Jamaica Welcomes 70000 Visitors in Early Winter Season Surge

Jamaica welcomes 70000 visitors in the first week of the winter travel season, delivering a strong opening for the island’s tourism industry. The early surge signals renewed traveler confidence and steady progress in Jamaica’s post–Hurricane Melissa recovery.

Tourism officials confirmed that the arrivals reflect strong performance across both airlift and cruise tourism. The results point to sustained demand as the island enters its most important travel period of the year.

Jamaica Welcomes 70000 Visitors Through Strong Airlift and Cruise Arrivals

Of the total arrivals, approximately 46,000 visitors traveled to Jamaica as stopover guests. Nearly 30,000 others arrived by cruise ship during the same period. This balanced performance highlights the strength of Jamaica’s tourism infrastructure and market appeal.

Since Hurricane Melissa passed the island in late October, Jamaica has welcomed an estimated 370,000 visitors. These arrivals generated roughly US$331.2 million in tourism earnings, reinforcing tourism’s role as a key driver of economic stability.

Jamaica Welcomes 70000 Visitors as Recovery Efforts Focus on People

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett welcomed the strong start to the season but stressed that recovery efforts must support workers, not just arrival numbers.

“Our recovery is not only about increasing visitor numbers,” Bartlett said. “It is about supporting the men and women who power the tourism industry as we rebuild stronger.”

To support this approach, the government has committed more than J$2 billion to assist tourism workers. These funds help employees stabilize their livelihoods and meet household needs during recovery.

Housing Support Expands for Tourism Workers

A central initiative within the recovery plan is the Tourism Housing Assistance Recovery Programme (THARP). The programme supports tourism workers whose homes sustained damage during Hurricane Melissa.

THARP will assist more than 150 workers in its initial phase. The programme aims to support over 5,000 workers by its completion, strengthening long-term resilience within the tourism workforce.

Stakeholder Confidence Signals a Strong Winter Outlook

Tourism Director Donovan White said continued investment from tourism partners reflects confidence in Jamaica’s recovery.

“Our partners continue to invest in Jamaica’s tourism rebound,” White said. “Their commitment shows confidence that the sector will emerge stronger.”

With the winter travel season now underway, tourism officials expect steady arrivals and continued worker support to drive economic recovery and sustainable tourism growth across the island.