Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2024: Jamaica Shows its Progress
Jamaica's Minister of Tourism highlighted the country's growth and ambitious projections during his participation in the Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2024, the event he is hosting in Montego Bay.
With 1.7 million visitors in the first five months of 2024, Jamaica expects to welcome 4.58 million tourists throughout the year, including 1.4 million cruise passengers.
The Caribbean nation continues to be a globally renowned destination, with key markets in the United States and Canada. Projections for 2025 are impressive, with the expectation of reaching 5 million visitors and generating revenues of US$5 billion. In the first five months of 2024, the U.S. market has grown by about 5%.
Human capital development is a priority for Jamaica, recognizing that people are the essence of tourism. The government is committed to working together with the private sector to create favorable working environments. A significant milestone is the tourism industry pension scheme, which already has 10,000 Jamaicans enrolled. The Jamaican government has invested J$1 billion in this scheme, and this figure is expected to rise to J$3 billion in two years.
Training and certification are also key, with the creation of a tourism innovation institution and collaboration with international certification bodies and universities. These efforts are aimed at improving service quality, safety and professionalism in the tourism sector.
These initiatives underscore Jamaica's commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in tourism, reinforcing its position as a leading destination in the Caribbean.
Spanish Investment in Jamaica
Spanish investment is making a notable mark in Jamaica with the development of new resorts and hotels:
New RIU: The RIU hotel chain has opened a new resort, expanding its presence on the island.
Catalonia Hotels & Resorts: The chain has entered with one hotel already in operation and has plans for the construction of another.
Bahía Príncipe: It is carrying out a mega investment in new hotel developments.
IBEROSTAR: Has begun new construction to expand its offer in Jamaica.
Regarding other investments, Minister Bartlett noted that Jamaica is in advanced talks with airlines such as Copa and LATAM to establish direct flights, seeking to strengthen its presence in this market.
Similarly, a campaign in India will be launched in September with a team already working on the ground. Jamaica aims to attract Indian tourists and establish stronger connections, and from June, Emirates will offer direct flights to Colombia, with the possibility of connecting to Jamaica through Avianca.
In this way, Jamaica aims to become a tourism hub in the Caribbean region, offering a world-class experience to its visitors and facilitating connections to various global markets.
