We make no apology for celebrating good news about Jamaica, especially when it has the potential to have a positive impact on economic growth and the well-being of our people.

For instance, in January last year we shared with pride and pleasure the Financial Times’ glowing report that described Jamaica’s economic performance over the previous 10 years as “arguably one of the most remarkable and radical but underappreciated turnaround stories in economic history”.

That report, readers will recall, was written by Mr Robin Wigglesworth, editor of the Financial Times’ financial blog Alphaville. It basically focused on an International Monetary Fund (IMF) virtual mission to Jamaica, conducted as part of reviewing a precautionary credit line and completed the regular Article IV reviews of all members.

Mr Wigglesworth quoted that IMF report, which stated: “Over the last years Jamaica has successfully reduced public debt, anchored inflation, and strengthened its external position. It has built a strong track record of investing in institutions and prioritising macroeconomic stability. This allowed Jamaica’s response to recent global shocks to be prudent, agile, and supportive of growth.”

Since then there have been other developments that have given us cause to extend kudos to our country and the individuals responsible for those achievements.

The latest is the United States’ revision of its travel advisory on Jamaica to Level 2 from Level 3.

The congenital sceptics will, of course, point to the fact that the Level 2 advisory urges American citizens to remain cautious when visiting Jamaica. However, getting out of Level 3, under which the US Government advises Americans to reconsider travel to Jamaica, is a massive deal for the more than 50,000 Jamaicans who are directly employed to the accommodations subsector of our tourism industry, as well as the other tens of thousands of our people who make a direct and indirect living from tourism.

The fact that the United States is our main source market — with just over 79 per cent of the 4.3 million visitors we welcomed in 2024 — plus the reality that last year Jamaica earned US$4.3 billion from the industry, also make the upgraded travel advisory a massive deal. For it speaks to the survival of Jamaicans who work at hotels, villas, apartments, attractions, air and sea ports, tour companies, restaurants; Jamaicans who offer transportation services, vendors, farmers, fishers, entertainers, and many more.

When one considers that the 2024 performance was negatively affected by the Level 3 travel advisory, as well as aviation disruptions, and, of course Hurricane Beryl, you get a picture of the enormous benefit of this industry to the country.

Tourism Minister Mr Ed Bartlett has told us that Jamaica is on track to realise its 5x5x5 growth strategy of five million visitors and earnings of US$5 billion by the end 2025. Our hope is that his projections will be realised, because tourism continuing on this upward path can only redound to the benefit of Jamaicans.

We have no doubt that the steady reduction in major crimes played a major role in the travel advisory upgrade. Against that background, we commend the security forces for the work they have been doing, the Government for its increased investment in law enforcement, and the growing number of Jamaicans who have determined that the country needs to be rid of criminals.