ST JAMES, Jamaica (JIS) – Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says the highest number of visitors for any July was recorded this year, amounting to 211,000.

In an interview with JIS News, the minister pointed out that the figure did not include nationals of Jamaica.

Bartlett said that July’s performance is a clear indication of the outstanding performance of the tourism sector during this summer, and that Jamaica remains on track for record arrival and earning figures for the calendar year.

“It indicates that this is the strongest summer that we will have. It also means that we are on track to top the US$2.5 billion that was earned last year and to host nearly four million visitors this year,” the minister said.

He pointed out that very strong marketing and new strategies for the promotion of Jamaica as a preferred destination are some of the reasons for the country’s good showing, especially during July.

The minister noted that Jamaica’s air connectivity is the driving force behind the country doing very well in arrivals at this time.

“The marketing has been strong and the destination is a powerful destination… but our air connectivity is a central part of the increase in our arrivals,” he said.

Bartlett said the United States and Europe continue to be Jamaica’s strongest markets, adding that he will be leading a team to Canada at the end of this month to meet

with travel partners and other tourism stakeholders in an effort to boost arrivals from that destination.