Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica's Minister of Tourism, is a transformative leader with over four decades of dedicated public service. Beginning his career in Parliament, Bartlett has held various important roles, including Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting & Culture and Minister of Youth, Sports & Community Development. He first assumed the Tourism portfolio in 2007, with subsequent tenures that have had far-reaching implications for Jamaica and the global tourism landscape. Bartlett's impact is especially evident in his innovative initiatives aimed at enhancing social equity and human capital within the tourism sector. Through the Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation and the groundbreaking Tourism Workers Pension Scheme, he has fostered a more inclusive and secure environment for over 10,000 industry professionals. These initiatives are revolutionary in Jamaica and set a global standard, amassing over 1 billion dollars within a year of their implementation.He is also the Co-Chair and Founder of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC). Under his leadership, the GTRCMC has grown into an international network of experts dedicated to developing resilient tourism practices. It has satellite centers across the globe, from North America to Africa. This effort was recognized by the United Nations, which officially designated February 17 as Global Tourism Resilience Day.As an author, Bartlett has enriched the discourse on tourism resilience with publications that promise to be seminal works in the field. His books have garnered international attention and are used as educational resources worldwide. Regionally and internationally, he has held significant leadership positions, including Chairman of various UN and Caribbean Tourism Organization boards. His work has earned him numerous accolades such as the Caribbean Tourism Minister of the Year and the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association's Award for Sustainable Tourism.Beyond his ministerial role, Bartlett is deeply committed to East Central St James constituents. His initiatives in education and welfare have had a transformative impact on the community, most notably through the creation of scholarships and centers for early childhood education. Married for over 50 years and a grandfather of two, Bartlett is a man of varied interests, from cricket and dominoes to dancing. His life and work exemplify a deep commitment to bettering the lives of Jamaicans and advancing the global tourism industry. With a legacy rich in innovation, resilience, and social equity, Bartlett stands as a paragon of transformative leadership in the 21st century.
