As of May 7, Jamaica welcomed an impressive 1.7 million visitors. According to preliminary data released by the Jamaica Tourist Board, the island recorded 1,016,185 stay-over visitor arrivals and more than 700,000 cruise passengers, generating approximately US$1.8 billion in revenue.
This represents a 4.6% increase in stayover arrivals and a 23% increase in cruise passengers compared to the same period in 2023.
The announcement was made by Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett during an interview with Sky News Arabia, one of the largest media conglomerates in the Middle East and North Africa.
“5 million visitors by 2025”
The minister also mentioned that the island was on track to welcome 5 million visitors and generate US$5 billion in revenue by 2025.
“We are pleased to see continued growth in our arrivals and revenues, which demonstrates the confidence of our tourism partners and visitors in the destination,” the minister said.
“Reaching the threshold of 1.7 million arrivals is a remarkable achievement and testament to the commitment and hard work of our tourism team, led by the heart of our industry: our workers,” the minister added.
“Despite the disruption caused by the pandemic, Jamaica is on the verge of reaching an unprecedented milestone. With one million staycation arrivals and more than 700,000 cruise passengers through the first week of May, we are well-positioned to make this happen. We will continue to actively promote the destination and work diligently with our partners to achieve this. »
Director of Tourism, Donovan White, added: “Jamaica remains a premier destination sought after for its authentic experiences. Whether it’s its food, music or entertainment, there’s an ambiance that can’t be experienced anywhere else. »
