Tourism Players in Negril Excited About Winter Season

Major tourism players in Negril, among them President of the Negril Chamber of Commerce are banking on a good winter season as Jamaica’s tourism industry steadily rebounds. Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett says the sector is projected to surpass pre-pandemic figures by the end of 2024. But with a continued decline in COVID-19 cases, and increased arrivals, all are being reminded of their responsibility on the road to recovery.

Minister Edmund Bartlett assures that Jamaica is well on its way to recovery, the Minister says stopover arrivals year to date, now stand at 1.2 million. He adds that since cruise shipping resumed in August, the country has welcomed more than 36,000 cruise passengers, while earnings are at the US$1.5-billion mark.

Bartlett notes that by the end of 2022, visitor arrivals are expected to total 3.2 million, with cruise passengers accounting for 1.1 million and stopover arrivals accounting for roughly 2.1 million, while earnings are projected at us$3.3 billion.

He says with December starting the high season, the Ministry will likely meet its forecast of 1.6 million visitors and over US$2 billion in earnings. President of the Negril Chamber of Commerce and owner of the Boardwalk Shopping Village, Richard Wallace is anticipating a good winter season. But with predictions of a fourth wave of COVID-19 hitting Jamaica by January, he says it is imperative that everyone remains cautious.

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