KINGSTON, Jamaica — Senior Advisor and Strategist in the Ministry of Tourism, Delano Seiveright says official tourist arrival numbers as at the first week of May are ahead of the same period in 2023, which was a major growth year for the sector.

Seiveright noted that Jamaica recorded just over 1.7 million tourist arrivals up to the first week of May with just more than one million stopover arrivals and more than 700,000 cruise passengers.

“This represents a remarkable 4.6 per cent increase for stopover arrivals and a whopping 23 per cent increase for cruise passengers,” said Seiveright.

“The still strong numbers also reinforce the continued success of efforts and strategies piloted by Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett and his team since the devastating impact of the COVID -19 pandemic,” added Seiveright.

He pointed out that despite the decelerating effect of headwinds created by growing global economic uncertainties, relatively high inflation and interest rates in primary markets, and the negative effects of recent travel advisories, the Ministry of Tourism and its agencies continue to effect multipronged initiatives and actions to bolster growth.

Seiveright also noted that the world’s largest online travel agency, Expedia, recently cut 1,500 employees or nine per cent of its global staff due in part to slowing travel demand.

As it relates to most recent Level 3 US Travel advisory, Seiveright noted that Government at the very highest levels, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson-Smith, Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Audrey Marks and several other Government officials, private sector leaders and influential US citizens  have and continue to treat this very seriously.

“There have been multiple engagements with high ranking US officials across the State Department, Congress and so on. Several other countries impacted by similar negative travel advisories have raised concerns too.

“The Jamaica Tourist Board also continues to work around the clock with its global team including its public relations and advertising teams and international partners like airlines, tour operators, travel agents, hotels and other critical stakeholders to drive Jamaica’s tourism growth efforts despite the odds,” said Seiveright.