Jamaica’s Edmund Bartlett Attends UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism

Jamaican Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett is currently in San Sebastian, Spain, where he is having discussions with leading gastronomy experts at the UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism. Mr. Bartlett thinks that the two-day discussions will be important for further development of the gastronomy product locally.

To quote Minister Bartlett, “Gastronomy is one of the fastest growing reasons for people to travel. In fact, the international gastronomy market is approximately US$150 billion.

Therefore, as we continue to position Jamaica as an ideal destination for food tourism, through the Tourism Linkages Network, I believe we still have room to grow the market and ensure that every Jamaican can reap the benefits – which is why this forum is important,”

The UNWTO forum on gastronomy tourism will provide an opportunity for gastronomy experts to discuss the current situation and challenges in Gastronomy Tourism worldwide.

The forum will be held in a new format, with different events being held in various gastronomy hubs across the Basque Country, displaying the variation of products offered.

Mr. Bartlett said, “While the discussions at the forum are of particular interest to me, I am equally pleased that the event will be hosted at the world-renowned Basque Culinary Centre. This is an institution which has a very similar teaching style to what I hope to establish in Jamaica through the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation (JCIT), which we will be establishing in the island next year.”