Jamaica Sees Over 70,000 Arrivals in First Week of Winter Season

Jamaica Records Over 70,000 Visitor Arrivals in First Week of Winter Season

Jamaica’s winter tourist season has begun with more than 70,000 visitor arrivals in the first seven days, reflecting continued demand and steady recovery in the tourism sector.

Of the total arrivals, around 46,000 were stopover visitors, while approximately 30,000 arrived by cruise ship, indicating balanced activity between air and cruise travel. Since Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica has welcomed about 370,000 visitors and generated USD 331.2 million in tourism earnings, underscoring the sector’s continued contribution to the national economy despite recent disruptions.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, said the arrival figures are encouraging but stressed that recovery efforts extend beyond visitor numbers. He noted that the focus also remains on supporting the workforce that sustains the tourism industry. According to the Minister, the recorded earnings translate into employment opportunities and income generation across the economy.

Support programmes for tourism workers remain a key priority, with more than JMD 2 billion allocated to help workers stabilise livelihoods, meet household needs, and stay engaged in the sector’s recovery.

As part of these efforts, the Tourism Housing Assistance Recovery Programme (THARP) has been introduced to support tourism workers whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Melissa on October 28. Initially, more than 150 workers will receive assistance, with plans to expand support to more than 5,000 by the end of the programme.

The Minister reiterated that investment in tourism workers is central to building a resilient and inclusive industry that benefits businesses, visitors, and communities across Jamaica.

With the winter season underway, stakeholders anticipate continued growth in arrivals alongside sustained worker support to aid economic recovery and long-term tourism development.

Donovan White, Director of Tourism, said ongoing investments by partners and stakeholders reflect confidence in Jamaica’s tourism recovery efforts.

The Ministry of Tourism continues discussions with industry stakeholders to strengthen labour market arrangements and improve job security and support for workers as recovery efforts progress.