Following a strong recovery from the pandemic fallout, Jamaica’s tourism is on track to see 11 percent growth this year, according to a press release.
“Jamaica’s tourism is back, and our recovery continues to outpace our earlier projections. We are now in growth mode and to achieve this in double digits for this year is huge. It will mean more jobs and more earnings for workers and the island’s economy. Tourism is Jamaica’s lifeblood and driver of economic growth and the industry’s growth means the country’s growth,” said Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett.
The announcement was made at the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) held in Madrid, Spain. Additionally, the gross foreign exchange earnings for Jamaica for the 2023 calendar year are also forecasted to reach $4.1 million, which is an estimated 13.3 percent increase compared to the previous year’s earnings.
“We could not achieve these successes without our partners. Our airline partners, tour operators, travel agents and so many more have contributed to the destination remaining top of mind and accelerating our recovery. The Jamaica Tourist Board’s focus on an integrated sales and marketing strategy which is embedded in the pervasive use of new technologies along with a focus on new and emerging markets, has allowed the destination to leapfrog its own projections for growth,” said Donovan White, director of tourism.
Last year, Jamaica welcomed 3.3 million visitors and registered a recovery of earnings compared to pre-covid earnings of 2019, with total estimated revenue of $3.6 billion. As the destination recovery has outpaced earlier projections there is a high possibility that full recovery could be realized a year earlier than predicted.
