KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett has been named to the prestigious Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) Global Top 100 Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Edition – Class of 2026.

According to a release, the announcement was made by MIPAD on Global Africa Day, in partnership with The Pyne Awards Africa. The annual list recognises 100 global leaders of African descent who are shaping the future of aviation, destination marketing, cultural storytelling, and hospitality.

Bartlett’s inclusion highlights Jamaica’s continued leadership in global tourism and his decades of work advancing sustainable tourism, diaspora engagement and destination resilience.

“This recognition is not just for me, but for Jamaica and for the people whose warmth, culture and resilience make our island the heart of global tourism,” the minister said. “Tourism must continue to be a vehicle for empowerment, for telling our stories and for connecting the African Diaspora to opportunity.”

The Class of 2026 honourees will be officially celebrated at the upcoming MIPAD Lagos Diaspora Week and New York celebrations later this year, with events scheduled between October 2026 and January 2027.

Under Minister Bartlett’s leadership, Jamaica’s tourism sector has been recognised internationally for innovation in health and safety protocols, community tourism and global partnerships that position the Caribbean as a premier, year-round destination.