KINGSTON, JAMAIA — Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism has publicly thanked travel advisors for their role in accelerating the destination’s tourism recovery following Hurricane Melissa, crediting the trade with securing more than 23,000 room nights valued at approximately $8 million.
Speaking at a reception on Feb. 1 in New York attended by more than 100 travel specialists, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett acknowledged the travel trade’s contribution to restoring traveller confidence and supporting Jamaica’s return to normal operations after the storm.
“Without you, tourism couldn’t happen. You represent a huge part of tourism, and even though you are away from Jamaica, your work is essential. In the face of unprecedented challenges brought by Hurricane Melissa, you have worked tirelessly to restore confidence in our destination and deliver results that exceed our most optimistic projections,” said Bartlett.
According to the Minister, the room nights secured by travel agents represent more than booking volume alone, underscoring tourism’s broad economic impact across the island. He highlighted tourism’s multiplier effect, noting that at least 175 economic and social activities are involved in supporting a single visitor.
“The 23,000 room nights you’ve secured represent not just numbers on a page, but livelihoods restored and businesses revitalized,” the Minister stated. “Each tourist engages over 175 skill sets and touch points – from airport operations to hotel services, from transportation to attractions –and at each point, income flows to Jamaicans.”
The $8 million in bookings generated following Hurricane Melissa has provided a significant injection of revenue into Jamaica’s tourism economy, supporting businesses and workers affected by the disruption caused by the storm.
“Many times, we overlook the true contribution of tourism. While tourism may appear as 10% of GDP in statistics, it really represents 34% or more of our economic activity. Tourism is not a definable economic activity –it is a confluence of many economic and social activities that secure the well-being of Jamaica and Jamaicans.”
He emphasized that travel agents are central in the travel ecosystem, adding: “It starts when the idea is born that someone wants to travel. Without you making that one tourist come to Jamaica, none of the economic multiplication happens. You are the catalyst for everything that follows.”
In support of the travel trade’s efforts, the Jamaica Tourist Board has been working closely with travel agents through FAM trips, ongoing updates on infrastructure restoration and collaborative marketing initiatives aimed at driving bookings and rebuilding confidence in the destination.
“This milestone of 23,000 room nights is just the beginning,” Bartlett added. “With continued collaboration and your unwavering commitment, I am confident that our tourism sector will not only recover but emerge stronger than ever before. My thanks to you is about that one tourist that you made come to Jamaica – so that over 175 skill sets and social and economic touch points could be engaged, and at each point money flows into our economy.”
For more information about Jamaica, go to www.visitjamaica.com.
Lead image caption (from l-r): Philip Rose, Deputy Director of Tourism, Americas; Ariel Bowen, Acting Chief Consulate General of Jamaica in New York; Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism; Brian Wallace, Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations; and Victoria Harper, District Sales Manager-Northeast USA at a special reception for the Jamaica Tourist Board’s Travel Specialists
