Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, urged the establishment of a US$10 billion Global Tourism Resilience Fund during his address at the World Economic Forum in Geneva. The fund is designed to aid Small Island Developing States and economies highly dependent on tourism.
Tourism 3.0 Model Focuses on Local Prosperity and Security
Bartlett promoted Jamaica’s Tourism 3.0 strategy, which redefines tourism success by local prosperity, security, and resilience rather than solely by visitor arrivals or earnings. The model integrates agriculture, manufacturing, culture, and technology to increase Jamaican ownership and national wealth.
He emphasized that tourism must benefit farmers, workers, and communities, strengthening local economies and providing dependable market
access and career opportunities.
Global Tourism’s Economic Impact in 2025
According to World Travel & Tourism Council data cited by Bartlett, the global travel and tourism sector contributed US$11.6 trillion to the world economy in 2025. This included support for 366 million jobs when factoring in supply chains and related spending, representing nearly 10% of global economic output and approximately one in nine jobs worldwide.
Jamaica’s Tourism Workers Pension Scheme and Workforce Development
Jamaica implemented its Tourism Workers Pension Scheme through legislation passed in 2019 and launched in 2022. The pension covers various occupational categories within tourism, including eligible self-employed workers. Bartlett stressed that the scheme ensures job security extends into retirement for those
who have spent a career in tourism.
The Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation has provided certification and training to more than 25,000 tourism professionals, supporting career progression and recognized competence within the sector.
Strengthening Local Supply Chains and Resilience Initiatives
The Tourism Linkages Network and the Agri-Linkages Exchange (ALEX) connect local farmers and producers directly with tourism buyers. In 2024, ALEX facilitated over J$450 million in produce sales, supporting rural households and businesses beyond resort areas.
Jamaica’s 2025 Local First initiative aims to expand domestic ownership and supply within the tourism sector through a dedicated task force. Additional support structures include the Tourism Supply Logistics Centre and
Tourism Innovation Incubator, advancing entrepreneurship and technology solutions for local benefit.
Bartlett highlighted the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, established in 2019 at the University of the West Indies, as a key resource providing training and research on crisis preparedness and response.
The reopening of Royalton Negril hotel in August 2026 following Hurricane Melissa restored employment to hundreds of workers, demonstrating tourism’s role in economic recovery.
Bartlett called on international partners to evaluate Jamaica’s Tourism 3.0 approach as a model with global relevance, stating, “I come before you with a conviction born of Jamaica’s experience: tourism belongs at
the nucleus of global development.” He added, “When tourism succeeds in the fullest sense, the farmer gains a dependable buyer, the worker gains a future, and the community gains the means to improve its own life.”
