Despite recent challenges posed by Hurricane Beryl, Jamaica Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says the island’s tourism sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience, welcoming over 105,000 stopover visitors since reopening its ports.
Bartlett announced this “impressive statistic” on Wednesday during his closing presentation of the 2024/2025 Sectoral Debate in Parliament, underscoring the industry’s strength and its significant contribution to the Jamaican economy.
“On Jul. 2d and 3, we had no visitors arriving in Jamaica,” Bartlett said. “However, on the Fourth of July, we started receiving visitors again; and, in just 11 days, we have brought in 105,000 stopover visitors. This is what resilience looks like.”
He noted that the rapid rebound is a testament to Jamaica’s “well-honed disaster preparedness plans and the unwavering spirit of its tourism stakeholders”.
Bartlett said that the arrival numbers received “a significant bump” thanks to patrons visiting for Reggae Sumfest 2024, currently underway in Montego Bay.
He also reiterated the industry’s “impressive performance” over the past year.
The tourism minister said gross earnings surged to US$4.38 billion, reflecting a “remarkable” 9.6 percent increase compared to the previous fiscal year.
He said this growth is fueled by a record-breaking 2.96 million stopover arrivals, representing a 9.4 percent rise over 2022/2023.
Bartlett said the resilience extends beyond stopover arrivals, as cruise tourism has also experienced a significant resurgence, with a 16 percent increase year-on-year.
He said Jamaica has already hosted nearly 800,000 cruise passengers in the first half of 2024.
“We have already welcomed 2.4 million visitors to our island this year, keeping us well on track to achieve our annual target of 4.3 million,” Bartlett said. “These figures are not just numbers; they represent jobs for our people, opportunities for our businesses and a stronger, more resilient economy for Jamaica.
“They affirm our position as a premier Caribbean destination and underscore the effectiveness of our tourism strategies,” he added.
