Jamaica has achieved a milestone in its tourism sector, recording an impressive 1.7 million visitors as of May 7, 2024. Preliminary data reveals that the island welcomed 1,016,185 stopover arrivals and over 700,000 cruise passengers, generating roughly US$1.8 billion in revenue.
This marks a 4.6% increase in stopover arrivals and a remarkable 23% increase in cruise passengers compared to the same period in 2023.
The announcement was made by Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, during an interview with Sky News Arabia, a leading news network in the Middle East and North Africa. Minister Bartlett expressed optimism about the future, stating that Jamaica is on track to welcome 5 million visitors and earn US$5 billion by 2025.
“We are grateful to see continued growth in our arrivals and earnings, which speaks to the confidence our tourism partners and visitors have in the destination. To hit the 1.7 million arrivals mark is an outstanding feat and speaks to the commitment and hard work of our tourism team led by the heart of our industry – our workers,” said Minister Bartlett.
Despite the disruptions caused by the pandemic, Jamaica’s tourism sector is showing resilience and strong recovery. “With one million stopover arrivals and over seven hundred thousand cruise passengers up to the first week of May, we are in a good position to make it happen. We will continue to aggressively market the destination and work assiduously with our partners to get there,” added Minister Bartlett.
Director of Tourism, Donovan White, underscored the Minister’s comments, stating, “Jamaica remains a premier destination that is highly sought after for its authentic experiences. Whether it’s our food, music or entertainment, there is a vibe that only comes alive in Jamaica.”
Minister Bartlett is currently leading a mission at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. This prominent global event, now in its third decade, fosters growth in the travel and tourism industry, attracting some 41,000 participants this year. As part of his strategic vision, Minister Bartlett will engage in discussions with several tourism partners and stakeholders to attract more visitors from the region. Notably, he is set to meet with the senior leadership of Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East, to negotiate air connectivity between the United Arab Emirates and Jamaica.
Jamaica’s tourism success was further highlighted at the 2023 World Travel Awards Caribbean & The America’s Gala, held on August 26 in St. Lucia. The country won over 30 major awards, including Caribbean’s Leading Destination for the 17th consecutive year and Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board for the 15th consecutive year. Additionally, Jamaica was named the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination 2023, with the Port of Falmouth and Port of Montego Bay recognised as Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Port and Caribbean’s Leading Home Port, respectively.
Reflecting on these achievements, Minister Bartlett said, “There’s always a strong sense of joy and pride that comes when you see the dedication of the tourism team being recognised and rewarded internationally. To see Jamaica consistently perform so well is a clear indication of our commitment to excellence.”
This year’s Caribbean awards will take place on July 1st at Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, where Jamaica hopes to continue its streak of success.