Jamaican authorities are celebrating the country’s big tourist moment in 2022. According to them, recent trips by other musicians like rappers Cardi B and Offset, as well as Nigerian music singer Burna Boy, have demonstrated that Jamaica was the Caribbean’s celebrity playground last year. “They are very appreciative of the relaxed non-paparazzi-like Jamaican culture, thereby allowing them to vacation in peace,” said Delano Seiveright, Senior Advisor and Strategist in the Tourism Ministry.
“Villas are the priority, but we do have many who have or are currently staying at known luxury hotels, Airbnbs and even some all-inclusives. On our part, we will continue to develop and promote our country around the world in order to encourage other major international celebrities to visit the island,” Seiveright added.
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett stated that Burna Boy attracted thousands of locals and visitors to the island’s capital, Kingston in December 2022. The minister also mentioned the heightening exposure of Jamaica brought by American Music stars Cardi B and Offset. The celebrity couple vacationed on the island recently to celebrate Offset’s birthday. The couple stayed in Ocho Rios.
Entertainment Remains Important
“I applaud African superstar Burna Boy for his fantastic performance at the National Stadium on the weekend. This was certainly a must-see event for many of our locals, and indeed visitors to the island, who flocked to Kingston to attend this massive entertainment offering. Likewise, having Cardi B and Offset here was another big plus too,” said Minister Bartlett.
For him, entertainment remains an important value-added product that the country. The country will continue to utilize strategically within the tourism industry to enhance the sector’s growth. ”It is one of the passion points of our visitors and one of the many reasons why persons travel to Jamaica yearly. We, therefore, look forward to many more private-sector-led events in the near future, which will continue to positively impact our tourism sector and the many small and medium entrepreneurs who benefit from them,” he said.
The Grammy-winning Burna Boy announced his Love, Damini Summer 2022 Tour shortly after his record-breaking, sold-out debut at Madison Square Garden. On December 18, at the National Stadium in Kingston, the Caribbean portion of the tour came to an end. Popcaan, Toni-Ann Singh, and Lila Ike also performed at the event.
Strongest Winter Travel Season
According to recent projections, Jamaica will see its strongest winter travel season ever this year. The country registered anticipated record arrivals of 950,000 stopover visitors and 524,000 cruise passengers respectively. This is the highest volume of visitors the country has ever experienced — nearly 1.5 million for the entire season.
Jamaica is expecting a boost this winter tourist season with US$1.4 billion in tourism earnings anticipated. Over 1.3 million air seats have been secured for the period and a full recovery of cruise tourism is expected.
“This winter is going to be the best Jamaica has had,” Bartlett said. “The county will host 950,000 land-based, overnight visitors and 524,000 cruise passengers in the first quarter of 2023,” he predicted.
Last year, Jamaica’s tourism Industry has almost reached full recovery, according to its Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett. Jamaica is poised to end 2022 having recovered 97 percent of 2019’s visitor arrival numbers.
JTB officials say that U.S. travel advisors helped to increase the influx of visitors to Jamaica in 2022.
Over the past few months, airlines announced new direct flights connecting Jamaica to cities around the United States.
Low-fare carrier Frontier Airlines announced in October it is adding three new route connections to Montego Bay.