tourism boom in jamaica

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Tourism in Jamaica has been booming ever since the island country removed its pandemic travel restrictions.

Indeed, the number of tourists traveling to Jamaica climbed nearly 100 percent in the first 3 months of this year. That surge in visitors, combined with airport staffing shortages, created long lines and wait times at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay — the country’s main airport.

“For the January to March 2023 period, it is estimated that Jamaica welcomed 1.18 million visitors, which represents growth of 94.4 percent when compared to the same period in 2022,” said Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s minister of tourism, according to Breaking Travel News . “It was the biggest and best winter season Jamaica has ever had in the history of tourism.”

Sangster Airport, however, struggled to accommodate the notable influx of travelers.

“The [post-pandemic] recovery has been stronger than anticipated and everybody all over the world is having difficulty with their airports because many of the workers have not come back,” Bartlett said, according to the Associated Press .

While it won’t immediately solve the problem, the government plans to spend more on technology improvements at the airport while also working to decrease the amount of manual paperwork, Bartlett continues. That initiative includes ending the requirement for all visitors to fill out an entry form upon arriving in Jamaica.

Addressing The Growing Number Of Tourists

Minister Bartlett recently told Jamaica’s Parliament that arrivals for 2022 were up by 117 percent when Jamaica welcomed 3.3 million visitors, Breaking Travel News reports.

The Tourism Ministry has plans to draw even more visitors, and consequently increase Jamaica’s earnings from those tourists. Specifically, its plans call for drawing 5 million visitors annually by 2025, the Associated Press notes.

Since most tourists use Sangster, Jamaica’s $70 million modernization and expansion project already underway at the airport becomes even more important, Prime Minister Andrew Holness explains.

The project includes lengthening the runway, which is expected to be completed in June. Other improvements include expanding the immigration hall and departure lounge, and putting at least 60 self-service kiosks in the airport’s check-in area to streamline check-in and reduce passenger processing and waiting times.

“The project will make Jamaica more attractive and make Jamaica more competitive with other countries in the region that have also invested heavily in improving their infrastructure,” Holness said.

Not Quite Ready For “Digital Nomads”

If you’re able to work from home, regardless of where home is, Jamaica’s not quite ready for you, Bartlett explains. That may soon change, however.

“The essence of it, of course, is the building out of the infrastructure that will enable us to tap into this new demographic because digital nomads are characterized by the need for technology, and the ‘Internet of Things’ will play a great role in their ability to stay in destinations like Jamaica for extended periods,” Bartlett told the Jamaica Observer . “What is required for them is high-quality accommodations.”

Then again, an eight-story luxury condominium complex being built on the historic Racquet Club property in Montego Bay may help address that issue. The complex, a $1.5-billion project, is being developed by Jamaican real estate development firm Boria Limited.

“The low-density condominium mixed-use development, wrapped in the modern technology and conveniences of the 21st century, is the kind of statement that we want to have made about the new product offering of Destination Jamaica,” Bartlett said in a statement .

While you’re thinking about it, be sure to read all of our Jamaica content, including:

• My 7 Favorite All-Inclusive Resorts In Jamaica
• Our 7 Favorite All-Inclusive Resorts In The Caribbean 2022
• Luxury Boutique Hotels To Stay At In Jamaica

Jim Fulcher has been a writer and editor his entire career. In addition to writing, he also enjoys traveling--particularly in an RV. Over the course of numerous trips, Jim has driven an RV through West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. His favorite national park is Yellowstone, which he has visited three times.

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Tourism booms in Jamaica after pandemic, overwhelms airport

Montego Bay, Jamaica, is experiencing a surge in tourism that is causing headaches the island’s main airport. (AP Graphic)

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KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — The number of tourists flocking to Jamaica’s sun-drenched beaches soared nearly 100% in the first three months of the year, causing long queues and hours-long waits for arriving passengers at the island’s main airport.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett told The Associated Press that the problem stemmed from a shortage of airport staff to process the unexpected volume of people flying into Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay since the end of the pandemic.

Bartlett told Parliament later that day that there were 1.18 million arrivals from January through March — 94% more than the same period of 2022 and a record high for Jamaica’s tourism high season.

“The recovery has been stronger than anticipated and everybody all over the world is having difficulty with their airports because … (many) of the workers have not come back,” Bartlett said.

He said authorities plan to spend more on technology as they strive to do away with paperwork at the airport, including ending a requirement for visitors to fill out a form upon arrival.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the problems at Sangster underscore the need to push through the $70 million modernization and expansion project that already was underway.

The work is scheduled to be completed by 2025, and Honess said the improvements at the Caribbean’s largest and busiest airport “will make Jamaica more attractive and make Jamaica more competitive with other countries in the region, which have also invested heavily in improving their infrastructure.”

As part of the project, the runway is being lengthened at a cost of $34 million, work that is expected to be finished in June.

“We are excited about the prospects of Sangster being able to accommodate these mega airlines that will be flying to Jamaica and the Caribbean,” Bartlett said during the AP interview last week.

He said the Tourism Ministry’s growth plan aims to have the island draw 5 million visitors annually by 2025. That would be a 35% increase from Jamaica’s peak of 3.7 million tourists in 2022.

Bartlett said Asian and Middle Eastern countries are among new markets being targeted and the airport must be able to accommodate the larger aircraft that would be used on such long-haul flights.

In 2019, before the pandemic, the airport processed 4.7 million passengers, including citizens and visitors. The number of tourists to Jamaica peaked at 3.7 million in 2022, 70% of whom used the Sangster gateway.

Sangster is managed by MBJ Airports Ltd., a consortium 74.5% owned by a subsidiary of the Mexican airports operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico and the rest by Vantage Airport Group of Canada.

The consortium, which has a 30-year concession that began in 2003, said it spent $287 million to improve the airport in the first 18 years of the deal.

Among the improvements, the airport operator has expanded the immigration hall and departure lounge. The check-in area was recently outfitted with 60 self-service kiosks, with plans to install more, to reduce passenger processing and waiting times.

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Jamaica Has a New Tourism Goal: 8 Million Visitors

Jamaica has a new tourism ambition: 8 million combined air and cruise visitors. 

That’s the goal stated by Jamaica Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, who said the island is already anticipating a “tourism boom.”

“We are going after 8 million visitors to Jamaica and $10 billion USD in earnings,” Bartlett said this week. 

Bartlett said Jamaica has 20,000 new hotel rooms at some stage of development, with developments concentrated in areas like St Ann, Trelawny and St James. 

Jamaica is experiencing a record-breaking year so far in 2023, with projections showing 4 million visitors by the end of the year. 

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Post-covid-19 tourism investment & arrivals boom.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; April 6, 2022 : Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has painted a picture of Jamaica’s tourism industry as a sector booming with investment and arrivals as it emerges stronger and more resilient from the fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an upbeat Sectoral Presentation to Parliament yesterday (April 5), Mr. Bartlett declared that: “By the end of 2023, the number of visitors to Jamaica is predicted to reach 4.1 million, with 1.6 million cruise passengers, 2.5 million stopover arrivals, and US$4.2 billion in revenue.”

He said the stage has been set with a number of initiatives that have been put in place with some already showing positive results. A Tourism Strategy and Action Plan (TSAP) has been devised to help boost the competitiveness of the destination and products, enhance resilience, as well as develop and deploy mechanisms to promote innovation and entrepreneurship within the sector. The TSAP is to be finalized during this financial year.

Concurrently, implementation of the Blue Ocean Strategic Framework introduced last year, will continue guiding data gathering on the shifting preferences of visitors, while providing for suitable accommodations and experiences, ensuring suitable governance arrangements, and critically, train a first-class workforce to share world-leading goods and services with visitors.

With new investments and new markets being targeted, the stage is now set for a return to the pre-COVID-19 growth pattern.

Despite the challenges faced in the industry, Mr. Bartlett said the investment climate was booming with Jamaica experiencing its largest hotel and resort development expansion in any single year. “A total of $2 billion will be invested to bring 8,500 rooms on stream over the next five to ten years, creating some 24,000 part-time and full-time jobs and at least 12,000 jobs for construction workers,” he outlined.

Currently under construction are the 2,000-room Princess Resort in Hanover, nearly 2,000 rooms in the multi-faceted Hard Rock Resort development consisting of three other hotel brands; just under 1,000 rooms being built by Sandals and Beaches in St. Ann.

Additionally, the hotel infrastructure will be boosted by the 1,000-room Viva Wyndham Resort north of Negril, RIU Hotel in Trelawny with approximately 700 rooms, Secrets Resort in Richmond St. Ann, with around 700 rooms and Bahia Principe undertaking a massive expansion by its parent company, Grupo Piñero, out of Spain.

Minister Bartlett expressed delight that 90 per cent of planned tourism investments have remained on track, citing this as “a huge vote of confidence from our investors in Brand Jamaica.”

He posited that these developments in the tourism industry, “will undoubtedly have a positive effect on the economy and directly benefit thousands of Jamaicans,” adding that “at least 12,000 construction workers, multiple building contractors, engineers, project managers, and a variety of other specialists will be needed to assure the timely completion of these projects.” Also, thousands of tourism workers must be trained in areas such as management, food and beverage services, housekeeping, tour guiding, and reception.

The development thrust also includes continuation of the upgrading of Negril in keeping with a Destination Management Plan that is to be finalized in this financial year. Mr. Bartlett said investments envisaged in 13 projects will ensure that Negril keeps pace with or even surpasses similar destinations in the region. Marquee projects include a town centre and beach park, a craft market, a farmer’s market, and a fishing village.

On the island’s eastern end, a premier sustainable destination plan is unfolding for St. Thomas, that will allow visitors and Jamaicans alike to increasingly enjoy the unique ecosystems and cultural heritage of the parish. The Tourism Destination Development and Management Plan for St. Thomas as the new frontier, will see approximately US$205 million in public investment and more than twice that amount in private investment.

Commencing this fiscal year, the Ministry of Tourism will develop Rocky Point Beach, establish way-finding stations in Yallahs, rehabilitate the road to Bath Fountain Hotel, as well as leverage strategic partnerships to develop heritage sites such as Fort Rocky and the Morant Bay Monument while other arms of government undertake significant upgrades to the road and water pipeline networks.

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Tourism boom: Jamaica’s Tourism Minister says TEF records robust 13.54% growth in inflows

The tourism industry, a vital contributor to this economic growth, continues to flourish with increased foreign national arrivals. For the mentioned quarter, stopover visitor arrivals surged by 5.5% to 682,586 visitors. While cruise passenger arrivals experienced a modest decline of 20.5%, totaling an estimated 178,412 visitors compared to the corresponding quarter in 2022.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA – Tourism Minister , Hon. Edmund Bartlett , has announced that, from fiscal year to date, approximately $5.6 billion has been collected by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF). This represents an impressive growth of 13.54% compared to the same period last year and a remarkable 15.68% increase compared to the corresponding period in 2019. These funds are generated through the US$20 fee for incoming airline passengers and the US$2 fee for cruise passengers, directly contributing to the Consolidated Fund.

Projections for the full fiscal year, spanning April 2023 to March 2024, are equally promising. The TEF estimates a total collection of approximately $9.3 billion, signalling a robust 14.98% increase over the last financial year and a substantial 14.89% rise compared to 2019.

“The TEF is on a record path for this fiscal year and is now projected to bring $9.3 billion to our revenue, which is 1.2 billion more than the last fiscal year. That represents almost 15% more than our best year, 2019,” said Bartlett.

This positive news aligns with the recent economic report from the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), which revealed an estimated 1.9% growth in the economy during the July–September 2023 quarter compared to the same period last year. Notably, the hotel and restaurants industry experienced a notable real value-added growth of eight percent during the quarter.

“The tourism industry continues to make positive contributions to GDP expansions in the economy. The 10th consecutive quarter of growth was realised, in fact, in the 3rd quarter of this year, when tourism’s contribution to GDP was 7.8%. This positive trend is not only in terms of direct contribution to GDP as reflected in the PIOJ reports but is also in terms of direct revenue that goes into the consolidated fund,” said Bartlett.

As Jamaica positions itself as a global tourism hub, these financial achievements underscore the confidence and support the TEF receives from both visitors and industry stakeholders.

Dr. Carey Wallace , Executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, expressed enthusiasm over the positive trajectory. “The continued growth in our collections is a testament to the resilience and appeal of Jamaica as a premier tourist destination. The funds generated will contribute significantly to the ongoing development and enhancement of our tourism sector and Jamaica in general.”

The TEF, established under the TEF Act, derives its revenue primarily from the Tourism Enhancement Fee, which stands at US$20 for incoming airline passengers and US$2 for cruise passengers. In 2017, the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) transitioned from a self-financing entity to a budget-funded entity, which resulted in several changes to the financial reporting framework.

The TEF has the responsibility to collect the fees for all chargeable passengers by air or sea and to ensure it is paid directly to the Consolidated Fund. Additionally, TEF also manages the funding to the organization provided through the estimates of expenditures which is monitored by the Ministry of Finance & the Public Service. These funds are then dedicated to supporting and financing various tourism projects aimed at enhancing Jamaica’s tourism sector.

Theodore Koumelis

Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.

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Tourism booms in jamaica after pandemic, overwhelms airport.

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — The number of tourists flocking to Jamaica’s sun-drenched beaches soared nearly 100% in the first three months of the year, causing long queues and hours-long waits for arriving passengers at the island's main airport.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett told The Associated Press that the problem stemmed from a shortage of airport staff to process the unexpected volume of people flying into Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay since the end of the pandemic.

Bartlett told Parliament later that day that there were 1.18 million arrivals from January through March — 94% more than the same period of 2022 and a record high for Jamaica’s tourism high season.

“The recovery has been stronger than anticipated and everybody all over the world is having difficulty with their airports because … (many) of the workers have not come back,” Bartlett said.

He said authorities plan to spend more on technology as they strive to do away with paperwork at the airport, including ending a requirement for visitors to fill out a form upon arrival.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the problems at Sangster underscore the need to push through the $70 million modernization and expansion project that already was underway.

The work is scheduled to be completed by 2025, and Honess said the improvements at the Caribbean’s largest and busiest airport "will make Jamaica more attractive and make Jamaica more competitive with other countries in the region, which have also invested heavily in improving their infrastructure.”

As part of the project, the runway is being lengthened at a cost of $34 million, work that is expected to be finished in June.

“We are excited about the prospects of Sangster being able to accommodate these mega airlines that will be flying to Jamaica and the Caribbean,” Bartlett said during the AP interview last week.

He said the Tourism Ministry’s growth plan aims to have the island draw 5 million visitors annually by 2025. That would be a 35% increase from Jamaica's peak of 3.7 million tourists in 2022.

Bartlett said Asian and Middle Eastern countries are among new markets being targeted and the airport must be able to accommodate the larger aircraft that would be used on such long-haul flights.

In 2019, before the pandemic, the airport processed 4.7 million passengers, including citizens and visitors. The number of tourists to Jamaica peaked at 3.7 million in 2022, 70% of whom used the Sangster gateway.

Sangster is managed by MBJ Airports Ltd., a consortium 74.5% owned by a subsidiary of the Mexican airports operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico and the rest by Vantage Airport Group of Canada.

The consortium, which has a 30-year concession that began in 2003, said it spent $287 million to improve the airport in the first 18 years of the deal.

Among the improvements, the airport operator has expanded the immigration hall and departure lounge. The check-in area was recently outfitted with 60 self-service kiosks, with plans to install more, to reduce passenger processing and waiting times.

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Jamaica: Tourism Boom Set to Continue

Jamaica anticipates tourism growth, expecting 4.2M visitors in FY2023/24 to 5M by FY2025/26.

Stopover arrivals are up, mainly from the U.S., with cruise numbers rebounding but not at pre-COVID levels.

Tourism gains match a 2.2% GDP growth forecast, despite natural disaster risks.

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Jamaica 2024: What is Next for the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Destination?

The Jamaica Tourist Board is proudly reflecting on a year of extraordinary success and is setting its sights on an even brighter future

The Jamaica Tourist Board is proudly reflecting on a year of extraordinary success and is setting its sights on an even brighter future.

In 2023, Jamaica’s tourism surged, welcoming over four million visitors and surpassing $4.2 billion in earnings, marking a remarkable 17.8% increase from the previous year. This surge highlights Jamaica’s resilience amidst global challenges, solidifying its position as a premier travel destination and a top choice for UK holidaymakers in the Caribbean. As Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, explains, “The unprecedented success in tourism hasn’t just elevated Jamaica’s global prominence, but has also acted as a driving force for the overall national economic progress.”

The heart-warming resonance of Jamaica’s “Come Back” campaign continues to captivate global visitors, offering an invitation to rejuvenate one’s soul in Jamaica’s warm embrace. From explorations at the Rastafari Indigenous Village to indulging in the finest coffee in the world along the Jamaica Blue Mountain Culinary Trail, visitors embark on journeys uncovering unique flavours within this UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site. Hon. Edmund Bartlett emphasises, “The pursuit for authentic, eco-conscious experiences and cultural immersion is at the core of what travellers seek, and Jamaica excels in delivering just that.”

Following the “Come Back” campaign, Jamaica continues to push the boundaries as it sets plans to introduce 8,500 new rooms by 2025, a 33% increase in room capacity, and elevate foreign exchange earnings by nearly 50%. Donovan White, Director of Tourism, elaborates, “Our bullish tourism recovery plan has enabled us to set our targets high and implement our latest plans as we continue to unveil new horizons in tourism, with the exciting addition of Excellence Oyster Bay, Wyndham, and the vibrant arrival of Hard Rock Hotel and Casino”. These new establishments embody the spirit of the island’s dedication to diverse hospitality experiences, inviting travellers to indulge in unparalleled luxury, authentic cultural immersion, and thrilling entertainment options.

Building on this momentum, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has set a target to welcome 250,000 visitors from the UK and Ireland by 2025, aligning with Jamaica’s position as the top Caribbean choice for British travellers. Jamaica’s tourism development enters an unprecedented phase with investments totalling $4 to $5 billion. Notable among the island’s developments is the projection of 20,000 new rooms in the next 10 to 15 years, including the much-anticipated debut of 2,000 new rooms in 2024. Exciting upcoming openings include the first 1,000 rooms of the Princess Grand Jamaica, the 753-room Riu Palace Aquarelle, and the 450-room Unico Hotel in Montego Bay.

Moreover, Jamaica is committed to preserving its breathtaking natural landscapes, guiding stakeholders toward mindful and sustainable growth practices. Many accommodation offerings on the island have established sustainable and eco-friendly measures, earning recognition and certification from international organizations. With sustainability driving its robust tourism strategy, Director of Tourism Donovan White emphasizes, “We are blessed to showcase such a beautiful asset and will always strive to present our island at its fullest potential.”

Jamaica remains steadfast in preserving its rich culture and heritage, offering visitors immersive experiences through community tourism initiatives, further enriching its diverse offerings. From delving into the Rastafarian way of life to engaging in traditional cooking classes, visitors can actively contribute to preserving, respecting, and celebrating the island’s native culture.

Regarding airlift, the island’s accessibility continues to expand with a new Norse flight from Montego Bay that commenced on the 1 st  of December 2023, operating four times a week from London Gatwick. Furthermore, significant modernisation plans for Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport, such as the $70 million runway expansion, infrastructure upgrades, and enhanced facilities like the first-ever Bob Marley branded restaurant, underline Jamaica’s commitment to visitor satisfaction and convenience.

Regional Director of UK & Northern Europe, Elizabeth Fox, reiterates the commitment to Jamaica’s brighter future, “With our visionary tourism recovery strategy fuelling the ‘Come Back’ campaign, we navigate beyond recovery to growth, with unwavering determination towards our goals.”

Jamaica’s proactive stance towards recovery and sustainability solidifies its standing as a top global destination, promising enriching experiences for those seeking natural wonders and cultural treasures.

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Jamaica builds strong foundations to welcome new markets

J amaica’s tourism experienced a boom in 2023, welcoming more than four million visitors and surpassing $4.2 billion in earnings, which was a 17.8 percent increase from 2022.

One reason for this increase in footfall is possibly the change in demographics that the Caribbean is witnessing and working towards catering to. “[We are] looking at opening new gateways to Asia, America, Middle East but also to diversify the demographics. It is the moment for the Caribbean to build local capacity to absorb these new markets. One billion new tariffs are expected to be added to the travelscape the next 25 to 30 years,” explains Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism in an interview with TTN Middle East.

“We were increasing our human capacity to deal with this, with newer training. Also, we have to make tourism more attractive for the young people, in particular.”

Jamaica is at the centre of this growth and has already set up the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation, which is a part of a Training and Certification Institute. “We’re working with the American Hotel and Lodging Institute of America and pulling our foundation to create the certification that is acceptable internationally. So, in that way, we’re making workers mobile, giving them opportunity for over more upward mobility within the organisation and also portability to move from one part of the world to the other,” says Bartlett.

The UNIDO had indicated that 80 per cent of tourism was small and medium enterprises, but only 20 per cent of the returns from tourism went to them. We saw the asymmetry there and said, ‘Okay, we have to rebalance that anomaly– Edmund Bartlett

The country is also working on offering social security to its workers. “Jamaica has the only tourism workers pension plan in the entire world. Meaning, every worker, anyone who works within the tourism space, as long as 30 percent of their gainful employment is derived from tourism-related activity, they are eligible for it,” he adds.

Tourism is clearly very important to Jamaica, and so it’s also putting its muscle behind helping people gather the skill sets they require to service the industry. “We have to bring that consciousness to the young, to create a curriculum for them in the high schools. And Jamaica has established a programme of an associate degree in healthcare management and customer service at the high school level so that every year we’ll be turning out young, qualified entrants into the tourism industry,” he adds.

The country is also looking at expanding its ability to welcome tourists. “We are looking at expanding our rooms, we’re looking at 20,000 new rooms over the next 10-16 years,” says Bartlett.

NEW LAUNCHES

Among the new openings this year are Princess Grand Jamaica, which is set to open on Green Island Hanover in June. The 590-suite resort will feature everything from kids’ pools to waterslides. The same company, Princess, will simultaneously also launch the adults-only retreat of Princess Senses The Mangrove on Green Island. With 415 ocean-view suites and 14 overwater villas, the trip here promises to be unforgettable.

Meanwhile, the 753-room Hotel Riu Palace Aquarelle will open its doors in Falmouth, Jamaica in summer.

ENTERPRISE SUPPORT

Jamaica is also looking at embracing new tech. “Digitisation is critical to the new exponential tourism,” explains Bartlett.

And it’s focused on enabling small and medium tourism enterprises (SME). “We wanted to develop a strategy and set the policies in relation to them. We’ve put three distinct policy areas at work. One is to train and develop a capacity for smaller enterprises. We train young entrepreneurs to manage the business, basic accounting, how to write a business plan, and how to deal with marketing and then also utilise platforms for digital marketing.

“The second element of it is financing. We established a facility at the ExIm Bank in June. We put 1 billion Jamaican dollars and lending to these enterprises, at affordable interest rates.”

“The third is marketing. So we run the whole journey,” he explains.

For the small agricultural producers, he adds, Jamaica has created a platform called Alex where the small farmers have a chance now to connect with the purveyors of hotels directly. “Last year, we had 1 billion Jamaican dollars of trading on the back of Alex,” he says.

STRIKING A BALANCE

The seed to enable these SMTs has been in the offing for years. “We develop[ed] a whole concept around the small and medium tourism enterprise and actually wrote a paper on it for the G20 meeting that was held in Argentina in 2017. The UNIDO [United Nations Industrial Development Organization] at the time had indicated that 80 per cent of tourism was small and medium enterprises, but only 20 per cent of the returns from tourism went to them. We saw the asymmetry there and said, ‘Okay, we have to rebalance that anomaly’,” says Bartlett.

Meanwhile, Jamaica’s ‘Come Back’ ad campaign, launched back in 2022, continues to pay dividends. The initiative aims to invite global visitors to explore the island’s offerings, from the Rastafari Indigenous Village to indulging in the finest coffee in the world along the Jamaica Blue Mountain Culinary Trail.

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Over 200 Indian nationals who landed aboard an unauthorized chartered flight to Jamaica from Germany were seen freely roaming around Downtown, Kingston over the weekend, sparking fears of a significant breach in national security protocols.

On Friday, the chartered flight with 218 individuals, mostly Indians, arrived in Jamaica at Norman Manley International Airport. But the aircraft, registered in Germany, lacked the necessary approvals to land in Jamaica, including a passenger manifest.

The charter failed to disclose that it was arriving in Jamaica to Jamaican authorities. The charter also had no arrangements to take the passengers back to their destination.

Adding to the intrigue, the flight had made a stopover in Dubai, where an Uzbek national was reportedly picked up. This individual, according to a TVJ News report, is of interest to U.S. government officials.

Despite the irregularities, airport authorities permitted the aircraft to land, allowing passengers to disembark. They were then granted permission to stay at the upscale ROK Hotel in Downtown Kingston, albeit under police guard. Authorities justified this decision by citing the lack of detention facilities at the airport and the absence of space in local remand centers.

The passengers were booked to stay at the hotel in Jamaica but did not pay for the rooms, according to the report.

However, concerns mounted over the weekend as many of the passengers were observed freely exploring the city, engaging in activities like shopping, without proper supervision. There were reports that some may have left the hotel entirely.

The chartered aircraft remains impounded on the airport tarmac.

German embassy in Jamaica has intervened

The German Embassy in Kingston is now involved in the matter as the crew members onboard are German nationals.

Reports indicate that crew members aboard the flight are disgruntled by the unexpected turn of events. Their initial plan was a brief stopover in Jamaica before continuing their journey.

Security authorities are also now probing whether the incident was part of a possible human smuggling operation.

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Carnival triggering tourism, economic boom

MINISTER of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange will be meeting with Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett to see how they can convince investors to provide more rooms in Kingston to accommodate the large and growing number of visitors who flock the island for carnival week.

Carnival week featured a series of parties and events which ended on Sunday with the carnival road march. Thousands of patrons flocked each event, expensive as some of them were.

Minister Grange — who attended a few of the events, including Wi Fete on Saturday at Sabina Park in Kingston and the road march the following day — told the Jamaica Observer that Jamaica will soon begin to rival Trinidad when it comes to hosting carnival. As a result, there is an urgent need for hotels and spaces to accommodate the anticipated influx of visitors to Kingston.

“Carnival in Jamaica is growing and is growing rapidly. It is impacting on the economy and it’s really creating a demand for more rooms in Kingston. And especially with Machel Montano and the connection now where it is almost a grand link-up with the Caribbean? Carnival in Jamaica can only get stronger.

“We need more rooms because we’re going to need to provide a lot more offerings outside of just carnival day. There are many attractions we are going to have to create because we have people coming from all over the world and from the Caribbean as well. I think carnival in Jamaica will rival carnival in Trinidad. With our fusion of soca and reggae, we have two great genres that we can offer in a more substantial way than anywhere else in the world. Minister Bartlett and I work closely together and with carnival, reggae and dancehall — we’ll build that brand. We will also be able to say we are contributing tremendously to the economy and tourism,” Grange told the Observer .

Further, senior strategist in the Ministry of Tourism Delano Seiveright told the Observer that carnival in Jamaica led to hotels, Airbnbs and other shared booking platforms in Kingston and St Andrew coming close to being 100 per cent booked out.

“Yes, carnival bookings certainly from Wednesday of last week to Monday [contributed],” Seiveright said.

He added: “Carnival in Jamaica is a multimillion-dollar activity. This money goes into hotels, bars, Airbnb, taxi operators and other transportation operators, photographers, security, events management, vendors, hairdressers and other people in that stream of business that relates to carnival. This is significant for big businesses, but also micro businesses”.

Seiveright said that carnival was a success but pointed to a few challenges which have to be worked out going forward.

“Among them was high airfares. We had a challenge [regarding] the airport in Fort Lauderdale being out of commission on Thursday and much of Friday because of the flooding. Fort Lauderdale is a critical connecting point for many visitors from the diaspora and also people coming from the Caribbean who connect through Florida to get to Jamaica. Of course, there was also competition. There was a soca cruise event that took quite a bit of the numbers over a week ago, and that is something we have to take careful note of.”

The feedback from vendors at Wi Fete was testament to the growth of soca and carnival in Jamaica and the economic benefits attached to both.

Leo Allen, a vendor selling flags, horns and other items used by partygoers, travelled from May Pen in Clarendon to Sabina Park. After the event he said that he, “really and truly made a money. It’s a good look and next year a guh better. I hustle straight — at every dance and stage show — all over Jamaica”.

Everald Chambers, a vendor from Kingston, said the profit made from Wi Fete was “heavy” and showed gratitude to the patrons for being free-handed.

“Dem just spend and have a good time,” he remarked.

Visitors also gave carnival week outstanding reviews.

Niklas from Germany, in the best way he could, said Wi Fete was “great” and “amazing” and was already looking forward to next year’s staging.

Niklas’s French friend, Bierrick Laq, flew in just to experience what carnival was like in Jamaica and was really impressed. He expressed hope to find a wife in Jamaica.

The streets of Kingston and St Andrew were flooded with carnival revellers, many of whom spent thousands of dollars to attend the parties and the road marches.

One woman who attended most of the events, including the road march, said “the economy bathe”.

“Before carnival I owned one pair of sneakers for jogging. Because of carnival I bought one pair for feting purposes. I ended up owning four additional sneakers to attend different events during carnival week. The costume makers benefited, but the small businesses benefited greatly. Carnival made people go out and spend.”

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Airbnb boom offers opportunity for job creation

With the country recording 29 per cent of all visitors who came to Jamaica in 2023 staying at Airbnbs, Norman Dunn, state minister in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, believes there is room for much improvement in the creation of jobs this year.

While speaking at the launch of Courts’ 65th anniversary celebrations, which took place at the furniture and appliance store’s head office along Oxford Road, Dunn last Wednesday, built on the information presented by Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett during the opening of the 2024-2025 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives a day earlier.

Data has indicated that, last year, Airbnbs in Jamaica generated an estimated $31.8 billion in gross earnings from 1.3 million guest nights.

“It is a new dynamic business model that is revolutionising the accommodation subsector and is generating income and resources to the ordinary people across the length and breadth of Jamaica,” Bartlett had said on Tuesday.

In riding on the wave, Dunn said he wanted persons to know that Airbnb is the way forward for Jamaica to create more jobs and income through tourism, and stores - such as Courts which was launching its list of anniversary events in recognition of its 65 years in Jamaica - have benefited tremendously from furniture and appliance sales for these Airbnb locations islandwide.

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“I want persons to understand that the Jamaica we’re building is the Jamaica for all; is inclusive Jamaica and the growth is an inclusive growth. You would have seen all of the physical infrastructural work going on across the country, whether we’re building highways, bridges, etc. It’s happening right before your eyes and, 65 years ago, I’m not sure what happened, and you have persons 65 years ago saying it was the best times of their lives. I know, for me, [now] it’s the best time of my life, because I’m seeing all these things happening right before my own eyes, including the birth of Airbnb, which is now a significant part of what you do,” Dunn said.

“So, if we didn’t have a strong and growing economy, developers would not see the benefit of investing, and Courts [for example] would not see the benefits of selling items to these developers, home owners, etc,” he said.

Errol Le Blanc, vice president, Unicomer Caribbean – owners of Courts – who was a tourist himself visiting Jamaica for the launch event, said the company would be re-opening its St Ann’s Bay store in Drax Hall, St Ann, a north coast area where Airbnbs are known to be booming on the island.

“This new store is very strategically located to serve a very vibrant tourism zone on the north coast, catering to customers who have homes, villas and the new kid in town, the Airbnbs, to be furnished,” Le Blanc said.

“This expansion into Drax Hall represents our commitment to innovation and growth, as we aim to meet the evolving needs of our customers and provide them with a seamless and convenient shopping experience,” he said.

On May 15, Courts will celebrate its 65th anniversary of operations and sales in Jamaica after starting operations at its Cross Roads branch. The celebratory activities will start with church services on Sunday at various churches islandwide.

As part of the celebration on Friday, Courts Ready Cash, one of the company’s brands, which offers loans to Jamaicans to improve themselves and their businesses, gave Santana Williston a brand new 2024 Hyundai Creta SUV which she won in the Courts Ready Cash Big Money Move Competition.

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