Caribbean News

Record Visitor Arrivals and Tourism Earnings for Jamaica between January and February 2024

Published

1 month ago

March 15, 2024

#Kingston, Jamaica, March 15, 2024 – Jamaica welcomed one million visitors and generated tourism earnings of US$1 billion between January and February 2024.

This, according to Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, “is a record that has never happened in the history of Jamaica”.

“So, the good news is that Jamaica’s trajectory continues even against odds,” Mr. Bartlett added.

He was speaking during Thursday’s (March 14) press briefing at the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) in New Kingston for the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace.

Mr. Bartlett said the arrivals for the period included more than 600,000 stopover visitors and more than 300,000 cruise passengers.

“That is a seven per cent increase, in the case of stopover [visitors] for the year, and a whopping 29 per cent increase for cruise. But the big news for us is that our earnings at $1 billion [are] up 8.8 per cent over last year,” he outlined.

Minister Bartlett pointed out that the current trajectory augurs well for the Ministry’s projections that Jamaica will achieve five million visitors and earn US$5 billion by 2025.

Last year, Jamaica welcomed more than four million visitors and earned US$4.2 million.

Contact: Shanna K. Salmon

Photo Caption: Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, addresses the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace press briefing at the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) in New Kingston on Thursday (March 14). Listening is CHTA President, Nicola Madden-Greig.

Photographer: Donald De La Haye

Caribbean News

Guyana’s financial support for Palestine

Published

2 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Shanieka

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

#Palestine#Guyana, April 24, 2024 – A cheque of over GY$110 million which is USD$500 thousand, was presented to President Irfaan Ali, at a handover ceremony on April 23, in support of Palestine for Humanitarian efforts, according to reports.

The money, raised by Muslims and non Muslims, comes after an appeal by the National Ramadan Village during the month of Ramadan.

It will be sent to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) to help the victims of the ongoing war.

Caribbean News

Jamaica New Rui destination

Published

2 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Shanieka

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

#Riu#Jamaica, April 25, 2024 – Jamaica’s tourism product is being enhanced with a new all inclusive Riu Resort called the Riu Palace Aquarelle, scheduled to open on May 4 at White Bay Beach in Falmouth. As reported by Caribbean Journal, the destination will house 750 rooms and will promote the country’s green transition, having 800 solar photovoltaic panels, saving up to 10 percent of the hotel’s energy use.

Caribbean News

Royal Caribbean Cancels Haiti Trips

Published

2 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Shanieka

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

#Haiti#RoyalCaribbean, April 26, 2024- Royal Caribbean has decided to cancel all of its trips to Labadee, a popular destination in Haiti due to the worsening crisis, putting further strain on the country’s tourism sector. Cancellations were initially set to last until mid March but now they have been extended through the summer into September, according to a post by Royal Caribbean. A spokesperson for the organization is reported saying the Global Security and Intel team is monitoring the situation in Haiti, further expressing that the cancellations come as the safety and security of its guests are top priority.