Jamaica and The Bahamas are two of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, attracting millions of visitors every year with their natural beauty, cultural diversity and warm hospitality. However, these two island nations are not only competing for tourists, but also collaborating to grow regional tourism and create more opportunities for their people.

Recently, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett for Jamaica, held talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation for the Bahamas, Hon I. Chester Cooper in New York where they were participating in the annual Caribbean Week in New York celebrations organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).

Announcing an agreement between the two countries, Minister Bartlett said, “Jamaica and the Bahamas have entered into a new era of collaboration in consonance with the new tourism view of co-petition as the way forward, as opposed to competition.”

One of the areas of cooperation between Jamaica and The Bahamas is the development of a multi-destination strategy that allows travelers to experience both countries on one trip. This initiative, spearheaded by Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, aims to promote the Caribbean as one destination with different offerings and attractions. By having a common visa regime and clearance arrangements, visitors can easily move between Jamaica and The Bahamas and enjoy the best of both worlds.

Minister Bartlett also explained that in the partnership with the Bahamas, the two destinations are looking at how they can advance the hub and spoke principle and to bring more visitors to their shores.

Another area of collaboration is the enhancement of air connectivity between the two countries. Jamaica and The Bahamas are looking at how to advance the hub and spoke principle and bring more airlines into the region. This would increase the accessibility and affordability of travel for both locals and foreigners, as well as boost the tourism sector and the economy.

A third area of cooperation is the establishment of a satellite resilience center in The Bahamas. This center would be part of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC), founded by Minister Bartlett, which aims to provide research, training and policy recommendations on how to deal with natural disasters, pandemics, cyber threats and other crises that affect tourism.

The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) is an international organization that aims to help the tourism sector cope with various challenges and threats, such as natural disasters, pandemics, terrorism, cyberattacks, and climate change. The GTRCMC was established in 2019 by the Jamaican government in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and other partners. The GTRCMC provides research, training, policy advice, and technical assistance to tourism stakeholders around the world. The GTRCMC also facilitates the exchange of best practices and lessons learned among different regions and countries. The GTRCMC’s vision is to create a more resilient and sustainable tourism industry that can contribute to global peace and development.

The Bahamas, which suffered from the devastating Hurricane Dorian in 2019, would benefit from the expertise and resources of the GTRCMC and its network of partners. According to a web article by Carib Journal, the GTRCMC has centers already established in three other countries – Jordan, Kenya and Canada – with others in the pipeline.

Jamaica and The Bahamas are examples of how Caribbean countries can work together to overcome challenges and leverage opportunities in the tourism industry. By fostering a spirit of co-petition rather than competition, these two nations are showing that collaboration is the key to success in the 21st century.

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