Jamaica Tourism Sector Set for Growth In 2025

• Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett says Jamaica’s tourism industry is on track for continued growth in 2025, driven by a drop in crime and a more favourable U.S. travel advisory.
• “Jamaica’s tourism industry remains on a strong trajectory. The outlook for 2025 is highly optimistic, bolstered by significant reductions in crime and the recent favourable shift in the United States (US) government’s travel advisory. These factors are creating a more welcoming environment for our visitors and partners,” Mr. Bartlett highlighted.
• Despite a 1% dip in stopover arrivals from January to June 25 compared to the same period last year, Mr. Bartlett noted encouraging signs of recovery. The first week of June recorded a 1.5% increase over 2024, with 210,011 stopover visitors.
• The Minister outlined a multi-pronged strategy to boost the sector, including improving visitor experiences, promoting sustainability, and diversifying source markets. “Diversification remains at the core of our strategy. While our traditional markets, such as the United States, are vital, we recognise the importance of broadening our reach into emerging regions to ensure resilience against global economic fluctuations,” he added.
• Although the U.S. market dipped by 4.1% in 2024 due to economic uncertainty and election-year dynamics, gains were made elsewhere. Europe saw a 9.1% increase, while Canada rose by 6.2%. The Caribbean and Latin America outpaced expectations, growing by 25.1% and 13.2%, respectively. He further noted that they are actively expanding into high-growth regions like Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East, which presents a large growth potential.
• He also spotlighted India and China as major emerging travel markets. India, with a booming middle class and projected to become the world’s third-largest economy, and China, with its large outbound travel market, both offer significant opportunities.

(Sources: Caribbean National Weekly)