#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