Jamaica's Tourist Board Act to be Replaced with New Tourism Authority Act

Jamaica's Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett announced the repeal of the decades-old Tourist Board Act, which will be replaced with a new Tourism Authority Act. This change is part of the government's strategy for “Tourism 3.0” and post-Hurricane Melissa rebuilding efforts. Bartlett explained that the existing legislative framework doesn't reflect the modern tourism industry's evolution into a ministry-driven sector with broader responsibilities. The minister explained the legal framework was established around the establishment of the Jamaican Tourist Board. He added that the first part of reimagining and getting Tourism 3.0 is a repealing of that Act, a revision of that Act, and the creation of a Tourism Authority Act. Bartlett stated that more details will be revealed in the coming months as the legal and technical arrangements of the new framework are fine tuned. He assured that there will be public consultation to ensure the legislation is “robust, relevant and appropriate” for the sector's future. The minister emphasized the need for Tourism 3.0 to focus on inclusivity, local ownership, and wealth retention within Jamaica, moving beyond traditional visitor arrivals and hotel expansion. A key objective is to ensure that more Jamaicans directly benefit from tourism. Bartlett said that the new policy direction will require legislative reform, regulatory changes, and a restructuring of fiscal arrangements. The minister also placed an emphasis on health resilience and security