KINGSTON — Jamaica is set to surpass its projected visitor arrivals and tourism earnings for 2023.

Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett said he expects Jamaica to record a total of 4,122,100 visitors for 2023, an increase of 23.7% over 2022. Some 2.8 million of those are expected to be stopover visitors, a 16% increase year over year. Jamaica is also expecting 1,246,551 cruise passengers for 2023, a 46.1% increase.

“This continues the spectacular growth pattern of tourism, with 10 consecutive quarters of substantial growth since the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on arrival figures to date, all indications are that we will be having an 11th quarter of significant expansion,” said Minister Bartlett.

The influx of visitors is expected to generate US$4.265 billion in tourism earnings for 2023, a projected increase of 17.8% over 2022, and a 17.2% increase over 2019.

“If we continue on our impressive growth trajectory, we will be on track to surpass our projections of 4 million visitors and foreign exchange earnings of US$4.1 billion by year-end,” he added.