ST JAMES, Jamaica – Jamaica’s consumer confidence has hit an all-time high of 183.7, according to the latest Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) Business and Consumer Confidence Indices, released Tuesday.

The surge is being credited to the ongoing boom in the tourism sector, a trend that directly aligned with remarks delivered the same day by Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism, Senator Delano Seiveright.

Addressing leadership and students of Montego Bay Community College at their Job Readiness Seminar 2025, held at the Half Moon Conference Room in Rose Hall, Senator Seiveright said the record confidence levels were no coincidence.

“Tourism is not just driving our economy, it’s driving hope,” he said. “More visitors, more investment, and more jobs have created real optimism across Jamaica, especially among young people. The question now is, are you ready to seize the moment?”

Under the theme “You Are a Brand – What Will Your Brand Say About You?”, Seiveright challenged students to focus on soft skills, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and personal branding—qualities he said are now just as critical as academic qualifications.

“Your degree opens doors, but your mindset keeps them open. Employers today are looking for people who communicate well, think critically, lead with empathy, and handle pressure with grace,” he emphasised.

Seiveright also urged students to build strong digital reputations, manage their social media presence with intention, and leverage networking as a tool to unlock opportunities.

“Your online presence speaks before you do. Be positive, be strategic, and let it reflect the brand you’re building,” he stressed.

He highlighted entrepreneurship as a major frontier in Jamaica’s expanding tourism landscape, noting business opportunities in property management, cultural experiences, transportation, wellness, and digital marketing.

“Tourism is no longer just about jobs—it’s about ownership. If you can solve a problem and meet a need, you can build a business,” he said.

Jamaica recorded 4.15 million visitors and earned US $4.3 billion in 2024, and the ministry of tourism projects further growth in 2025.

New hotel developments, expanded airlift from Latin America and Europe, and community-based tourism models are helping spread the benefits of the sector across the island.

The Montego Bay Community College seminar is part of a broader national push to better equip young Jamaicans for the rapidly evolving demands, and opportunities, of the global workforce.

Increased entrepreneurship and participation in the tourism sector accounted for the rise in confidence, said Don Anderson, founder of Market Research Services Limited (MRSL), which conducts the survey for the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC)….“We can see that what is driving that largely is confidence amongst consumers in the tourist-related industry and tourist-related businesses and tourist-related areas, less so in Kingston,” said Anderson.