Minister Bartlett receives Global Tourism Resilience Lifetime Achievement Award in Nairobi

Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has been honoured with the Global Tourism Resilience Lifetime Achievement Award during the 4th Global Tourism Resilience Day 2026, held at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on February 17.

The prestigious recognition highlights Bartlett’s role in advancing global tourism resilience frameworks and strengthening crisis preparedness and recovery efforts across the industry. His work has helped position resilience as a key pillar of sustainable tourism development, with a focus on ensuring destinations can withstand and recover from disruptions such as natural disasters, pandemics, economic shocks and other global crises.

Over the years, Bartlett has championed international collaboration, policy innovation and capacity-building initiatives aimed at protecting tourism, one of the world’s most vital economic sectors.

In accepting the award, Bartlett reaffirmed his commitment to fostering resilient tourism systems that empower communities, protect livelihoods and drive long-term economic stability. He emphasized the importance of “continued global cooperation to build adaptive frameworks capable of responding to emerging challenges in an increasingly interconnected world.”

“This award is testament to the enduring and vigorous work that we have been doing through the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre in Jamaica. I thank all our public and private partners who understand the importance a resilient tourism industry,” the Minister added.

Professor Lloyd Waller, Executive Director of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, said Bartlett’s work has had a far-reaching impact.

“His efforts have strengthened partnerships among governments, private sector stakeholders, and global institutions, promoting strategies that support recovery, sustainability, and inclusive growth across many tourism-dependent economies. This is a huge win for the Minister and Jamaica,” said Professor Waller.

The Global Tourism Resilience Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to leaders whose contributions have had a transformative and lasting impact on the global tourism industry.