This Caribbean Paradise Surpasses 2023’s Tourism Estimates Despite Bad Reputation
According to Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, the island is expected to surpass growth estimates for both visitor arrivals and tourism revenue in 2023.
“The island should record a total of 4,122,100 visitors for the period January to December 2023. This would signal an increase of 23.7 percent over the total number of visitors recorded in 2022,” said Bartlett on December 12.
“Of this number, 2,875,549 are expected to be stopover visitors, which would represent a 16 percent increase over the number of stopover arrivals recorded in the previous year. Additionally, we expect to end the year with a total of 1,246,551 cruise passengers, which would represent a 46.1 percent increase over the tally for the previous year.” He added.
In terms of revenue from tourism, Bartlett declared that the influx of tourists is anticipated to bring in $4.265 billion for 2023, which is a 17.8% increase over the revenue reached in 2022 and a 17.2% increase over pre-pandemic revenue from 2019.
He went on to say that if Jamaica keeps up its remarkable growth trajectory, it will beat estimates of four million tourists and $4.1 billion in foreign exchange earnings by the end of the year.
In addition, Bartlett gave an approximate breakdown of these profits, which also included the direct revenues for the treasury. These $336 million include the following items: contributions to the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Departure Tax, Airport Improvement Tax, Air Passenger Duty, Passenger Fees and Charges, and Guest Accommodation Tax (GART).
Jamaica’s State Of Emergency And Travel Advisories Amid Crime in 2023
In response to escalating crime rates, Jamaican authorities declared a state of emergency in several regions in 2023, including parts of Western Kingston and the parishes of Clarendon and Saint Ann. This measure, aimed at curbing gang violence and other criminal activities, allows security forces to conduct searches and arrests without warrants.
The U.S. Department of State responded by issuing a travel advisory, urging travelers to reconsider their plans due to the prevalence of violent crimes like armed robberies and homicides. This advisory particularly emphasizes the ineffectiveness of local police responses to serious crimes and the infrequent prosecution of cases. Travelers are advised to maintain heightened vigilance and adhere to local laws and guidelines, especially in the specified high-risk areas.
Despite all the conflict on the island, the tourist areas remain safe and the reputation in 2023 did not affect tourism growth in Jamaica.
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By: Luka Trcek Title: This Caribbean Paradise Surpasses 2023’s Tourism Estimates Despite Bad Reputation Sourced From: www.travelinglifestyle.net/this-caribbean-paradise-surpasses-2023s-tourism-estimates-despite-bad-reputation/ Published Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2023 17:12:14 +0000
