Jamaica Takes the Lead as Edmund Bartlett Selected to Co-Chair World Economic Forum Tourism Day

Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has been selected to co-chair World Economic Forum Tourism Day in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 26, 2026, placing Jamaica at the centre of the global conversation on tourism resilience, sustainable growth and international cooperation.

Hon. Edmund Bartlett, OJ, CD, MP, LLD (Hon), Minister of Tourism and Founder and Co-Chair of the Global Tourism Resilience & Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC), will take on the high-profile role as Jamaica continues to strengthen its influence on the future direction of the global tourism industry.

The appointment represents what the GTRCMC has described as a “global achievement” and reinforces Jamaica’s increasingly prominent role in shaping international thinking around tourism resilience, crisis preparedness and sustainable development.

Announcing the appointment, Bartlett said his participation would provide another opportunity for Jamaica to help shape the global conversation on tourism resilience.

“From Jamaica to the global table,” Bartlett said, highlighting the significance of the September 26 event in Geneva.

For Bartlett, the importance of resilience goes far beyond protecting hotels and major tourism businesses. When disruption hits the tourism sector, the consequences are felt across entire communities, affecting workers, farmers, taxi operators, craft vendors, restaurants, attractions and the many small businesses whose livelihoods are directly or indirectly connected to visitor spending.

His message ahead of World Economic Forum Tourism Day is clear: destinations cannot afford to wait until a crisis occurs before preparing for it.

By investing in people, anticipating potential threats and strengthening cooperation between destinations, governments and international partners, Jamaica aims to demonstrate how tourism economies can become more capable of withstanding disruption while continuing to create jobs, opportunities and long-term value.

The approach is centred on five key themes.

People First places livelihoods and communities at the heart of tourism resilience, recognising that protecting the sector ultimately means protecting the people who depend upon it.

Sustainable Growth focuses on building a tourism industry that is inclusive, responsible and prepared for the future, ensuring expansion delivers lasting benefits rather than simply higher visitor numbers.

Global Influence reflects Jamaica’s growing contribution to the international resilience agenda, with the country’s experience helping to shape discussions around preparedness, recovery and long-term tourism development.

Stronger Together highlights the importance of working with global partners to prepare for disruption, withstand crises and ensure destinations are positioned to recover and thrive.

Tourism 3.0 represents Jamaica’s broader ambition to move beyond measuring tourism primarily through arrivals, placing greater emphasis on how the industry creates value for Jamaican people, communities and the wider economy.

Bartlett has consistently argued that tourism resilience must be viewed in human and economic terms.

“Resilient tourism means resilient people, communities and economies,” he said.

The Minister’s co-chairmanship also builds on the work of the Global Tourism Resilience & Crisis Management Centre, which has positioned Jamaica as an international hub for research, collaboration and policy development focused on strengthening the tourism sector’s ability to anticipate, manage and recover from disruption.

As global tourism continues to navigate geopolitical uncertainty, climate-related disruption, economic pressures and rapidly changing traveller expectations, resilience is becoming an increasingly important part of destination planning.

Jamaica’s presence at World Economic Forum Tourism Day will therefore provide an opportunity to take its experience and policy thinking to a wider international audience while strengthening cooperation with global tourism leaders.

The message from Jamaica ahead of Geneva is one of resilience, leadership and impact — with the country presenting itself as proud, prepared and resilient as it seeks to help shape the next chapter of global tourism.

From Jamaica to the world: resilience, leadership, impact.