Edmund Bartlett Pushes for Unity and Innovation in Caribbean Tourism

With over four decades of public service, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, is once again in the spotlight, bringing a bold vision to the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Caribbean Week in New York (June 1–6). His call to action: Caribbean nations must embrace collaborative leadership to unlock the region’s full tourism potential.

“Leadership is about more than authority,” Bartlett says. “It’s the power to align diverse interests for a positive outcome.” That principle has shaped his leadership, making him a driving force behind efforts to build a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous tourism sector across the Caribbean.

As co-founder of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, Bartlett emphasizes the importance of post-pandemic collaboration. “We say ‘One Caribbean,’ but we’re really many,” he explains. “The goal is to unite those many voices under a single, shared vision.” This strategy includes regional cooperation, policy alignment, and promotion of multi-destination travel, areas where Jamaica is already making strides.

His reform agenda also focuses on maximizing tourism’s local impact. Initiatives like Jamaica’s Tourism Workers Pension Scheme and stronger ties between tourism and sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and entertainment aim to ensure the economic benefits of tourism stay in the region. Bartlett believes that institutions like the CTO play a crucial role in aligning political will behind a shared development agenda.

Bartlett is also a strong supporter of the CTO’s renewed direction under Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper, praising her leadership and ability to foster partnerships and collective action. “Dona brings insight and energy at a crucial moment,” he says, highlighting her efforts to reshape how the CTO engages with its stakeholders.

Looking ahead, Bartlett will speak during the CTO Reimagine Plan Launch on Tuesday, reaffirming his commitment to a tourism model built on recovery, equity, and sustainability. As Caribbean Week kicks off in New York, his message resonates: the region’s future success depends on visionary leadership and unified action.