It is my distinct pleasure to extend warm greetings to the organisers, valued industry partners, exhibitors, buyers, suppliers and all stakeholders preparing to gather for JAPEX 2026, Jamaica’s premier tourism trade event, scheduled for September 14-17 at Moon Palace Ocho Rios.
JAPEX remains one of the most important events on Jamaica’s tourism calendar and continues to serve as a vital marketplace for connection, collaboration and investment within our industry. This year’s staging in Ocho Rios also reflects the resilience, adaptability and strength that continue to define our tourism sector in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.
Our recovery journey has demonstrated clearly that Jamaica’s destination assurance promise of providing visitors with a safe, secure and seamless experience remains stronger than ever. Today, more than 80 per cent of our hotels have reopened, with the remaining properties expected to resume operations by the end of 2026. This is a powerful signal of trust in Brand Jamaica and the resilience of our tourism enterprises, workers and communities.
I commend the leadership of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), President Christopher Jarrett and his team, alongside our tourism partners and stakeholders, for continuing to pivot strategically, protect Jamaica’s tourism brand and ensure that critical industry events like JAPEX remain firmly rooted in Jamaica. Your collaborative efforts continue to reinforce confidence in the destination during a period that has required innovation, flexibility and decisive action.
As we reimagine the future of the sector under Tourism 3.0, JAPEX provides the ideal platform not only to exchange products and services, but also ideas, technologies, strategies and best practices that will revolutionise tourism locally and regionally. Central to this vision is our Local First Initiative, which seeks to strengthen linkages, deepen local participation in the tourism value chain and ensure that more Jamaicans directly benefit from the industry’s growth and success.
Jamaica’s tourism future is bright, resilient and innovative. JAPEX 2026 stands as another powerful reminder that together, we continue to build a stronger, more inclusive and globally competitive tourism sector. As we look ahead, I encourage buyers and suppliers from across Jamaica, the Caribbean and our international markets to register early and take full advantage of this premier tourism business exchange and networking opportunity.
I look forward to seeing you at another productive, successful and memorable staging of JAPEX.
Hon. Edmund Bartlett, OJ, CD, MP
Minister of Tourism
