Jamaica launches major tourism workforce reform led by Tourism Enhancement Fund

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA – Jamaican Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has announced that Jamaica is undertaking a bold reform of its tourism labour force, with the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) at the helm. As Jamaica reimagines the future of tourism, the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has been charged to lead a transformational shift toward a more sustainable, inclusive, and circular tourism economy – one that strengthens local communities, empowers the workforce, and increases the retention of tourism spend across the island.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, outlined this bold new direction at the TEF’s annual Stakeholder Seminar, held June 13 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre. “The TEF is no longer just enhancing tourism infrastructure,” the Minister said. “It is now a driver of national development, community resilience, and economic self-reliance. The new tourism is about purpose, people, and prosperity.”

At the heart of TEF’s expanded role is a strategy to create a robust and future-ready workforce. Nearly 30,000 tourism workers have already been certified through the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation (JCTI), a TEF initiative delivered in partnership with international certifying bodies. This includes certification for executive sous chefs—an unprecedented move in the Caribbean—and training academies in gastronomy and the performing arts for youth and high school students.

“We are breaking the cycle of seasonal and low-wage tourism jobs,” said Minister Bartlett. “Through TEF, we are building a resilient and competitive labour force that is equipped for global opportunities while grounded in local ownership.”

In alignment with global trends toward circularity and sustainability, TEF is championing programmes that reinvest tourism gains back into Jamaican communities. Investments now extend far beyond infrastructure. Through the Tourism Linkages Network, TEF is enabling stronger integration of local suppliers, artisans, farmers, and creatives into the tourism value chain – ensuring more of the tourism dollar remains in Jamaica.

The results are tangible: Jamaica has significantly improved its retention of tourism spend, now capturing approximately US$0.40 of every dollar spent by visitors, compared to significantly lower levels in previous years. Through initiatives like farm-to-table culinary programmes, craft development, and cultural experiences, TEF is fostering a regenerative model of tourism that ensures more value is created and retained locally benefiting communities, businesses, and the broader economy.

Innovation is another cornerstone of TEF’s vision. Through its Tourism Innovation Incubator and a $100 million entrepreneurship fund administered via EXIM Bank, TEF is nurturing ideas that can drive new niches in wellness, technology, and cultural tourism. “In this industry, a single idea can insert you into the value chain,” Bartlett noted. “And TEF is providing the launchpad.”

As TEF celebrates its 20th anniversary, its evolution reflects a broader shift in Jamaica’s tourism strategy – from dependency to empowerment, from extraction to regeneration. TEF is not only funding physical upgrades like beaches and resort entrances, but also enabling policy shifts, capacity building, and circular economic flows that secure long-term prosperity.

“Jamaica’s tourism success must be measured not only in arrivals but in how well it improves lives,” Minister Bartlett concluded. “The Tourism Enhancement Fund is shaping a tourism sector that is Jamaican-owned, innovation-driven, and future-proofed for generations to come.”

The article Jamaica launches major tourism workforce reform led by Tourism Enhancement Fund first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.