Minister Bartlett credits Jamaica’s 38,000-strong Washington D.C. diaspora as a key force behind island’s record post hurricane tourism recovery

Pictured: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, (C) pauses for a photo opportunity with His Excellency, Ambassador for Jamaica to the United States, Major General (Ret’d) Anthony Anderson (1^st L), Deputy Director of Tourism, Philip Rose and members of the Diaspora in Washington D.C at a reception held at the Embassy of Jamaica on Wednesday April 8, 2026

KINGSTON, Jamaica; April 10, 2026 — Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, delivered a powerful address to the Jamaican diaspora community at the Embassy of Jamaica on April 8, crediting the diaspora as among the country’s most influential ambassadors and unveiling a landmark tourism milestone: Jamaica welcomed over one million visitor arrivals and generated $956 million in foreign exchange earnings in the first quarter of 2026 — just five months after the disruption of Hurricane Melissa.

Speaking before an audience of Jamaican professionals, community leaders, and friends of Jamaica in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area — home to over 38,000 Jamaicans — Minister Bartlett called the recovery ‘resilience in action’ and challenged every member of the diaspora to continue amplifying Jamaica’s story on the world stage.

“Before a traveler ever books a ticket, before they see a brochure or a campaign, they often hear about Jamaica through you,” Minister Bartlett told the gathering. “You are among our most powerful ambassadors, and I mean that in the most literal sense.”

Pictured: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, (R) in discussion with His Excellency, Ambassador for Jamaica to the United States, Major General (Ret’d) Anthony Anderson ahead of the Diaspora Reception that was held at the Embassy of Jamaica on Wednesday April 8, 2026.

The Minister noted that Jamaica’s remarkable first-quarter performance did not happen by accident. Despite the disruption caused by Hurricane Melissa, the island’s tourism industry maintained momentum — a result the Minister attributed in large part to the diaspora’s refusal to allow a negative narrative to take hold.

“These figures speak to the resilience of the destination and global support that our island continues to receive. The world is confident in our ability to recover from disruptions and deliver top-class hospitality at ever level,” said Minister Bartlett.

The Minister also highlighted that in an era of rampant misinformation, the diaspora serves as a critical line of defence for Jamaica’s global reputation. “Every time you speak positively about Jamaica, every time you correct a misconception, every time you invite someone to visit or return — you are actively strengthening our country’s resilience.”

Adding to the destination’s stellar post hurricane performance, Director of Tourism, Donovan White said, “Surpassing one million visitor arrivals in under six months since the passage of Hurricane Melissa is a remarkable achievement for Jamaica. It speaks directly to the resilience of our tourism sector and the unwavering commitment of our partners and the Jamaican people. I extend sincere thanks for their continued confidence in our destination. Encouragingly, we have recorded year-to-date growth of 25% from Latin America and 7% from Asia—clear indicators that our strategy to diversify and expand into new markets is delivering meaningful results.”

Minister Bartlett closed his address with a direct and personal call to action for every member of the Jamaican diaspora, “Tonight is both a thank you and an invitation. Continue telling our story with pride. Continue sharing the truth of who we are and correcting the misinformation. Continue encouraging others to experience Jamaica for themselves. And of course — continue coming home. Because Jamaica will always be your home.”

Together, the minister affirmed, Jamaica’s story will not be defined by disruption, but by resilience, authenticity, and strength.

ABOUT THE JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD  

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica’s national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. JTB offices are also located in Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are in Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Tokyo and Paris.

Jamaica is home to some of the world’s best accommodations, attractions and service providers that continue to receive prominent global recognition. In 2025, TripAdvisor® ranked Jamaica as the #13 Best Honeymoon Destination, #11 Best Culinary Destination, and #24 Best Cultural Destination in the World. In 2024, Jamaica was declared ‘World’s Leading Cruise Destination’ and ‘World’s Leading Family Destination’ for the fifth consecutive year by the World Travel Awards, which also named the JTB the ‘Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board’ for the 17th consecutive year.

Jamaica earned six Travvy Awards, including a gold for ‘Best Travel Agent Academy Program’ and silver for ‘Best Culinary Destination – Caribbean’ and ‘Best Tourism Board – Caribbean’. The destination also received bronze recognition for ‘Best Destination – Caribbean’, ‘Best Wedding Destination – Caribbean’, and ‘Best Honeymoon Destination – Caribbean’. Additionally, Jamaica received a TravelAge West WAVE award for ‘International Tourism Board Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support’ for a record-setting 12th time.

For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Jamaica go to the JTB’s Website at www.visitjamaica.com or call the Jamaica Tourist Board at 1-800-JAMAICA (1-800-526-2422). Follow the JTB on Facebook, X, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube. View the JTB blog at www.visitjamaica.com/blog/.

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Media contact: jamaica@louhammond.com