In the first two months of 2024, Jamaica’s tourism and foreign exchange receipts have continued to grow, building on a record set in 2023. The Caribbean country saw more than one million visitors and $1 billion in gross foreign exchange receipts in January and February 2024.
Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, announced the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) as the country builds on a record year with more than four million visitors in 2023.
As for statistics showing growth, some that were shared were:
- The number of arrivals between January and February was 1,000,961, an increase of 15.1 percent compared to the same months in 2023
- 611,642 arrivals via stopovers, an increase of 7.4 percent compared to the same months in 2024
- 389,319 cruise passenger arrivals, up 29.7 percent from the same months in 2024
- Arrivals raised $1 billion, up 8.5 percent from the same months in 2024
This comes despite the fact that on January 23, 2024, the US Department of State deemed Jamaica at Level 3: Reconsider travel due to crime and medical services.
The summary of the advisory reads: “Violent crimes, such as home burglaries, armed robberies, sexual assaults and murders, are common. Sexual violence is common, even in all-inclusive resorts,” but that does not seem to deter visitors from traveling to Jamaica.
The Jamaican government and the Jamaican ambassador to the US have both since spoken out against the travel advisory. Both noted that excessive language was used that is detrimental to the Caribbean country’s tourism industry and that the advisory should be withdrawn.
Another boost for Jamaica’s tourism industry is the fact that it will host the 42nd edition of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace from May 20 to 22, 2024. The trade show brings together industry suppliers and buyers with hotels, resorts and attractions to share their upcoming news.
