Despite recession, Jamaica’s tourist arrivals jump over 7 percent in third quarter

Jamaica’s tourism sector continues to record impressive growth with visitor arrivals for the three-month period from July to September increasing more than 7 percent when compared with the same period for the previous year.

A very satisfied Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett says the growth for the period under review is an indication of the collective hard work of tourism stakeholders to build a world class tourism product, and the sustained marketing efforts of the Jamaica Tourist Board in the international markets.

Minister Bartlett says “Jamaica’s tourism is among the best in the world, which is why we continue to see a growing number of visitors coming to our shores despite the still difficult global economic climate.”

For the months of July, August and September figures from the Jamaica Tourist Board show that 642,182 visitors (both stop over and cruise arrivals) came to Jamaica, compared with 596,438 for the same three-month period in 2009. This represents an increase of 7.7 percent, the largest growth in visitor arrivals for any one period since the start of the year. The country earned US$1.418 billion from stop over and cruise arrivals from January to August, a 2.2 percent increase over the same period last year.

To build on the positive growth trend Minister Bartlett says more effort will be placed on growing arrivals out of Argentina, Brazil and Columbia as part of a broader emphasis on targeting emerging markets to further grow tourist arrivals. As a result, he says the JTB will be rolling out a marketing and promotion blitz for the South American region. The overall projection for tourist arrivals for the year is 4-5 percent.

In the meantime the Tourism Minister highlighted that Jamaica’s airlift capacity for the upcoming Winter Tourist Season remains at adequate levels with some 671,002 seats available for the United States and 227, 479 seats for Canada – Jamaica’s main markets.

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15 Comments

  1. sean
    December 8, 2010

    other carib countries should take note…Jamaica has a unique set of people…they aare just differnt….just go and see :)

  2. Vieille Case
    December 8, 2010

    Dominica indeed has a lot to offer, but we are not thinking long term…or strategically to that matter!

    Y didn’t we use the land that was paid for by the UWP administration and build a good international airport? Y did we spend so much money to fix an airport that has its strip in d wrong direction?

    Why a coffee plant? Who r we gona compete with the Jamaican Blue mountains? Or at least, why not select farmers to grow coffee, and then build and develop a plant or factory?

    What can we do to make us unique? To make us sustainable?

    DNO never posts my comments i believe is because i sometimes criticize their writing styles, anyway, it is now much better.

  3. The Honorable Senator?
    December 7, 2010

    Effective marketing and they not Defying the Everyday…like we do in Dominica. They “Creating Endless Possibilities and Capivating the Spirits and Souls to Come Back to Jamaica…and have a Jolly Good Time” New and Repaet Business and an INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT not a Melville Hall LIAT Airport. We need an International Airport that will enable us to attract new business…how much more we need to hear this. Ralph Gonzalves heard it and he fooled us and told us don’t do it but now he doing it for St Vincent and the Grenadines at Argyle…soon to be by 2012, the Argyle International Airport…but we still defying the every day and defying the need for an International Long Haul Jet Airport and we continue to say don’t build it and they will come. HOW FOOLISH WE BE. We want the cake there and still want to eat it. LOL. We need that airport man I vex. People’s Parliament and House of Parliament where all you be people…

  4. flawless
    December 7, 2010

    way to go jamaica,i’ll be vsiting next year such a beautiful island.dominicans please help develop the tourist industry.

  5. FED UP DOMINICAN
    December 7, 2010

    Most of the non caribbean people I know that visit Jamaica dont really know Jamaica. All they rave about is the great time that they had in their 5 star hotel complex. They rarely go on tours. The adventorous ones if they meet someone working in the hotel and feel that they can trust them, will venture beyond the hotel grounds. Most have never even visited Kingston.

    I’ve never heard of a part of Dominica that is a no go area, where you need a trusted person to follow you around. Dominica has so much more to offer. OK we don’t have shopping malls, but who needs them when you are on holiday.

    Lets not take Jamaica’s glory away from them, but lets big up Dominica were you are free to wonder around safely.

    • stupesist
      December 8, 2010

      Not for long….

    • Vieille Case
      December 8, 2010

      Not for long!! Lots of young people -and old are now becoming more involved in criminal/antisocial/delinquent bahaviours we need to put a curb on that!

  6. just facts
    December 7, 2010

    Very simple. Marketing and Access.

  7. Anonymous
    December 7, 2010

    STOP HATING!

  8. PUNISHMENT
    December 7, 2010

    JAMAICA YOU CAN GET A FOUR STAR HOTEL (ALL INCLUSIVE)_AND AIR FARE FOR 600 US FROM JFK NOW TELL ME THATS NOT A DEAL FOR SOMEONE WHO IS STRUGGLING TO MAKES ENDS MEET THAT NEDS A VACATION WHERAS ANY OTHER SMALL ISLAND THATS JUST THE AIR FARE….I AM A DCAN BUT WOULD GO TO JAMAICAN BECAUSE I GET MORE FOR MY MONEY

  9. Mike Nugent & Louis Armstrong
    December 7, 2010

    This is interesting but the question I have to ask is what percentage of every dollar that comes in goes towards servicing external debt?

  10. stupesist
    December 7, 2010

    Well obviously, its a known fact that the authorities turn a blind eye to tourists smoking ganja. In these tough times many are seeking a “vacation” from their daily persona’s and enjoying what life really has to offer.

  11. The Third Side
    December 7, 2010

    This is really impressive numbers and gives hope to the rest of the Caribbean

  12. mouth of the south
    December 7, 2010

    i guess they love the sensi millia,,,,the same one they fighting in dominica,,,,,i mean what else could them tourist becoming for,,,,them 5 star hotels providing the highest grade as a specialty to them tourists lol :lol: :lol: :lol:

  13. The Third Side
    December 7, 2010

    WHAT?

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