Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism receives Global Tourism Resilience Lifetime Achievement Award | News

The Jamaican Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett is recognized with the Global Tourism Resilience Lifetime Achievement Award at the 4th Global Tourism Resilience Day 2026, held at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi on February 17, 2026.

The prestigious award recognizes Secretary Bartlett’s pioneering leadership in developing global frameworks for tourism resilience and advancing crisis preparedness and recovery efforts worldwide.

His visionary work has helped position resilience as a central pillar of sustainable tourism development, leaving destinations better equipped to cope with and recover from disruptions, including natural disasters, pandemics, economic shocks and other global crises.

Over the years Secretary Bartlett has championed international cooperation, policy innovation and capacity building initiatives designed to safeguard tourism – one of the world’s most vital economic sectors. His efforts have strengthened partnerships between governments, private sector stakeholders and global institutions, and promoted strategies that support recovery, sustainability and inclusive growth in many tourism-dependent economies.

In accepting the award, Minister Bartlett reaffirmed his commitment to advancing resilient tourism systems that strengthen communities, protect livelihoods and drive long-term economic stability. He emphasized the importance of “continued global cooperation to build adaptive frameworks capable of responding to emerging challenges in an increasingly interconnected world.”

“Tourism Resilience Day is important because it creates a global rhythm – the drumbeat that calls tourism to preparedness. Resilience ensures continuity, faster recovery and confidence. However, we must identify the threats if we want to move from crisis to transformation. Digital threats include disinformation, disinformation and fake news.” – Hon. Edmund Bartlet, OJ, CD, Ministry of Jamaica

This award is a testament to the sustained and powerful work we have done through the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Center in Jamaica. I thank all our public and private partners who understand the importance of a resilient tourism sector,” the minister added.

The Global Tourism Resilience Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes leaders whose contributions have had a transformative and lasting impact on the global tourism industry.

For more information about Jamaica and the GTRCMC visit www.visitjamaica.com And www.gtrcmc.org