ST JAMES, Jamaica — Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett says Jamaica will host the inaugural United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Global Conference on Tourism Development and Sustainability.

The event will be held in December 2017 at the Montego Bay Convention Center.

“Next year has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year for Sustainable Tourism Development and we are very excited that little Jamaica has been selected to host such a prestigious event,” Bartlett said.

“It will see the coming together of 157 tourism ministers from around the world as well as the participation of some 500 companies that are involved in tourism services and provisions,” he added.

Bartlett pointed out that it will be the first time that both arms of the UNWTO – the private sector and public sector – are coming together to put on a global event, and that Jamaica stands to benefit tremendously from being the host nation.

The UNWTO is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. It promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development, and environmental sustainability, and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.

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