Jamaica Welcomes 2 Million Stopover Visitors Since January 2024 – Bartlett

Jamaica has seen a strong surge in tourism this year, welcoming over 2 million stopover visitors and a total of 3 million visitors, including cruise arrivals, from January 1 to September 14, 2024. This represents an increase over the previous year’s figures for the same period, highlighting the sector’s recovery and growth despite challenges like U.S. travel advisories and hurricane impacts. The tourism industry has generated approximately USD 2.97 billion in revenue so far this year.

Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett attributes this success to Jamaica’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its tourism sector and the island’s enduring appeal as a top travel destination. Bartlett emphasized that expanding airlift to Jamaica, particularly from emerging markets like South America, is a key part of the Ministry’s “Blue Ocean Strategy.” This initiative aims to enhance the country’s competitiveness in global tourism by building relationships with international carriers and stakeholders.

Minister Bartlett is currently in Belém, Brazil, to attend the 4th G20 Tourism Working Group meeting from September 19-20, 2024. His visit underscores Jamaica’s push to tap into the Latin American market and enhance airlift and connectivity with the region. In Brazil, he will participate in high-level discussions on tourism resilience and sustainability, areas where Jamaica is recognized as a global leader. The Minister will also take part in the G20 and UN Tourism Side Event and the UN Tourism Sustainability Forum, emphasizing Jamaica’s commitment to sustainable tourism practices. He is set to return to Jamaica on September 23, 2024.