Jamaica's tourism minister Edmund Bartlett has announced a massive wave of developments for Jamaica's tourism sector at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association's Caribbean Travel Marketplace that took place May 12 to 15.
The strategy includes expanded international airlift, a $5 billion hotel pipeline and plans to host the Caribbean Tourism Organization's Air Connectivity Summit in Kingston in February 2027.
The expansion follows a powerhouse first quarter, during which the island welcomed more than one million visitors and generated $956 million in earnings, demonstrating remarkable resilience just six months after Hurricane Melissa.
To meet sustained demand, major airline partners are scaling up service. Porter Airlines will introduce new nonstop routes to Montego Bay from Toronto Pearson Airport, Ottawa Airport and John C. Munro Hamilton Airport in Canada, adding nearly 5,000 seats for the winter season. Additional airlift growth includes increased service from Latin America via Wingo and expanded flights from the U.K. through Virgin Atlantic.
Backing this transit growth is a robust development pipeline slated to deliver 15,000 to 20,000 new rooms over the next five to 10 years, representing a $5 billion investment. Anchor projects include the landmark Pinnacle development and the ongoing evolution of the Rose Hall Tourism Development Corridor.
The growth is further bolstered by successful market diversification, with officials reporting Q1 figures showing a 25% surge in visitors from Latin America and a 7% increase from Asia. Officials also say cruise tourism rebounded strongly, drawing 591,861 visitors between January and April.
Jamaica's global momentum continues to rise, fueled by high-profile cultural exposure, including a live broadcast from NBC's "Today" show and an active events calendar, featuring Reggae Sumfest and the Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival.