KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica's Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, has celebrated the Eastern Africa division of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC-EA) for receiving the distinguished 2024 Tourism Resilience Award. This recognition was presented at the Global Resilience Council Hall of Fame Awards in London on November 6, 2024.

The GTRCMC-EA, located at Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya, earned this accolade for its exceptional contributions to tourism resilience and crisis management. Minister Bartlett praised the centre for its transformative work in helping Eastern Africa’s tourism sector address crises, foster economic stability, and advance sustainable growth.

“This award is a testament to the centre’s dedication, innovation, and resilience,” Bartlett stated. “The GTRCMC-EA is setting an important example globally by demonstrating how strategic crisis management can turn challenges into opportunities, making tourism a vital foundation for economic stability and cultural heritage across Eastern Africa.”

Kenyan leaders, including Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Rebecca Miano, accepted the award on behalf of GTRCMC-EA. Established in 2019, GTRCMC-EA has launched impactful initiatives, including internships, a digital tourism inventory, and unified sustainability standards for Eastern Africa, all reinforcing the region's tourism resilience.

The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, headquartered in Jamaica and founded by Minister Bartlett, aims to assist tourism stakeholders globally in navigating crises through a network of satellite facilities worldwide.