Jamaica is having its best year ever in visitors arrivals, according to Jamaica’s tourism minister. Edmund Bartlett’s enthusiasm was shared as the island’s tourism sector celebrated the return of JAPEX, its first major travel tradeshow post-pandemic.

“As we currently stand, we are about to have the best year in the history of tourism in Jamaica for stopover arrivals, 2023,” Bartlett enthused at a gala opening event at Chukka Outpost on the Sandy Bay coastline Monday night.

The record of 3.8 million visitors in less than four years after the COVID-19 pandemic had shut down tourism travel globally was hailed by Bartlett as a feat achieved through a solid partnership with the international and local tourism partners attending the three-day marketing event at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

“Jamaica today boasts that it is the number one destination in the entire English-speaking Caribbean and arguably in the entire Americas, thank you,” he told the tourism partners, noting that this had been achieved because of their confidence, continued support, and commitment to Jamaica.

Bartlett said investments in Jamaica’s tourism sector remained strong and bullish and “next year alone we’ll be having 2,000 new rooms for you to sell for us when you go back to your destinations.” There will also be new attractions and Jamaica remained committed to safety, security, and seamlessness, he assured attendees, who hailed from all across the globe, including Canada.

Bartlett revealed that next week he will be visiting Canada as well as the United Kingdom to further boost travel there through the Jamaica Marketplace trade event.