Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has racked up another global tourism award, receiving the Global Tourism Resilience Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this week in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

He was gifted the award at the fourth Global Tourism Resilience Day, held at the Safari Park Hotel. The award recognises Bartlett’s long-standing contribution to advancing global tourism resilience, particularly through his work on crisis preparedness, response, and recovery frameworks. 

His efforts have supported the integration of resilience into tourism planning, helping destinations address challenges such as natural disasters, pandemics, economic disruptions, and other global shocks.

Over the years, the minister has promoted international cooperation, policy development, and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen tourism systems worldwide. 

Preparing better to manage disruptions 

Bartlett’s work has focused on ensuring that tourism-dependent communities are better prepared to manage disruptions while sustaining livelihoods and economic activity. While accepting the award on Tuesday (February 17), Bartlett reiterated the importance of building adaptable tourism systems through global collaboration. 

He highlighted the need for continued cooperation among governments, industry stakeholders, and institutions to respond effectively to emerging challenges in an increasingly interconnected global environment.

According to him, “This award reflects the ongoing work being carried out through the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre in Jamaica. I am grateful to our public and private sector partners who recognise the importance of a resilient tourism industry.” 

Professor Lloyd Waller, head of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, heaped praise on Bartlett’s work, saying it has strengthened collaboration among governments, the private sector, and international institutions. 

He noted that these efforts have contributed to recovery-focused strategies and long-term sustainability across tourism-dependent economies. The Global Tourism Resilience Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to individuals whose work has made a lasting contribution to strengthening resilience within the global tourism sector.