The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has engaged the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech Jamaica), through its Technology Innovation Centre (TIC), to serve as the Business Service Intermediary (BSI) for the third iteration of the Tourism Innovation Incubator programme.

Originally signed on July 17, 2026, the contract was formally highlighted by leaders of both organisations during a mock signing ceremony held at the university’s Papine campus on August 18.

The partnership forms part of the Ministry of Tourism’s 3.0 framework, which reinforces the Government’s commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within the sector. It also supports the Ministry’s Blue Ocean Strategy objective aimed at increasing the rate of innovation in the sector while diversifying and strengthening the industry’s product offerings.

Under the multimillion-dollar consultancy agreement, UTech Jamaica, through its Technology Innovation Centre (TIC), will provide 15 tourism-based teams with business development training, mentorship, market research, digital prototyping and investor-readiness support.

Professor Shermaine Barrett, Deputy President and Provost, UTech Jamaica, underscored the significance of the partnership, noting that it provides an opportunity for the university to contribute to the development of human capacity building in the tourism sector.

“This partnership is allowing us to participate in building the human capacity for those who want to invest in the tourism sector,” Professor Barrett said, adding, “That is absolutely critical for Jamaica, seeing that tourism is one of our key economic sources.”

Professor Barrett also highlighted that the partnership between the university and TEF aligns with UTech Jamaica’s commitment to lifelong learning, professional upskilling and reskilling.

“It’s helping people to reskill and upskill, but in the final analysis, it is building the capacity for people to function effectively,” Professor Barrett stated.

The Tourism Innovation Incubator programme will also provide participating entrepreneurs with opportunities to validate their business ideas and develop market-ready solutions.

In keeping with the agreement, UTech Jamaica’s TIC took the lead on July 20, 2026, in designing and delivering a comprehensive boot camp to prepare participants for the Tourism Innovation Challenge pitch, slated for December 2026. The 12-week boot camp covers topics ranging from business development, market analysis, digital prototype development and innovation to marketing and sales, financial planning, intellectual property, investor readiness, leadership and entrepreneurship.

In his remarks at the mock signing event, Dr Carey Wallace, Executive Director, Tourism Enhancement Fund, said the collaboration with the Technology Innovation Centre provides a critical pathway for Jamaicans with innovative ideas to take those concepts to market and transform the economy.

“Our responsibility is for that transformation, that reconditioning of mindsets, that upskilling and leaving nobody behind. We have to look at every Jamaican as the greatest asset of this country,” Dr Wallace said, adding that, “If you don’t provide the ability for them to rise, you are wasting the greatest asset that this country has.”

He mentioned that the partnership also provides a sustainable avenue for national and economic growth through tourism.

“Our mantra is that we’re not just about growing tourism in Jamaica; we are about using tourism to grow Jamaica,” Dr Wallace said.

Since its launch in September 2022, the Tourism Innovation Incubator has seen two cohorts consisting of 30 entrepreneurs with digital prototypes and business plans.