Jamaica's tourism sector achieved remarkable performance metrics during the first half of 2025, welcoming 2.3 million visitors who contributed US$2.4 billion to the island's economy. Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett announced these figures during the opening ceremony of the 11th Christmas in July trade show at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on July 10. The tourism industry demonstrated resilience by posting a two percent growth rate during the first quarter, which helped boost the nation's overall economic performance by one percent. Bartlett emphasized the sector's recovery momentum despite previous challenges from Hurricane Beryl and various travel advisories that had disrupted operations. The minister expressed confidence that the growth trajectory would continue as the industry rebounds from earlier setbacks.
The current quarter shows promising indicators for even stronger tourism earnings compared to the same period last year, according to Bartlett's projections. He attributed this anticipated surge to the stark contrast between the hurricane-affected period and current normal operations. The minister addressed 180 exhibitors at the two-day trade show, encouraging them to seize opportunities within the expanding tourism market and growing demand for locally produced goods. He stressed the importance of local suppliers meeting tourist demands to prevent revenue leakage through imports. The Tourism Linkages Network, a division of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, organized the event with public and private sector partners, concluding on July 11.
The current quarter shows promising indicators for even stronger tourism earnings compared to the same period last year, according to Bartlett's projections. He attributed this anticipated surge to the stark contrast between the hurricane-affected period and current normal operations. The minister addressed 180 exhibitors at the two-day trade show, encouraging them to seize opportunities within the expanding tourism market and growing demand for locally produced goods. He stressed the importance of local suppliers meeting tourist demands to prevent revenue leakage through imports. The Tourism Linkages Network, a division of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, organized the event with public and private sector partners, concluding on July 11.
