Jamaica has shattered tourism records, posting a remarkable 25.1% year-over-year increase in visitor arrivals from the Caribbean for 2024, according to Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett.
The milestone highlights the island’s growing appeal within the region, with Caribbean stopover arrivals rising to 88,200 this year—up from 70,488 in 2023 and just 50,154 in 2022. This represents a stunning 75.9% growth over two years.
“The consistent growth in arrivals from our Caribbean neighbours demonstrates Jamaica’s strong regional appeal and the effectiveness of our targeted marketing efforts within the Caribbean community,” said Bartlett. “This growth is particularly impressive as it outpaces several of our traditional markets and signals new opportunities for sustainable tourism expansion.”
The Caribbean now accounts for 3% of Jamaica’s total visitor arrivals, up from 2% in 2022. Leading the charge is the Cayman Islands, Jamaica’s top Caribbean source market, contributing 31,111 visitors in 2024—a 27.3% increase over last year. Trinidad & Tobago followed with 14,219 visitors (+34.9%), while The Bahamas saw 8,040 visitors (+26.3%).
The Dominican Republic showed the strongest percentage growth among major markets with a 38.2% jump, while Haiti recorded the most dramatic increase at 154%, making it one of the fastest-growing source markets for Jamaica.
Tourism officials attribute the surge to several key factors, including strong diaspora ties, improved regional air connectivity, strategic airlift partnerships, and a growing appetite for cultural exchange and intra-Caribbean travel experiences.
“The Caribbean represents not just a growing market, but an opportunity to showcase Jamaica’s unique appeal to our closest neighbours,” said Director of Tourism Donovan White. “With 80% of Caribbean visitors indicating they would recommend Jamaica and 81% planning to revisit, we’re building a solid foundation for sustainable regional tourism growth.”
Adding to the momentum, Jamaica was recently named the World’s Leading Family Destination for the fifth consecutive year.
