Jamaica ended the year with close to 3.3 million international visitors and its forecast is to exceed that figure by 10% this year, supported above all by its priority markets such as the United States and Canada.
At the moment, the number of Spaniards who visit the island is still low, around 5,000 visitors a year, a figure that they hope to increase significantly thanks to its various activities and tourist products such as nature, gastronomy or festivals that have been scheduled for this year in the caribbean island
As confirmed by the Jamaica Tourism Board in an interview with Europa Press, the country is known throughout the world “for its hospitality and the authentic experiences” offered by its inhabitants. Some experiences that they want you to now know the Spanish market.
Bet on tourism.
Tourism represents 10% of direct contributions to GDP and 33% of indirect contributions in Jamaica, so the impact during the pandemic and until the reopening of the borders in June 2020 was significant.
The tourism organization considers that the global tourism industry is “vulnerable to external impacts and interruptions such as pandemics, weather events and cybercrime.”
For this reason, Jamaica is one of the promoters of Tourism Resilience and its International Day in 2023, a project that aims to support small economies dependent on tourism in accessing knowledge and ideas to manage situations in the future.
From February 15 to 17, the Jamaican capital will host the Global Conference on Tourism Resilience in Jamaica, becoming a pioneering edition at the international level.
The goal of this initiative is to build the resilience of tourism so that after these disruptions, the industry can recover and thrive.
In this way, Jamaica maintains its firm commitment to sustainable tourism. As a tourist destination, it recognizes the importance of the environment and the impact that can be exerted on it, and therefore urges to balance the tourist activities that take place in its environment for its survival.
The country is also seeking to promote itself as an attractive business destination and is confident that after the pandemic tourism will recover strongly again and achieve 2019 levels.
The forecasts for this year are to reach 2.7 million stopover arrivals and more than 1 million cruise arrivals. All these arrivals could mean revenue close to 4,100 million dollars (more than 3,700 million euros) and the forecasts are that in 2024 they will reach 4.5 million visitors.
Among the main tourist projects underway for this new year that is beginning, the promotion of February as ‘the month of reggae’ stands out, with a multitude of events and concerts mainly in Kingston and its surroundings. The tourist will be able to attend conferences, watch documentaries, or discover new musical talents, among other proposals.
February is also ‘Black History Month’ as both Bob Marley and Dennis Brown were born in that month. ‘Reggae Month’ is organized by JaRIA, the Jamaica Recording Industry Organization, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.
The ‘Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee’ festival will also take place next March. This is a three-day experience filled with local cuisine, culture and coffee that showcases the art and traditions of the Jamaican people along with live presentations from one of the country’s leading industries with a rich coffee and barista tradition.
Regarding the hotel openings next May, Sandals Ochi will open its doors in Ocho Ríos, on the north coast of the island. The new all-inclusive resort surrounded by more than 40 hectares of nature has, among other facilities, a beach club; 11 bars and 16 restaurants. To this is added the various water and land activities that can be done on the island with the help of different specialized tours.
Europa Press