MONTEGO BAY, St James — Despite a number of headwinds that confronted Jamaica’s hospitality sector this year, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett remains confident that the destination will still manage to marginally eclipse last year’s historic performance.

In 2023, Jamaica welcomed a record 4.1 million visitors, a 25.5 per cent increase over 2022. Earnings in 2023 were projected to be $4.3 billion, a 17.8 per cent increase on 2022 and a 17.2 per cent increase from 2019.

Bartlett listed the hurdles that could have led to a decline in the numbers, but did not.

“It’s a funny year…with disruptions of aviation where we had less seats; Beryl came and we had weather events; travel advisories came and questioned certain things; and then came issues relating to cyber-attacks on our aviation database; and then, of course, we ended up with activities at home [staff protests at a number of hotels] — that is of importance — but could also create a view elsewhere that now it’s not the time to come,” he noted.

“Notwithstanding all of that, we are still about to end the year with a small increase over the best year in our history: 2023. I really want to use the opportunity to thank the team for this,” Bartlett said.

He was speaking Sunday during a ceremony to mark the return of Latam Airlines to Sangster Airport in Montego Bay.

“This is going to be a really strong winter, and this strength is being led by the resurgence of South America. But it’s not just a resurgence of South America now, but it’s an enhancement of our activities from South America. We have capacity now to bring 45,000 visitors from South America in this season and this year, and that is exciting news, that we are happy about,” Bartlett explained.

“Latam covers all the bases, and even though we recognise that there are some areas of South America to be touched, we know that most areas of South America are touched by Latam. But utilising the Lima gateway, the Lima hub, makes it even more exciting because now we are not only feeding from Latam into Lima, but Lima is being fed by other airlines that will now use Latam to come to Jamaica,” he added.

At the same time, arguing that Jamaica is the only destination where arrivals have increased by 100 per cent in eight years, Bartlett responded to Opposition spokesperson on tourism Senator Janice Allen who in her recent State of the Nation address in Gordon House blasted the Government for what she claimed was mismanagement of the tourism sector.

“We are the only government that has doubled earnings in tourism in eight years, and that eight years have been punctuated by the most existential threat to humanity since God made man on earth, COVID. We saw zero arrivals and zero earnings during COVID, and in two and a half years, we are now 4.3 million visitors and US$4.5 billion [in earnings]. Some less informed individuals suggest that we not managing the industry and we laugh. We laugh when they do that,” the minister said.

“We have grown this industry phenomenally and exponentially in the last eight years. We have managed this industry, and it’s not just Jamaica that gives us accreditation for management. The world recognises Jamaica and this Administration’s management of the tourism industry as being not only outstanding, but world class. We have many things to show and some people are less happy about some things that happened to us, and some are even jealous about some things that happened to us. But we do get the world to recognise that Jamaica is an outstanding destination for which they have awarded us,” he added.

Meanwhile, Republic of Chile’s Ambassador to Jamaica José Antonio Cabedo Espinosa described the re-established route as an important connection between Latin America and Jamaica.

“This flight from Latam is also improving our bilateral relations,” said the diplomat.

Shane Munroe, CEO of MBJ Airports Limited, operators of Sangster International Airport, described the flight as more than just an addition “to our flight roster”.

“It’s a pivotal enhancement of connectivity between Montego Bay and South America. This direct flight from Lima not only connects us to Peru but also integrates Montego Bay into Latam ‘s extensive network across South America. Passengers can now enjoy seamless connections to key cities such as São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Santiago, and Bogotá. This enhanced network connectivity positions Montego Bay as a crucial hub to South America for the travel and tourism industry,” Munroe explained.

The flight from Lima, Peru, will operate three times weekly on Thursday, Saturdays and Sundays.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett (second right) and Republic of Chile’s Ambassador to Jamaica José Antonio Cabedo Espinosa (right) greet members of a family who arrived on the inaugural flight for the return of Latam Airlines to the Sangster Airport in Montego Bay on Sunday. Photos: Horace Hines

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett used Sunday’s ceremony to welcome the return of Latam Airlines to blast Opposition spokesman on tourism Senator Janice Allen’s criticism of how the Government has handled the industry.