Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism announced on its social media channels that Jamaica and Panama are reinforcing their tourism cooperation with a renewed emphasis on revitalising their Multi-Destination Tourism Agreement, expanding regional travel, improving air connectivity, and building a more resilient Caribbean tourism industry.
During a courtesy call with Panama’s Ambassador to Jamaica, H.E. Elida Alcedo de Arosemena, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett outlined a vision for a seamless regional tourism framework supported by a common visa system, enhanced airlift and closer policy coordination to allow visitors to move more easily across participating destinations.
Ambassador Alcedo de Arosemena expressed a strong interest in learning from Jamaica’s experience as Panama strengthens the institutional leadership of its tourism sector following its elevation to ministerial representation. Minister Bartlett offered to share Jamaica’s existing and proposed legislative, regulatory and institutional frameworks, particularly in the areas of tourism governance, destination management, workforce development and resilience.
The discussions also explored increased flights between Montego Bay, Kingston and Panama City, professional certification pathways for tourism workers, stronger tourism governance and the proposed establishment of a Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre to support research, crisis preparedness, capacity building and recovery planning across Central America.
The meeting reaffirmed the longstanding partnership between Jamaica and Panama and both sides committed to advancing practical cooperation in multi-destination tourism, workforce development, resilience and sustainable regional growth.
