Bartlett to Participate in African Tourism Investment Summit

Jamaica Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, will today (April 3) join government ministers, finance executives, and administrators.

The meeting will consist of travel and tourism leaders from South Africa, Botswana, Spain, and Sierra Leone on a Ministerial Roundtable titled: “Developing a Sustainable Tourism Industry in Africa by Integrating Cultural, Environment, Good Governance and Social Concerns.” The roundtable is one of the highlights of the African Tourism Investment Summit being held from April 3-5, 2023, in Cape Town, South Africa, under the theme: “Revitalizing Investment in Sustainable Tourism on the African Continent”.

Minister Bartlett, who left the island on Saturday (April 1), has been invited to speak at the highly anticipated summit in his capacity as a well-respected global thought leader on tourism resilience and development. The event is also an opportunity for the tourism minister to explore expansion of the Global Tourism Resilience & Crisis Management Centre’s (GTRCMC) satellite network in Africa, enhance cooperation in the areas of travel and hospitality between Jamaica and South Africa, and engage with the Ministers of Tourism of several African countries who will be attending the summit.

“The Government of Jamaica has been actively working to strengthen ties between Jamaica and the continent of Africa in the areas of travel, trade and investment.”

“From a tourism perspective, Africa is the new frontier and Jamaica and, in fact, the wider Caribbean, are particularly interested in tapping into this new market.  Another important area of cooperation is tourism resilience. We already have a GTRCMC satellite centre in Kenya and we look forward to expanding this important Africa Network,” Minister Bartlett noted. 

“With the strong historical and cultural association between Jamaica and Africa, it is strategic to collaborate and strengthen our tourism cooperation. The summit will provide this opportunity,” he added.

The African Tourism Investment Summit attracts hundreds of ministers, mayors, investors, private equity firms, venture capitalists, decision makers, international buyers and travel professionals to focus on African tourism, investment trends, industry challenges and opportunities. The event is part of Africa Travel Week.

Minister Bartlett will return to the island on April 7, 2023.