Jamaica recorded the best number of visitor arrivals to the island at the level of foreign exchange earnings of any summer period in the country’s history, according to data announced by the Jamaican Ministry of Tourism.
“We have 5,000 more visitors than the summer of 2019, which was a record year; the best news is that our revenues in the summer (of 2022) increased by 20% compared to 2019, “said Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett.
“So not only the numbers (of visitors) came in, but the revenues from tourism also increased. This summer is the best tourism has ever experienced in Jamaica history, ”Bartlett said at the welcome ceremony for the 18th USA Travel Advisor golf tournament at Sandals Ochi Rios in Saint Ann.
In this sense, he added that in early 2022, the tourism sector is expected to earn $ 3.5 billion and receive around 2.3 million visitors this year, making it the fastest growing tourist destination in the country. Caribbean.
“However, we have surpassed 2.6 million visitors, excluding cruise passengers, and the projected revenue is $ 4.2 billion,” the minister said, noting that prior to the start of the pandemic they had predicted that this would have happened in 2025.
Therefore, Bartlett stressed that “you can see how strong the recovery is” on the island and that the economy has experienced up to five consecutive quarters of growth, leading the tourism sector.
The Minister of Tourism, for example, highlighted the economic growth of 5.7% recorded in the quarter April-June 2022, led by the tourism and hospitality sector with 55.4%.
Bartlett said this was the result of the actors’ hard work making the destination more “enjoyable and desired”.
More than 150 travel consultants from across the United States will participate in the golf tournament, which is being held for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
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