Edmund Bartlett Tourism Minister of Jamaica releases book: Decoding the Future of Tourism Resilience

BY PAUL JUNOR

The release of a book on leadership in the tourism sector by Honourable Edmund Bartlett during the Second Global Tourism Resilience Day Conference 2024 was a fitting culmination. As one of the leading tourism ministers in the world, his innovative and visionary leadership has been recognized and acknowledged by many in the industry.

The release of the book entitled, “Decoding the Future of Tourism Resilience,” on Global Tourism Resilience Day was celebrated on Saturday, February 17^th, at the Montego Bay Conference Centre in Jamaica. In attendance were many: government officials, tourism ministers, practitioners and business leaders who came to be inspired by expert panelists, renowned speakers and world-class thought leaders.

Minister Bartlett has served in several portfolios since he entered political office. He was first appointed Minister of Tourism in 2007 where he served until December 2011. During his first tenure as Tourism Minister, his extensive travels provided him with first-hand experiences of the: issues, challenges and vital areas that impact this essential sector. His subsequent appointments as Tourism Minister after the 2016 and 2020 General election cemented his reputation as a pioneering and inspirational leader in the international tourism community. The website notes that under his leadership tourism has been positioned as a catalyst for sustainable and inclusive growth through job creation, Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), wealth creation, and community transformation.

Minister Bartlett’s many awards include:

• The Jamaican Observer Man of the Year Award, 2009
• The Order of Distinction in the Rank of Commander, 2012
• World Travel Awards Leading Personality Award for Outstanding Services to Travel & Tourism, 2016
• African Diaspora World Tourism Awards Caribbean Tourism Minister of Distinction Award, 2016
• Caribbean Tourism Minister of the Year through Tourism (IIPT) Champions Challenge Award, 2018
• Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) Tourism Minister of the Year for Sustainable Tourism, 2018
• Travel Awards Inaugural Chairman Award for Global Tourism Innovation, 2019
• RJR Gleaner Hospitality Jamaica Pioneer Award, 2019
• Jacob’s Media Group British Travel and Hospitality Hall of Fame, 2020

Lloyd G. Waller, Professor of Digital Transformation, co-authored the book with Minister Bartlett and states, “This book is the result of five years of extensive conversations between Minister Bartlett and myself. It represents our commitment to codify these ideas and establish Jamaica as a thought leader in global tourism.”

As Founder and Chair of the Global Tourism Resilience Centre (GTRCMC), an international think tank centered in Jamaica, his: extensive knowledge, varied experiences, and thorough understanding of the complexities and nuances of this dynamic industry makes him a well-sought after global leader and thinker.

During lunch on Friday, February 16^th, 2024, the: Honourable Edmund Bartlett, Professor Lloyd Waller, and UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili each with a copy of the book went on stage after the entertainment was finished to conduct a book talk. They commented about the importance of this valuable source of evidence-based, factual, up to date information for those interested in diverse aspects of the tourist industry. I spoke with Professor Waller regarding when the book would be available to the public. He told me that it would not be ready until March 2024.