Ed Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, received an Honorary Doctorate in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC) during a ceremony on July 28 at the National Arena in St. Andrew.
The event, themed “It’s a New Beginning… Rise and Take Your Place,” celebrated Bartlett’s accomplishments and showcased UCC’s dedication to academic excellence and innovation.
The ceremony also honored the head of Sandals Resorts Adam Stewart with the Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) in Business Administration Award; and Dr Patricia V. Smith with the Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) in Behavioral Sciences Award.
In his commencement speech, Minister Bartlett lauded UCC for its vital role in higher education in Jamaica. He highlighted the collaboration between UCC and the Ministry of Tourism to bolster the industry, including initiatives like the Jamaica Tourism Innovation Center and the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program.
Bartlett has been a transformative leader in tourism and politics, serving as Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism for nearly 13 of the last 17 years.
He was first appointed in 2007 and served until December 2011. Prior to this, he had an impressive record as a legislator in central government, holding roles such as Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting & Culture and Minister of Youth, Sports & Community Development from 1980 to 1989. He also served as a Senator and Opposition Spokesman on various portfolios, including Tourism, from 1989 to 2007.
After his first term as Tourism Minister, Bartlett traveled globally, building alliances for international initiatives. He resumed his role as Tourism Minister following the 2016 and 2020 general elections, during which Jamaica’s tourism industry flourished. The island now boasts over 22,000 hotel rooms, and in 2023, the number of visitors surpassed four million for the first time.
Under Bartlett’s leadership, tourism has driven sustainable and inclusive growth, creating jobs, fostering Public Private Partnerships (PPP), generating wealth, and transforming communities. He has championed a social equity ecosystem to provide industry workers with a greater sense of accomplishment, achievement, and security.
He has become a powerful voice and tireless advocate for global tourism resilience. He is the founder and Co-Chair of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) at the University of the West Indies, Mona, and has partnered with Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya, where the first Satellite Centre of the GTRCMC has been established, to facilitate East African countries’ mitigation and management of tourism disruptions.
Ed Bartlett’s contributions have earned significant recognition. In March, Jamaica was named the Global Destination of the Year at ITB Berlin by the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA), which also named Bartlett a ‘Global Tourism Icon’ for his outstanding contributions to the industry. In 2018, he received the Worldwide Tourism Minister of the Year Award.
A native of Westmoreland, Jamaica, Bartlett was educated at St Elizabeth Technical High School and the University of the West Indies, Mona, where he studied sociology. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2002 and has served as a minister in Jamaica Labour Party administrations since 1980, when he became the youngest serving member of parliament.
Bartlett has represented Jamaica on regional and international stages, serving in roles such as Chairman of the Board of Affiliate Members of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Vice Chairman of the UNWTO Executive Council, Chair of the UNWTO Regional Commission of the Americas (CAM), and Vice Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).
He received Jamaica’s Order of Distinction in the Rank of Commander (CD) in 2012.
Minister Ed Bartlett has been married for over 47 years. He and his wife, Carmen, had two children. Their daughter, Lisa, passed away. Their son, Edmund, has a family of four: his wife Sarah, son William, and daughter Leia.
