Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett 

With more than 40 years of public service and a reputation as one of the Caribbean’s foremost tourism strategists, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, will take center stage at the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Caribbean Week in New York (June 1-6) with a powerful message: the Caribbean’s tourism future hinges on bold, unifying leadership.


“Leadership is not simply a desire to be in charge,” Minister Bartlett affirms. “It’s the ability to coalesce disparate forces and create an opportunity for a good outcome.” His words underscore not just a philosophy, but a record of action one that has positioned him as a guiding force in shaping a more resilient, inclusive and economically vibrant tourism sector for the region.


Minister Bartlett, the co-founder of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, embraces a vision, which is firmly grounded in post- pandemic realities, where collaboration and convergence of ideas are essential.


As Jamaica continues to play a pivotal role in regional tourism leadership, Minister Bartlett is also a key advocate for the CTO’s revitalization under its current leadership. He offers praise for Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper, the organization’s first female head. “The insight and the vision that Dona brings to CTO at this time is useful. I think it’s also refreshing,” he notes, citing her ability to “bring partners together” and enable “collective action” around shared goals.