Jamaica’s Visitor Arrivals Remain Strong Despite Travel Advisories

Despite recent travel advisories issued by international partners, Jamaica’s tourism sector remains resilient, with visitor arrivals showing no signs of decline. Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett made this announcement during Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.

Bartlett emphasized that while travel advisories are within the powers of Jamaica’s international partners, it is the country’s responsibility to ensure that safety, security, and seamlessness standards are maintained at the highest level.

He further stated that collaboration with diplomatic partners is a key strategy to foster a better understanding of Jamaica’s situation, with a focus on highlighting the country’s track record of providing strong, safe, and secure experiences for visitors. Bartlett also highlighted that Jamaica boasts a remarkable 42% repeat business rate, the highest in the region, and noted that incidents affecting visitors are isolated and limited in scope.

The latest tourism figures paint a positive picture, with stopover arrivals for the 2023/24 fiscal year estimated at 2.96 million, representing a significant 9.4% increase. Similarly, cruise arrivals are on the rise, estimated at 1.34 million, marking a notable nine percent uptick compared to the previous period in 2022/23.

Minister Bartlett expressed satisfaction that despite the issuance of travel advisories, the market’s confidence in Jamaica’s tourism product remains strong, as evidenced by the robust visitor arrival numbers.