Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says the island’s short-term vacation rental is booming, contributing to significant growth in the tourism industry.
“Data from Airbnb indicates that guest check-ins for January to December 2023 increased by 28 percent over 2022, generating an estimated J$31.8 billion in gross earnings from 1.3 million guest nights,” Bartlett disclosed.
The earnings converted are close to USD $200 million.
Bartlett said the short-term vacation rental subsector continues to gain market share, with approximately 36 percent of visitors opting for this accommodation category.
Just a few months into the year, Jamaica has already kicked off an impressive 2024 tourism season.
Between January and February of 2024, the island nation saw an unprecedented influx of visitors, welcoming over one million tourists and raking in an impressive US$1 billion in tourism earnings.
“We anticipate that developments in the local construction sector will contribute additional stock to this subsector,” the minister said.
Rooms for tourism industry workers
Minister Bartlett also assured that while the sector seeks to add more rooms to accommodate visitors, workers in the industry have not been forgotten in these plans.
“The Ministry of Tourism has welcomed the pledge by four major international hotel investors, including RCD Hotels, Bahia Principe, Grand Palladium, and Princess Resorts, who have committed to constructing over 2,000 residential units for industry employees combined.
“This includes apartments and houses for the workers and their immediate relatives,” Bartlett shared.
He said the announcement came out of a meeting with representatives of Inverotel, an association representing Spanish Hoteliers in Madrid, Spain.
“At the core of these initiatives lies a profound commitment to the well-being and prosperity of our people. It underscores our unwavering dedication to fostering inclusive growth and ensuring that every Jamaican reaps the rewards of our nation’s burgeoning tourism sector, reassuring our commitment to our citizens’ welfare,” said Bartlett.
Read more: Airbnbs generate over US$100M for Jamaican economy
