Tourism Ministry says Tourism Booming Despite US Travel Advisory

Senior advisor and strategist in the Ministry of Tourism, Delano Seiveright, says tourist arrivals are booming so far this year, despite the adverse effect of a US travel advisory.

His comment follows concerns raised by Opposition Spokesperson on Tourism, Senator Janice Allen, about a fall in arrivals.

Mahiri Stewart reports.

Jamaica recorded 1.7 million visitors in the first five months of the year.

Preliminary data from the Ministry of Tourism indicates that the island recorded just over one million stopover arrivals as at May 5 and over 700,000 cruise passengers as at May 7.

This resulted in roughly US $1.8 billion in revenue for the sector.

The ministry says this also represents a 4.6 per cent increase in stopover arrivals and a 23 per cent increase in cruise passengers over the corresponding period in 2023.

But the opposition has questioned the accuracy of those numbers.

According to Spokesperson on Tourism, Senator Janice Allen, there’s been a decline in tourist arrivals at both major airports since the January 23 US travel advisory.

The level three advisory cautioned Americans about coming to Jamaica.

It cited crime and sub standard medical services as key reasons to reconsider travelling to Jamaica.

Senior tourism strategist, Delano Seiveright, has admitted that the advisory has had a negative effect on the industry. 

But he insists that the arrivals numbers are showing growth, year over year. 

Mr. Seiveright says local and international stakeholders continue to lobby top-level US officials on the matter.