how many tourist died in jamaica

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Jamaica travel warning issued after 65 murders in just four weeks.

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The State Department issued a stark travel warning for another Caribbean nation Tuesday — cautioning that Jamaica has been rocked by 65 murders this month.

The US Embassy in Jamaica upgraded the travel advisory to a Level 3, “Reconsider travel,” which is just one level short of the most severe, which warns Americans against travel altogether.

The crimes have become so pervasive that tourists aren’t even safe in the shelter of their resorts, the embassy said.

“Violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common. Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts,” the warning stated.

“Local police often do not respond effectively to serious criminal incidents. When arrests are made, cases are infrequently prosecuted to a conclusive sentence,” it continued.

“Families of U.S. citizens killed in accidents or homicides frequently wait a year or more for final death certificates to be issued by Jamaican authorities.”

According to the State Department, Jamaica has reported one of the highest homicide rates in the Western Hemisphere for several years.

At least 65 people were killed between Jan. 1 and 27 of this year, data from the Jamaica Constabulary Force show.

Shockingly, the high murder rate is down from last year — 81 people were killed in the first month of 2023.

At least 1,393 homicides were reported throughout all of last year, following 1,498 murders in 2022.

Jamaica has not reported fewer than 1,000 murders per year since 2003, data show. The country has a population of 2.8 million.

The travel advisory marks the second the State Department has made against a Caribbean nation in days.

The US Embassy in the Bahamas on Friday put the island on a Level 2 “Exercise increased caution” warning, telling Americans to keep a low profile while visiting and not to fight back if they find themselves the victims of a crime.

While not as severe as Jamaica, the Bahamas was labeled unsafe for tourists amid 18 murders — “primarily” motivated by gang violence — in January alone.

“Murders have occurred at all hours including in broad daylight on the streets,” the embassy wrote in a release, also recommending the use of “extreme caution” on the eastern side of the Bahamas’ capital city, Nassau.

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State Department yanks data on U.S. tourists harmed in Jamaica

At a time when tourism fears have escalated in the Caribbean, the State Department has stopped publishing crime data involving Americans harmed in Jamaica — but it won't say why.

For the first time in seven years, the State Department did not list how many Americans were sexually assaulted, robbed, murdered or kidnapped in Jamaica in its 2019 Crime and Safety Report. That information was previously published in reports that were cited in a 2018 Free Press investigation , which found that sexual assaults of U.S. tourists in Jamaica is an historic and unchecked problem, with an estimated one American raped a month.

That's according to State Department data that was publicly available for seven straight years — until now.  

The Free Press, which interviewed numerous U.S. victims who said they were sexually assaulted in Jamaica, including four Michigan tourists, asked the State Department multiple times why the 2019 report omits data involving American crime victims in Jamaica. The agency wouldn't explain, beyond saying: “We do not have any other information to share at this time."

But the State Department did warn in its 2019 report that "rape and sexual assault are serious problems throughout Jamaica, including at resorts and hotels. The use of date rape drugs is possible, even at private parties and resorts."

The Jamaica 2019 Crime and Safety Report was released in the wake of a tourism scare involving the Dominican Republic, where 10 American tourist deaths have been reported since May. Several more U.S. tourists have reported becoming severely ill while on vacation there, including a Detroit man who landed in Harper Hospital's ICU following his May vacation to the DR. 

Jamaica and the Dominican Republic are among nine Caribbean and Central American destinations that the U.S. State Department has issued Level 2 travel advisories for, citing violence and crime. Level 2 means “Exercise Increased Caution.” The other countries on the Level 2 travel advisory list are: The Bahamas, Belize, Colombia, Cuba, Turks and Caicos, Mexico and Guatemala.

There are four categories of travel advisories: “Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions”; “Level Two: Exercise Increased Caution”; “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” and “Level 4: Do Not Travel.”

Caribbean destinations that are currently deemed safe for travel — they have no travel advisory — include:

• Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire
• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Costa Rica, Curaçao, Grenada
• French West Indies, which include Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Saint Martin, and Saint Barthélemy.
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Countries on the “Level 3, Reconsider Travel” list are:

• El Salvador

Countries on the “Level 4, Do Not Travel” list are:

While the FBI investigates the Dominican Republic deaths, tourism officials there are working feverishly to dispel concerns about travel safety. So are officials in Jamaica, where an island-wide security audit of resorts was ordered in the wake of the Free Press investigation, which detailed the rapes of two Detroit women who were attacked at gunpoint by a Jamaican resort employee last fall.

Jamaica's Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett said in early July that the months-long security audit is complete and that his office is reviewing it. Findings have not yet been released.

“The issue of safety and security is very central to us. We will have further discussions with the (Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association) as it relates to the recommendations, and together we will craft the new architecture in Jamaica,” Bartlett said at a June tourism meeting.

The audit sought to uncover, among other things, non-compliance by resorts regarding safety incidents. It focused on building safety, personnel, security measures, communication devices and security incident history.

Meanwhile, State Department warnings about sexual violence against women tourists in Jamaica continue. 

"If you are a victim of a sexual assault, contact the police and the U.S. Embassy in Kingston as soon as possible," the State Department states in its 2019 report, reminding victims that Jamaican hotels and resorts "should assist you with these communications."

That message highlighted a key finding in the Free Press investigation.

Numerous victims told the Free Press the resorts ignored or downplayed their fears, discouraged them from going to the police, and in some cases silenced them with free travel in exchange for them signing non-disclosure agreements.

The 2019 State Department report also highlighted this finding by the Free Press: tourists who are sexually assaulted in Jamaica feel justice is out of reach. As one mother told the Free Press three years after her daughter was allegedly raped in a laundry room by a resort lifeguard: "My daughter will never have justice." 

Four and a half years after the alleged rapes of the girl and her friend, the case is finally going to trial in Jamaica in December. The victims will testify from a location in the U.S. 

The State Department warns about such delays.

"Victims of sexual assault in Jamaica should not expect the same assistance routinely offered in the United States," the State Department writes in its 2019 report. "Rape kits are not always available, and victims must often ask for medication to avoid STD transmission and reduce the chances of pregnancy. An offer of counseling is unlikely."

Police resources are also limited, the government says.

"Law enforcement shortcomings exist in collection of evidence. Prosecution of rape cases moves very slowly," the State Department states, adding: "Victims may need to return to Jamaica during the legal process."

Contact Tresa Baldas: [email protected].

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Deaths listed as “undetermined/unknown” have been reported to the Department of State as deaths from non-natural causes. Local authorities have not provided more information.

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Jamaica responds to U.S. travel advisory, highlights major security, health improvements

After the United States updated its travel advisory to Jamaica and urged citizens to reconsider traveling to the island due to increased crime and healthcare concerns, the island's government issued a response.

Kamina Johnson Smith, Jamaica's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Senator, said in a news release the nation has made major improvements in security and healthcare in cooperation between Jamaica and the U.S. government.

Johnson Smith said the Jamaican government is disappointed that the travel advisory does not reflect this progress.

Jamaican Minister of Foreign Affairs reacts to U.S. travel advisory

The Jamaican government has "more than doubled" investments in crime and health-related challenges, hoping to benefit both Jamaican citizens and island visitors, the release said.

Johnson Smith also said Jamaica has seen a 20% decrease in serious crimes, and improvements in arrests and prosecution.

"We are making serious improvements, although we still have much more to do to achieve all that we wish to deliver," Johnson Smith said.

According to data from the Jamaican Constabulary Force , there have been 83 murders in Jamaica so far this year as of Feb. 3, 2024, slightly down compared to the same time period in 2023. According to Statista, Jamaica had the highest homicide rate compared to other Caribbean and Latin American countries in 2022.

"Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts," the United States travel advisory said. "Local police often do not respond effectively to serious criminal incidents. When arrests are made, cases are infrequently prosecuted to a conclusive sentence. Families of U.S. citizens killed in accidents or homicides frequently wait a year or more for final death certificates to be issued by Jamaican authorities."

Despite this, Jamaica received a score of 75 out of 100 on Gallup's Global Law and Order report, where survey respondents said whether or not they felt they could trust their local police.

Jamaica was also named the Caribbean's Leading Destination by the World Travel Awards in 2023.

What is the Jamaican crime rate against visitors?

According to Visit Jamaica, part of the governmental Jamaica Tourism Board, the rate of crime against visitors to Jamaica is a low 0.01% .

"As with any place in the world, you should always remember to follow basic safety precautions to avoid possible predicaments," according to the Board. "Local authorities and the general tourism community have implemented many procedures and enhanced security measures in order to maintain a safe, secure environment for residents and visitors."

Visit Jamaica also has a list of tips for visitors to the island:

• Keep your luggage in view at all times and your personal effects close to your body
• Don’t carry large amounts of cash
• Do not leave valuables in your car; utilize the in-room safety deposit box or hotel safe
• Avoid wearing expensive jewelry outside of your resort
• Do not let strangers into your room
• Lock room doors when leaving
• Review the safety information and location of exits close to your room in case of fire or emergencies.
• Only take licensed taxis, in Jamaica they have red plates with white letters and digits.

British tourist, 33, shot dead in Jamaica after 'standing by pool at villa'

Sean Patterson was shot multiple times, police say

• 08:00, 4 JAN 2023

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A British tourist has been gunned down and killed while on holiday in Jamaica. Sean Patterson was reportedly shot multiple times at the One Love Guest House in Bogue Hill, St James.

Local police say the 33-year-old personal trainer, from West London , was found with gunshot wounds to his upper body and head at around midday on Monday (January 2). Jamaica Constabulary Force says its Montego Bay officers received reports that the British national was standing by a pool at the villa when witnesses heard 'loud explosions'.

The force told the PA news agency that Mr Patterson was then shot multiple times after a short chase, the Mirror reports . He was rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds to his upper body and head, but was unable to be revived.

READ MORE: Gucci and Rolex watches among luxury haul seized by police in raids on homes and cars

A 34-year-old man from Kingston, Jamaica, has been now taken into custody in connection with the incident, according to local media. Reports in Jamaica claim the suspect had been deported from the UK in 2013.

Mr Patterson is understood to have been in the country since December 29, 2022. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson confirmed to PA they were currently 'supporting the family of a British man who died in Jamaica and are in contact with the local authorities'.

Mr Patterson is the first person to have been murdered in the parish of St James this year, with the suburban area reporting a total of 198 murders in 2022. Jamaica as a whole meanwhile reported 1,421 killings out of a total population of 2.8 million people at the start of December, outpacing the 1,375 killings in the same period last year, a spokesman with Jamaica’s Constabulary Force told The Associated Press.

The prime minister declared a widespread state of emergency last month in response to a surge in gang violence on the island. Last October, Jamaica’s broadcasting regulator also moved to ban music and TV broadcasts deemed to glorify or promote criminal activity, including violence, drug use, scamming and weapons.

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Police In Jamaica Investigating Circumstances Surrounding Death of American Tourist Quintaria Roker

Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

Law enforcement in Jamaica are conducting a probe into the death of Quintaria Roke r, an American tourist who was discovered dead inside her hotel room in Montego Bay last Wednesday (June 21), the Jamaica Gleaner reports.

According to news articles, Roker arrived in Jamaica on Tuesday to meet up with a man that she met online. After partying into Wednesday morning, they reportedly reserved a room at the Montego Bay Club Resort.

Around 10 a.m. her male companion noticed that Roker never got out of bed and he found her unresponsive. After calling 911, she was then rushed to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Clifford Chambers, Assistant Commissioner and head of the Area One Police said officials are “awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine her cause of death.”

Roker’s death is eerily similar to the case of Shanquella Robinson , the Charlotte woman who died during a trip with friends to Mexico last October.

Robinson, 25, traveled to Mexico along with six friends from college and was discovered unconscious on October 29. The group, four women and two men were reportedly staying in a rented tourist property in San Jose del Cabo, in Baja California Sur, which is more than 1,000 miles south of San Diego.

Robinson’s friends told her family that died of alcohol poisoning but a video that went viral on social media revealed Robinson was attacked by someone with whom she traveled with her on the trip. It remains unclear when the footage was captured or if Robinson died as a result of the injuries she suffered from the attack.

Feds Say They Will Not Pursue Criminal Charges In Death of Shanquella Robinson

Following an investigation of Robinson’s death, the U.S. The State Attorney’s office concluded that there wasn't enough evidence to bring forth a federal criminal case.

“Given the circumstances of Ms. Robinson’s death and the public concern surrounding this investigation, it is important to reassure the public that experienced federal agents and seasoned prosecutors have extensively reviewed the available evidence and has concluded that federal charges cannot be pursued," U.S. Attorney Dena King said in a statement at the time.

A public memorial for Roker is currently being planned by her family to honor her memory.

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Jamaica murder rate – how many killings have there been now and how dangerous is the Caribbean island?

• Holly Christodoulou
• Published : 12:29, 26 Jun 2018
• Updated : 13:24, 26 Jun 2018

A RETIRED British couple have been brutally murdered in Jamaica in the latest string of killings on the Caribbean island.

Charlie and Gayle Anderson were found dead at their eight-bedroom home in Mount Pleasant on June 22 sparking fears for tourists. Here's what you need to know...

How many killings have there been in Jamaica?

There have been more than 1,600 murders since 2017 in Jamaica.

So far this year more than 600 people have been killed - including seven who had returned to the island after living abroad.

St James continues to be gripped by violence with more than 300 murders during the first quarter of last year.

These killings are mostly linked to gang violence and an illegal lottery scam that left hundreds of mostly older people out of pocket.

As a result, the area, which includes Montego Bay, is in a state of emergency until 2 August 2018 .

A state of emergency has also been imposed in St Catherine parish, west of the capital of Kingston.

How dangerous is Jamaica?

The Foreign Office has warned of high crime levels - especially in and around "certain areas" of Kingston and Montego Bay.

It lists a number of neighbourhoods in which to be especially cautious:

• West Kingston
• Grant’s Pen
• August Town
• Harbour View
• Spanish Town

Tourists are advised to only leave their resorts for “travel to and from the airport, or for excursions” and all trips should be arranged by the resort only.

The FCO has reminded tourists of the high crime levels across the whole island, saying:  “Be vigilant at all times, even if you are staying with friends and family.

“Don’t walk alone in isolated areas or on deserted beaches, even during the day.

“Take particular care when withdrawing money from ATMs. Don’t carry large amounts of cash or wear eye-catching jewellery.

“Try to vary which restaurants you use. Using the same place too often might make you a target for thieves.”

Around 206,000 Brits visited Jamaica in 2016.

What murders have there been recently?

There have been a number of high-profile murders in Jamaica over the years. These are:

• Melanie Rose Clarke, 28, who was shot dead in a taxi in Montego Bay in 2001 while travelling with her seven-year-old daughter
• Barbara Scott-Jones, 61, who was found half-naked in a septic tank in her holiday home in St James in 2008
• Imani Green, eight, who was shot dead on a family holiday in 2013 in Duncans
• Delroy Walker, 63, who was stabbed to death in Rio Nuevo Resort in May 2018
• Charlie and Gayle Anderson, 74 and 71, who were killed on June 22, 2018, in Hope Bay

Who were Charlie and Gayle Anderson?

The couple had retired to Jamaica to begin "the next chapter of their lives" when they were killed.

Pals of the pair, also known as Halford and Florence, told how they always wanted to return to Jamaica and saved all their lives to fund a dream eight-bedroom house in the upmarket Mount Pleasant district.

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The "burned" bodies of Gayle, 71, and Charlie, 74, discovered on June 2.

Local reports said Gayle was found in bushes with her hands and feet bound while her husband was discovered shot and burned nearby.

Another report claimed the pair had had their throats slashed although police have not yet revealed how they died.

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Inbound tourism volume in Jamaica 2000-2021

Number of international tourist arrivals in jamaica from 2000 to 2021 (in millions).

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Jamaica records 33 murders for 2024

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Jamaica has recorded 33 murders in the first 13 days of this year, with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) indicating that the figure is on par with the corresponding period in 2023.

JCF said that 13 of the 19 police divisions across the island have had one or more murders since the start of 2024, with the St James police division, which led the country in murders for consecutive years, recording nine murders as of January 13 this year compared with five last year.

The figures also show that the parish of St. Ann has had five homicides as against none recorded for the same period last year.

The JCF said that the Trelawny, St Mary, Clarendon, Kingston Western, St Andrew North and St Thomas police divisions have so far recorded no murders.

According to the figures released here, shootings increased by 50 per cent with 39 incidents.

There is also an increase in the number of injured persons, with 32 reports compared to 20 the previous year.

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American tourist found dead in hotel room

A female tourist from the United States was found dead inside a hotel room in Montego Bay, St James on Wednesday morning. 

She has been identified as 24-year-old Quintaria Roker, from West Palm Beach in Florida.

It is reported that Roker arrived in Jamaica on Tuesday, where she met with a male friend who she met on social media. 

They both booked a room on the 10th floor of the Montego Bay Club Hotel after partying for several hours on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

It is further reported that about 10:00 a.m., the male friend realised that she had not gotten up out of bed and went to make checks. He found her unresponsive and raised an alarm.

Roker was rushed to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The police say no foul play is suspected, but an investigation is ongoing.

- Hopeton Bucknor 

We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] and follow @thejamaicastar on Instagram and on Twitter @JamaicaStar and on Facebook: @TheJamaicaStar, or on Whatsapp @ 876-550-2506.

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Tourists Take Part in Cliff-Jumping Craze That Kills Dozens Each Year

Cliff diving is a popular activity among tourists but the thrill can come at a price.

In 2015 in the U.S. alone, more than two dozen leaps ended in death.

Read: See How GPS Tracking Device Helps Stop Bike Thieves In Their Tracks

Nowhere is the cliff-diving craze more popular than at Rick’s Café in Negril, Jamaica. The café sits atop picturesque cliffs and is ranked as one of the top 10 bars in the world. Besides the view, the main attraction is a 35 foot cliff where tourist line up to leap off into the turquoise waters below.

While it may seem fun and exciting, if you don’t land right the sheer impact of leaping from cliffs that high can be like smacking into concrete. Two years ago a tourist reportedly died after jumping off the cliffs at Rick’s Café. But that didn’t seem to dissuade brave vacationers from taking the plunge when INSIDE EDITION recently visited the café.

When asked why he was about to jump one tourist said: “because I’m an idiot.”

Another tourist told IE she was “too stupid to know it’s dangerous.”

During our visit IE witnessed dozens of leapers fling themselves off the cliff. IE investigative producer Charlie McLravy was filming from the water below when one jumper landed so badly she busted open her nose. The incident - all caught on camera – shows the woman swimming back to shore with blood pouring down her face. McLravy tried to help her but she said she was okay.

For McLravy, witnessing jumps like those hits close call to home. He nearly lost his life in 2009 after leaping off a bridge near Yosemite, California while on vacation with his family.

Almost paralyzed, he had to learn to walk again.

“I wish I could stay up there on that ledge and tell people my story and not to jump,” he said. “All it takes is one wrong landing and you're in the hospital, you're paralyzed, or even worse you wind up dead.”

At Rick's Cafe there are signs warning tourists of the dangers. The signs caution vacationers that jumping is at your own risk and only experienced jumpers, divers and swimmers should try it. Lifeguards are also on duty.

But if any daredevil needs a bit of fortification, there is plenty of liquid courage sold along the cliff side and at the bar. IE’s cameras caught one man downing beers before jumping off the cliff.

IE also found drugs being sold on the premises.

One dealer showed IE his stash of marijuana and cocaine. “I've got ecstasy, I’ve got mushrooms, I’ve got heroin, I’ve got opium, I’ve got everything,” he said.

IE’s Lisa Guerrero approached one dealer who was smoking marijuana. “If I took marijuana and jumped off the cliff, I could get hurt right?” she asked him. “It depends,” he said.

Guerrero then went to speak to the manager of the popular establishment but he wasn't interested in talking.

Read: Many Restaurants With Kobe Beef on Their Menus Are Not Actually Serving Kobe Beef

Management at Rick's Cafe later told IE they have a strict drug-free policy. In a statement to INSIDE EDITION, Rick's Café said:

“Rick’s Cafe hereby denies your specific allegations with respect to its cliff jumping practices. To the contrary, Rick’s Cafe policy in connection therewith is reflected in three clearly posted and visible signage on the property.

“There is a single point of entry at Rick’s Cafe for jumping into or swimming in the water, at which multiple experienced and trained lifeguards are located. In addition, there are multiple security guards located around the perimeter of the Rick’s Cafe property (totaling approximately 2 acres). Rick’s Cafe does not have any control over what its guests might choose to do while watching other guests or professional divers electing to dive despite the posted risks and warnings.

“The waterways below Rick’s Cafe [are] Jamaican-owned. Rick’s Cafe does all that it can to control activities in the waters which negatively affect its patrons.

“Rick’s Cafe has a strict drug-free policy, which it makes every effort to monitor and control.

“Finally, as a general matter, Rick’s Cafe’s staff is trained to help and assist its guests with particular focus on everyone's safety and enjoyment.”

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35 killed last week, murder tally climbs to 1,329

Thirty-five people were killed in Jamaica last week in one of the bloodiest seven-day periods since the start of the year. 

This brings the national murder tally to 1,329 as at November 5, 2022. 

It represents an eight per cent year on year increase in homicides, 98 more than the 1,231 recorded for the corresponding period in 2021. 

Of the 19 police divisions, St James, 181; Westmoreland, 126; St Catherine North, 124; St Andrew South, 121; and St Catherine South, 105, are the top five most murderous divisions. 

Portland has the fewest murders with 10, a 38 per cent reduction when compared to the period under review in 2021. 

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Shootings, injured persons and rape cases have declined year on year. 

Robberies and break-ins have increased by 20 and nine per cent, respectively.

- Andre Williams

Follow The Gleaner on Twitter and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at [email protected] or [email protected] .

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'he was my everything': osceola county man drowns while vacationing in jamaica, wife says.

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A woman in Osceola County is mourning the death of her husband after he died while they were on vacation in Jamaica.

Yolissa Blakes said she and her husband, Damian Benjamin, took a cruise to Jamaica last week.

She said Benjamin was making a name for himself as a tattoo artist in Kissimmee and hoped to one day open his own shop.

“He just had an eye for it,” Blakes said. “He'll make anything look real.”

For Blakes, it was her husband’s compassion that brought them together for 11 years.

“I had a heart attack at 29,” Blakes said.

A couple of years ago, Blakes had open heart surgery.

She said her husband was by her side in sickness and in health.

“He was just there for me nonstop, always. All these years,” she said.

So as a thank you, Blakes booked them a cruise to Jamaica. They departed last Monday.

“That was my gift to him,” she said. “He was happy.”

Blakes said last Wednesday, after the cruise ship arrived in Jamaica, they visited the Blue Hole in the town of Ocho Rios. She said the excursion was not booked through the cruise line.

“He wanted to jump in the waterfall. And I was against it in the beginning because I was scared,” she said. “He wanted me to go with him. And I just couldn't because my heart. So I just made the decision, ‘OK, if you want to go, go.’ And that was the last time I saw him.”

Blakes said her husband drowned. He was 32.

“What happened with Damian, I don't want ever to happen to anybody else again,” she said. “I had to see him die.”

Blakes said Benjamin was a son, brother, husband and father.

“You know how they say when you pass away, they become angels?” she said. “But, Damian was the angel here on Earth already.”

Blakes said he always took care of his sisters, mother and daughter.

“He was my everything,” she said. “He was my life.”

Blakes got home on Saturday. The first thing she did was get a tattoo in his honor.

“It says, ‘Damian. We only part to meet again,’” she said.

In a statement, Carnival Cruise said: “Carnival's Care Team is supporting the family of a guest who died ashore while Carnival Sunrise was in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, on Wednesday. Our thoughts are with the guest's family at this time.”

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Jamaica hits two million stopover arrivals for 2022.

New York, NY, November 4, 2022  – As the destination continues its strong tourism recovery, Jamaica has welcomed over 2 million stopover arrivals for 2022 as of October in line with previous projections.   “It is truly gratifying to see our arrivals numbers returning to growth in recent months,” said Minister of Tourism, Jamaica, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett. “Having posted our best summer ever on record in 2022 and with arrivals now pacing well through fall, it is a clear demonstration that Jamaica’s tourism sector is indeed resilient and has a lasting appeal among consumers. While we are a small nation compared to many others in the world, our naturally beautiful landscape, unique culture, and variety of attractions and accommodations keep Jamaica at the top of travelers’ preferred places to visit.”   “We are extremely pleased to be among the destinations leading the world in tourism recovery,” added Director of Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board, Donovan White. “Since reopening in June 2020, we have been making a strong marketing push to ensure that Jamaica remains top of mind among our traditional and emerging source markets. Reaching this new milestone for 2022 is a testament to the success of our efforts and excellent relationships with our travel industry partners.”   For full year 2022, Jamaica is projecting that it will welcome over 3 million stopover arrivals and receive total earnings from tourism of over USD $3.7 billion. The destination is also expected to return to 2019 pre-Covid arrivals levels in 2023 and remains on track to welcome 5 million visitors by 2025.   To further support the tourism sector’s recovery, both Minister Bartlett and Director White visited New York from November 2-4 to officially launch the island’s new ‘Come Back’ advertising campaign via a series of television appearances, media appointments, meetings, and more encouraging people to come back to their best selves in Jamaica.

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Jamaica’s tourism to close 2023 with record 4.1m visitors, US$4.2b in earnings – Bartlett

Jamaica’s tourism industry will close out 2023 in record-breaking mode, with the country set to welcome 4,122,000 visitors for the January to December period while chalking up earnings of US$4.2 billion.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett provided the update during a statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

He said the numbers signal an increase of 23.7 per cent over the total number of visitors recorded in 2022. Of this number, nearly three million (2,875,549) are expected to be stopover visitors, which would represent an increase of 16 per cent over the number of stopover arrivals recorded in 2022.

“Additionally, we expect to end the year with a total of 1,246,551 cruise passengers, which would represent a 46.1 per cent increase over the tally for 2022,” said Bartlett.

He noted that “This continues the spectacular growth pattern of tourism; both in terms of visitor arrivals as well as for earnings. Indeed, we have gone 10 consecutive quarters since the COVID-19 pandemic showing significant growth”.

“Based on arrival figures to date, all indications are that we will be having an 11th quarter of substantial growth,” he added.

By way of earnings, Bartlett highlighted that “this influx of visitors is expected to generate a whopping US$4.265 billion for 2023, representing a projected increase of 17.8 per cent over the revenue secured in 2022, and a 17.2 per cent increase in revenue over the pre-pandemic year of 2019”.

“Therefore, if we continue on our impressive growth trajectory, we will be on track to surpass our projections of four million visitors and foreign exchange earnings of US$4.1 billion by year end”.

Bartlett was dismissive of the argument that the country generally was not benefitting from tourism or that all of the earnings was being repatriated. He outlined that an estimated US$336 million or J$52 billion would be retained in the country and provided a further estimated breakdown of these revenues to specifically include direct revenues to the coffers of the government as follows:

-TEF fees which go straight to the Consolidated Fund – US$57.5 million or J$8.9 billion

– Departure Tax – US$100.6 million or J$15.6 billion

– Airport Improvement Fee – US$28.8 million or J$4.47 billion

– Airline Passenger Levy – US$57.5 million or J$8.9 billion

– Passenger Fees and Charges – US$69 million or J$10.7 billion

– Guest Accommodation Room Tax (GART) – US$22.6 million or J$3.5 billion.

The tourism minister stressed that “These are only the direct revenues. We have not factored in the indirect revenues which are multiple times larger and include monies spent at restaurants, shops, supermarkets, craft vendors, attractions, ground transportation operators, tour guides, Airbnbs, the many thousands employed directly and indirectly and beyond that – linkages through farmers, manufacturers, distributors, other suppliers, construction activities and so on”.

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