With a record winter tourist season on the horizon and a
robust growth trajectory of its vibrant tourism industry, Edmund Bartlett,
Minister of Tourism, Jamaica,
has announced that the island is set to eclipse its growth projections for
visitor arrivals and tourism earnings for 2023.
In an update to the House of Representatives on December 12,
Minister Bartlett said, The island should record a total of 4,122,100 visitors
for the period January to December 2023. This would signal an increase of 23.7
percent over the total number of visitors recorded in 2022.
He added, Of this number, 2,875,549 are expected to be
stopover visitors, which would represent a 16 percent increase over the number
of stopover arrivals recorded in the previous year. Additionally, we expect to
end the year with a total of 1,246,551 cruise passengers, which would represent
a 46.1 percent increase over the tally for the previous year.
Bartlett stressed that the sectors record-breaking recovery
appears set to continue, stating, This continues the spectacular growth
pattern of tourism, with 10 consecutive quarters of substantial growth since
the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on arrival figures to date, all indications are
that we will be having an 11th quarter of significant expansion."
Regarding tourism earnings, Bartlett announced that the
influx of visitors is expected to generate $4.265 billion for 2023,
representing a projected increase of 17.8 percent over the revenue secured in
2022, and a 17.2 percent increase in revenue over 2019 pre-pandemic figures.
He further emphasized that if Jamaica continues on this
impressive growth trajectory, the island will be on track to surpass
projections of four million visitors and foreign exchange earnings of $4.1
billion by year-end.
Additionally, Bartlett provided an estimated breakdown of
these earnings, specifying direct revenues to the governments coffers. These
include contributions to the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) fees, Departure
Tax, Airport Improvement Fee, Airline Passenger Levy, Passenger fees and
charges, along with the Guest Accommodation Room Tax (GART), amounting to $336 million.
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