In a recent announcement, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, declared that the country witnessed its most robust summer season in recorded history.
Bartlett shared that stopover visitors surpassed 800,000.
He added that including the cruise passenger figures—which is an additional 230,000—the total number of visitors exceeded one million.
“ [We had] just a little over a million visitors in the period and we earned US$1.5 billion for Jamaica in this summer, the highest and best that we have had,” Bartlett said.
He was speaking at the press launch of the Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) at the Courtleigh Hotel and Suites on September 7.
Economic milestones
Bartlett unveiled that by the conclusion of August, Jamaica received a total of 2.7 million visitors. This surge in visitation has led to an impressive US$3.1 billion in earnings.
“This is the first time in our history that we have broken the US$3-billion mark before the ninth month of the year, as we did that at the end of August,” he said.
More on Jamaica’s tourism
- Jamaica’s tourism sector soars with increased air traffic from the U.S.
- Jamaica tourism arrivals for October surpass pre-pandemic levels
- Jamaica’s minister of tourism announces one million visitor arrivals to date for 2023
Eyeing the US$4 billion mark
Minister Bartlett further revealed an optimistic projection for the tourism sector. He believes the industry is perfectly poised to reach the US$4 billion revenue mark by the year’s end, setting a new record for Jamaica.
JAPEX: A cornerstone for Jamaica’s tourism industry
Known as the premier trade event of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), JAPEX plays a pivotal role as the foremost business generator for Jamaica’s bustling tourism sector.
The event will be held from September 11 to 13 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James.
This event is structured to provide three days of pre-scheduled appointments, offering an invaluable platform for wholesalers, tour operators, and travel agents.
These stakeholders get an opportunity to liaise with Jamaica’s top-tier tourism suppliers and conduct their business negotiations.
