JAMAICA’S Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett was awarded the prestigious Gusi Peace Prize in Manila on Wednesday.

In a media release on Thursday, the tourism ministry said the award was in recognition of Bartlett’s outstanding contributions to the global tourism industry.

The accolade, often referred to as Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize, celebrates excellence in various fields, including peace, human rights, politics, science, and the arts.

The ministry said Bartlett’s award — handed out by the private Gusi Peace Prize Foundation, based in Manila, The Philippines — highlights his leadership in championing tourism resilience and sustainability, particularly in small island developing states, and underscores his commitment to advancing global cooperation in the tourism sector.

The award comes as part of the four-day Gusi Peace Prize event which concluded yesterday and saw global figures from various sectors gathered to network and explore solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

In expressing his gratitude after accepting the award, Bartlett said: “Receiving the Gusi Peace Prize is a humbling and deeply inspiring honour. This recognition belongs not just to me but to the people of Jamaica, whose innovation, resilience, and cultural richness are at the heart of all I do. It highlights how tourism, when approached thoughtfully, can transform communities and inspire unity worldwide.”

On the margins of the awards ceremony, Bartlett also led a series of high-level discussions with representatives of the Department of Tourism in The Philippines, focusing on the possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to foster greater cooperation between the two countries in the tourism industry. The proposed MOU will focus on several key areas that will drive mutual growth and innovation.

Bartlett highlighted the importance of human capital development as a key pillar of the potential agreement, citing The Philippines’ success in training more than 170,000 tourism workers annually.

He argued that this collaboration would help Jamaica strengthen its tourism workforce by enhancing service excellence across the island.

“The Department of Tourism in The Philippines has done remarkable work in training tourism workers and certifying them in service excellence. We look forward to collaborating with them to further strengthen service excellence in Jamaica, which is at the core of the visitor experience,” said Bartlett.

Additionally, the proposed MOU will address craft development, where both countries will exchange expertise in utilising indigenous materials to create value-added products.

Bartlett expressed excitement about the potential for Jamaican artisans to explore new creative possibilities, particularly through the exchange of knowledge with Filipino artisans who have successfully used local resources such as pineapple and banana fibres to create garments and other items.

“Our artisans can benefit immensely from learning how to transform waste and widely available materials, such as coffee and bananas, into high-quality products. The Philippines has done marvellous work in this area, and we look forward to collaborating with them to bring new value to our own rich natural resources,” added Bartlett.

He said the MOU will also prioritise sustainability and resilience initiatives, with the establishment of a Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) at the University of Manila.

Bartlett emphasised that this collaboration would strengthen efforts to build more resilient tourism frameworks and improve sustainability across both nations. The two countries also discussed enhancing community tourism, with Minister Bartlett suggesting that there is great potential for collaboration in developing village tourism — a model which has seen success in The Philippines and could further enrich Jamaica’s own community-based tourism initiatives.

The discussions also touched on the potential for improved air connectivity between Jamaica and The Philippines, with opportunities to connect Jamaica with key destinations in Asia, including Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan.

The tourism minister noted that these efforts could significantly increase tourism arrivals, benefiting both countries’ economies.

Bartlett concluded by announcing that in February 2025 secretary of tourism for The Philippines Christina Garcia-Frasco is expected to visit Jamaica, where the details of the MOU will be further discussed, and an agreement finalised during the third Global Tourism Resilience Conference.