6870243
6870243

GRAND CAYMAN:

Superseding all development figures for any metropolis within the English-speaking Caribbean, Montego Bay, Jamaica’s tourism capital, is having fun with a 23 per cent improve in stopover arrivals in 2022.

The western Jamaica metropolis has contributed considerably to the island experiencing its finest summer season arrivals within the historical past, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett mentioned.

Bartlett was talking with journalists on the Caribbean Tourism Group/IATA Aviation Day enterprise convention in Grand Cayman Tuesday night time.

July’s numbers have been boosted by music pageant Reggae Sumfest. This July accounted for a ten per cent improve over the same interval in 2019.

“So for the primary time, we’ve got seen arrivals in a single month exceed that of 2019. We are also projecting a return to pre-COVID stopover arrival figures by 2023, which, after all, is music to our eyes,” Bartlett said.

The unique prediction was for full restoration by 2024.

This summer season produced greater than 5,000 further guests for a brand new report, Bartlett mentioned.

Montego Bay’s standing comes months after being ranked by Journey Outlook report as town with the best degree of restoration in 2022.

The US, the area’s largest supply market, has been credited for the buoyancy, having continued to supply the lion’s share of arrivals. Seventy-five per cent of tourists to the island are from that North American gateway.

“And they’re coming primarily from the Northeastern Seaboard,” Bartlett mentioned.

Admitting that he was emotional about his subsequent assertion, the Jamaican tourism minister mentioned had it not been for the bullish American market, the area would have gone bankrupt.

“When different markets closed, different markets within the north, different markets in Europe, in all of South America, the USA market was opened and enabled us to proceed and supply meals and jobs within the Caribbean,” Bartlett mentioned.

The minister mentioned that arnings are anticipated to hit US$4.2 billion on the finish of 2023, with the nation concentrating on 5 million guests and US$5 billion by 2025.

Common every day charge for Jamaica elevated by 18 per cent this 12 months – from US$152 per particular person to US$180.

“We’re anticipating that that can develop and after we get to $200 that’s the candy spot,” he mentioned.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com