Financing resilience is critical to protecting the livelihoods of tourism dependent countries and ensuring the future of the industry, according to Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett. Speaking at the Canadian-Caribbean Tourism Resilience Symposium at George Brown University on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, Bartlett outlined a shift from reactive recovery to a proactive model focused on anticipation and adaptation.
The world has entered a new “Age of Resilience” where destinations must prepare for increasingly complex global crises. Addressing an audience of government leaders, tourism stakeholders, academics, and business executives, Bartlett warned that interconnected risks such as climate change, geopolitical conflict, and public health threats mean no destination can face these challenges alone.
He used Canada’s ongoing wildfire challenges as a powerful example of shared global vulnerability. Bartlett stressed that tourism resilience is no longer simply about rebuilding after disasters but redesigning tourism systems to withstand future shocks.
Minister Bartlett said tourism must move beyond traditional recovery efforts and adopt a new model centered on anticipation, adaptation, and inclusive financing. “The world has changed. Tourism must change with it,” he declared. “We must move from reaction to anticipation, from vulnerability to transformation, from fragmented recovery to shared resilience.”
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He proposed establishing a permanent Global Tourism Resilience Fund to support the full resilience cycle—from preparedness and climate adaptation to crisis response, recovery, and long-term transformation.
Investing in the Soul of the Industry
The proposed fund would place special emphasis on supporting micro, small, and medium-sized tourism enterprises (MSMEs), which Bartlett described as “the soul of the tourism industry.” He argued that financing these smaller businesses is essential for broader regional recovery.
“Financing MSMEs is not charity. It is productive investment, social protection, and regional development combined,” Bartlett said. “The recovery of the smallest enterprise is often the shortest route to the recovery of the widest community.”
In practice, this means that the immediate economic stability of small operators—often the most vulnerable during crises—directly impacts the broader tourism ecosystem. Without specific capital directed at these entities, the wider industry faces prolonged stagnation, as the loss of a single local guesthouse can ripple through supply chains and community services.
Bartlett also highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in strengthening tourism resilience, noting its potential to improve disaster preparedness, visitor management, and crisis communications. However, he cautioned that AI must be developed responsibly to benefit small businesses and communities rather than deepen existing inequalities.
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“AI should amplify human capability, not erase human dignity,” he emphasized.
Building Intelligence Over Infrastructure
Minister Bartlett outlined the continued evolution of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC), which he founded, into a global resilience intelligence platform. This center connects governments, researchers, businesses, and international institutions to better anticipate and manage future disruptions.
He also proposed strengthening Canada-Jamaica collaboration through resilience financing, AI innovation, and investment in tourism resilience initiatives. Bartlett suggested the two countries are well-positioned to lead the global conversation on resilient tourism development.
Concluding his address, Minister Bartlett urged governments, international organizations, investors, and development partners to shift their focus from simply rebuilding after crises to financing resilience before disasters occur. “Finance resilience, not merely reconstruction. Protect livelihoods, not merely assets. Build intelligence, not merely infrastructure. Place people, not merely properties, at the centre of recovery.”
