Jamaica has received an amazing 1.7 million visitors as of May 7th. According to early figures, the island received 1,016,185 stopover arrivals and more than 700,000 cruise passengers, generating around US$1.8 billion in income. This is a 4.6% rise in stopping arrivals and a 23% increase in cruise passengers over the same period in 2023.
The Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, made the announcement during an interview with Sky News Arabia, one of the leading news conglomerates in the Middle East and North Africa. He also stated that the island is on track to attract 5 million people and earn $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 the tourism minister.
“Despite the disruptions caused by the pandemic, Jamaica is on its way to achieving an unprecedented milestone. 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,” Minister Bartlett stated.
Director of Tourism Donovan White echoed Minister Bartlett’s remarks, saying,“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 leading a delegation to the Arabian Travel Market, which is hosted in Dubai. Over the previous three decades, Arabian Travel Market has evolved into a prominent global event that drives growth in the travel and tourism industries, with around 41,000 attendees expected this year. Minister Bartlett will meet with many tourist partners and stakeholders as part of his strategic strategy to attract more visitors from this region. In addition, he will meet with the senior leadership of Emirates, the Middle East’s largest airline, at their headquarters in Dubai tomorrow to further discuss air connection between the UAE and Jamaica.
At last year’s World Travel prizes, Jamaica had a big night, winning over 30 major prizes. The 2023 World Travel Awards Caribbean & The Americas Gala will be place on August 26 in St. Lucia.
Jamaica was voted Caribbean’s Leading Destination for the 17th year in a row, and the Jamaica Tourist Board received the accolade for the 15th year in a row. The country was also awarded the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination 2023, with Falmouth as the Leading Cruise Port and Montego Bay as the Leading Home Port.
Minister of tourist, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, remarked, “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 take place on July 1st at Sandals Saint Vincent & the Grenadines.
