KINGSTON, Jamaica— The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) says the island is experiencing an unprecedented surge in tourism as the winter season sees the destination securing 1.6 million airline seats, underscoring the island’s status as one of the Caribbean’s most sought-after destinations.

JTB added that the strong demand for travel to Jamaica comes as international airlines continue to expand their offerings, making the island more accessible than ever to visitors from around the world.

“This is going to be the best winter season on record. This is the first winter that we have 1.6 million seats coming into Jamaica. We know that 1.6 million seats are 100 per cent of the flights that are coming but if we consider 80 per cent we are looking at 1.3 million visitors coming which is 12.8 per cent higher than last winter which is also 178,000 more seats,” said Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett.

To mark the beginning of the winter season, the JTB hosted an Appreciation Breakfast on December 15 at Sangster International Airport and on December 18 at Norman Manley International Airport. The event was held to express gratitude to the airport staff for their valuable contributions to the tourism sector and for enhancing the travel experience for visitors.

Director of Tourism, Donovan White expressed his appreciation to all the staff from the international airports that have contributed to the growth and development of the sector.

“As we welcome the winter season, the Jamaica Tourist Board is proud to host these appreciation breakfasts to honour the dedicated staff at both Sangster and Norman Manley International Airports. Their unwavering commitment plays a pivotal role in ensuring that our visitors experience the warmth and hospitality that Jamaica is known for. We are grateful for their significant contributions to the tourism sector and their efforts in making each traveler’s journey a memorable one,” White stated.

Each year at the appreciation breakfasts, the Chairman’s Award, the JTB’s highest honour, is given to a staff member whose exceptional contributions have greatly impacted the growth of the destination. This year’s recipients were Natawah Dixon from Sangster International Airport and Sitara English-Byfield from Norman Manley International Airport.

Additional awards were presented to staff members from the Jamaica Customs Agency, the Passport, Immigration, and Citizenship Agency (PICA), the Red Cap Porters Association, Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Ministry of Health and Wellness. This year’s awardees also included Delapenha’s Funeral Home and St Michael’s Funeral Home, who were recognised for their outstanding partnership and exceptional service in support of Jamaica’s tourism industry.