JIS Press Release, May 11, 2026
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| The Honourable Edmund Bartlette |
Jamaica must significantly increase the amount of tourism earnings retained within the local economy by expanding the country’s supply capacity and strengthening local ownership within the industry, says Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett.
Mr Bartlett further noted that too much of the wealth generated by tourism continues to leave the region, as Caribbean countries remain heavily dependent on imported goods and services.
He informed that he has been leading regional discussions on improving tourism’s supply side to ensure Caribbean people benefit more directly from the sector.
“I have been asked to chair their (Caribbean Tourism Organization) subcommittee on the supply side, which is what we’ve been talking about here in Jamaica,” the Minister said.
Mr. Bartlett was addressing the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) Speed Networking Event at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James on Thursday (May 7).
He disclosed that discussions have already been held with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) regarding support for a regional tourism demand study.
“They have agreed that they will fund a study on the demand of tourism in the Caribbean,” Mr. Bartlett informed.
He underscored that the greatest economic opportunities in tourism lie beyond hotel rooms and instead exist within the broader network of goods and services required to sustain the industry.
“The wealth of tourism is in the supply side. It’s what the people eat, it’s what they wear, it’s the vehicles that they drive in, it’s the transportation arrangements that are provided and it’s the attractions all around,” he said.
Mr. Bartlett further noted that Jamaica currently retains a higher percentage of tourism earnings than many countries in the region but pointed out that greater improvement is needed.
“The retention level of the tourism dollar in the region averages some 15 cents in the dollar. Jamaica is ahead of the pack, just below the Dominican Republic, but we need to go further,” he said.
The Minister indicated that Jamaica currently retains close to 40 per cent of tourism earnings and is targeting levels comparable to countries such as India.
“We are somewhere close to 40 per cent now, but we need to go to 50, 60 per cent. India has 60 per cent. They are the highest in the world,” Mr. Bartlett said.
He further stated that increasing local production and entrepreneurial participation will be critical to achieving that target.
Editor's Note
We need to stop emphasizing the number of tourists visiting Jamaica and focus on the sector's contribution. What is important is not just how much is retained per dollar, but also how much of that dollar is spent attracting and creating the appropriate environment for the tourists.
To what extent will the hotels have some of their work done by locals rather than importing labour?
Let the discussion begin here on Bark Di Trute because some parliamentarians spent more time quarrelling in the house and complaining about how parliamentarians are treated, rather than discussing the big issues which can move us forward as a nation.
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Emancipation from Tourism Plantation Model
ReplyDelete.Tourism as an industry began in 1890 with the 3% loans under Governor Blake’s era has evolved into today’s model where capital is subsidized, profits repatriated, and local linkages stay weak.
Retaining 60% of Tourism earnings like India would be a wonderful dream coming through hard working Minister Bartlett
1980s estimates:
Tourism leakage was already pegged around 70-80%, meaning Jamaica kept 20-30 cents per dollar.
Today:.Several studies put it higher. The UNWTO, Caribbean Development Bank, and CAPRI reports from 2015-2023 estimate Jamaica’s leakage at 80-85% for all-inclusive resorts.
We are now down to 15-20 cents* retained locally.
What makes it worse is the proliferation of:
1. All-inclusive hotels:
More of the tourist spending happens inside foreign-owned resorts before guests even enter the local economy.
2. Hotel Incentives Act expanded Still duty-free imports, plus longer tax holidays. Hotels can import food, furniture, even soaps tax-free even if produced locally
3. Cruise passengers spend ∼$100 per visit vs stopover ∼$1,200, and most of that goes to foreign cruise lines.
4. Airlines, tour companies, travel agencies and hotels are often owned by the same overseas parent company.
Jamaica must find more foolproof ways to guarantee greater retention even up to 50cents per Tourism dollar spent.
15-20 cents retention is still a Hotel Plantation Model that Jamaica needs to be Emancipated from.
1890 to 2026
Has the retention.percentages been significantly different?NO.
In 2025 Tourism approximately 35% of GDP had retained earnings of about US$2billion
In comparison The Remittance industry about 10-15% of GDP retained US$4Billion.
Tourism must be organized to do better for the Jamaican economy.
We are all at one withbthat goal Jamaica.
Michael Spence