystyle Community Tourism Network will be celebrating the launch of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism on January 18 at the Mandeville Hotel, Manchester, Jamaica as the official UNWTO launch takes place in Madrid, Spain. Community Tourism will be the focus of the Mandeville event.

Negril, Jamaica, W.I. (January 1, 2017) The first ever Negril's Womb-man Only Health & Wellness Retreat slated for January 27 - 29, 2017 at Negril Escape Resort and Spa, West End, Negril, Jamaica, has a new production date of October 2017, Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The event was designed to explore the many Stages of Womb-men (women) aged 35 yrs. –80 yrs. at a three-day weekend Retreat.  The Retreat would have patrons meet and consult with female Medical, Paramedical, and Wellness Professionals in a relaxed, environment that facilitates sharing and personal introspection. The event is the brainchild of Debra Barrett, Cosmetologist & Spa Director at Negril Escape Resort & Spa, and will now be a two-day Retreat for women by women.

For further information, contact Debra Barrett at 876-574-6777 /591-1980 and via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Thank you.

Source: Caribbean360 

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Friday December 30, 2016 – Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett says Jamaica’s cruise passenger arrivals are expected to increase to two million in 2017.

This, he said, would put the country in the number-three position in the region, after Mexico and the Dominican Republic, in terms of visitor arrivals.

Negril, Jamaica (December 18, 2016). The opening ceremony, Friday, December 9, 2016, of the second staging of the annual Rastafari Rootzfest, got underway with Nyabinghi drumming and chants led by Ras Iyah V, founder & CEO Rastafari InInity and Master of Ceremonies, Barbara Blake Hannah, Author & Co-coordinator, Jamaica Film Academy/Reggae Film Festival.

Mark Golding, former Minister of Justice, paved the way for Rastafari RootzFest to stage the first ganja-exempt festival held over three days. His opening remarks follows and is nothing short of impressive. “It is an honor to support the first Ganja-exempt event under Jamaica Ganja reformed laws… I was very much looking forward to being here again this year. This industry is [a] regulated lawful industry around Medical, Therapeutic and Industrial Hemp; it is on the cusp of greatness, but we still have work to do. We have to push out more effort.  The framework is there and it is for those administering it to do so with the right heart and mind, to make it real, and make it work to deliver what it can for the people of this country.  It is a billion dollar industry. We have the brand, music and Rastafari culture that projects it to the world in a righteous way.”

He further said to Minister Chuck: “This thing that me drop you inna… I’m not sure what you had in mind, but continue to work with it, as it has great potential and some great people are here to work with. Learn from them, they have a lot to teach us…I will be happy to collaborate in any way.” Minister Chuck responded by saying “A lot of the credit for the opening up of the ganja industry was done by Mark Golding over the years and the new legislation just passed went further than I thought…I will do my very best so that it is balanced and all players can benefit and does not breach international treaties…In reference to transporting the ganja sacrament, Minister Chuck further stated that “I will give you all the exemptions needed, approved within hours.”