Jamaica’s Tourism Minister and Director of Tourism Headline Confirmed Speakers for CMEx in Kingston

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett and Director of Tourism John Lynch headline the list of confirmed speakers for the 19th Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) on Sustainable Tourism, set to take place in Jamaica’s capital, Kingston, from September 30 to October 4, 2010. The four-day conference with the theme “Tourism: Linkages for Growth” has attracted interest from top-level media from across the region, North America and Europe.

As tourism stakeholders gather to examine the Caribbean’s primary industry, Minister Bartlett, who will deliver the luncheon keynote on Sunday, October 3, believes such a dialogue is critical to enhanced communication flow between the fourth estate and tourism officials. “Jamaica is privileged to host this conference once again as it affords us an opportunity to share elements of our tourism master plan, as well as interact with our Caribbean neighbors in discussing best practices,” he commented.

Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett (file photo)
Tourism Director John Lynch, who also serves as Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board will address the opening session of the conference on Friday, October 1, 2010. According to Mr. Lynch, “the capital city’s hosting of this important conference demonstrates the diversity of our tourism product which is not just about leisure travel but also business.”

Jamaica’s Tourism Director John Lynch (file photo)
CMEx Vice President Lelei LeLaulu describes Minister Bartlett as a visionary who sees clearly how Jamaica’s fortunes are tied to other Caribbean destinations. “We are eagerly awaiting his address to the conference, because he is an outstanding communicator who instinctively understands the importance of ensuring the free flow of information between government, industry, communities, media, and neighboring countries.”

“It’s said that ‘if you’re defending you’re losing,’ which is why others should study how the tourism minister and his director John Lynch attacked the sagging market during the recent global recession to ensure Jamaica weathered one of the worst tourism downturns. They came out swinging to allay fears by providing solid information during chaotic days. We have much to learn from these leaders,” noted LeLaulu.

Since 2001, CMEx has produced 18 conferences and symposia throughout the Caribbean and North America to underscore the value of the region’s largest industry, tourism, in improving the health, education, culture, environment and wealth of Caribbean communities.

The upcoming CMEx meeting is supported by the Jamaica Tourist Board and Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism. Additional contributors include: Altamont Court Hotel, American Airlines, Anse Chastanet Resort, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Barbara Pyle Foundation, Bay Gardens Resorts, Caribbean Business Enterprise Trust, Caribbean Broadcasting Union, Caribbean Tourism Organization, CaribWorldNews, Coco Palm, Community Benefit Development, 4P Group, Jade Mountain, Marketplace Excellence, Mayberry Investments Ltd., Michael D. Communications, Ruder Finn, Scotchies Tree, SuperClubs, St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF), The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Tourism Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago, U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism and The SpeakEasy M.E.D.I.A. Foundation.