Jamaica’s Tourism Triumph: Surpassing 2023 Projections
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In an optimistic update to the House of Representatives on December 12, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, revealed that the island is poised to surpass growth projections for visitor arrivals and tourism earnings in 2023. With a thriving tourism industry and a promising winter tourist season, Bartlett projected a total of 4,122,100 visitors for the year, marking a substantial 23.7 percent increase over 2022.
Highlighting the growth trajectory, Bartlett specified that 2,875,549 stopover visitors are expected, reflecting a 16 percent surge from the previous year. The cruise sector is also anticipated to flourish, with an estimated 1,246,551 cruise passengers, a remarkable 46.1 percent increase.
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Minister Bartlett expressed confidence in the sector’s robust recovery, citing 10 consecutive quarters of substantial growth post-COVID-19. He stated, “This continues the spectacular growth pattern of tourism, with 10 consecutive quarters of substantial growth since the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on arrival figures to date, all indications are that we will be having an 11th quarter of significant expansion.”
In terms of tourism earnings, the influx of visitors is projected to generate $4.265 billion in 2023, showcasing a notable 17.8 percent increase over 2022 and a 17.2 percent rise compared to pre-pandemic figures in 2019.
Minister Bartlett emphasized that if Jamaica maintains this impressive growth trajectory, the island is well-positioned to surpass the initial projections of four million visitors and foreign exchange earnings of $4.1 billion by the year’s end.
Providing a detailed breakdown, Bartlett highlighted direct contributions to the government’s coffers, including fees to the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Departure Tax, Airport Improvement Fee, Airline Passenger Levy, Passenger fees, charges, and the Guest Accommodation Room Tax (GART), amounting to a significant $336 million.