How Jamaica’s tourism sector bounced back from hurricane Beryl with $2.4bn earnings
Despite the disruption caused by Hurricane Beryl and global travel uncertainties, Jamaica’s tourism industry has bounced back to life, with approximately 2.3 million visitors and raking in over US$2.4 billion in earnings since the start of 2025.
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett made the announcement during the opening ceremony of the 11th annual Christmas in July trade show at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Thursday, Jamaica Observer reports.
He noted a 2% growth in tourism for the first quarter of the year, which contributed to a 1% overall increase in national economic performance during the same period.
“After Hurricane Beryl and all the disruptions, travel advisories, political and geopolitical issues, we are back on the growth path, and that’s going to continue,” Bartlett declared.
The minister anticipates a significant increase in tourism earnings for the current quarter, particularly in comparison to the same period last year, when the island was recovering from Beryl's impact. “I’m worried about how big the growth is going to look for this quarter,” he remarked, “because… you’re comparing a Beryl period to now, a normal period. But that’s how growth goes. The good news is that you’re back to where you were in 2023.”
Addressing the 180 exhibitors and local entrepreneurs showcasing Jamaican-made goods at the trade show, he encouraged them to take advantage of the growing tourism numbers by aligning their products with the sector’s rising demand.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
