Jamaica tourist arrivals improving despite challenges

The tourism ministry in Jamaica is reporting that for the first time ever tourist arrivals have surpassed the one million visitor mark in the first six months of the year.



The ministry says data have revealed that 1,010,896 foreigners visited the island between January 1 and June 30 this year.



This represents a 4.1 per cent increase over the figures for the similar period last year.



The tourism ministry says earnings from visitor arrivals increased by 2.4 per cent to US$1.9 million.



However, the ministry says during the period under review both cruise passenger arrivals as well as earnings from the sub-sector declined.



However, the tourism minister Ed Bartlett is expressing optimism that Jamaica’s tourism performance will continue to improve.



According to Bartlett, there were positive signs in the months of July, August and September.



He further says the increased arrivals and earnings come at a time when the worldwide recession is taking a toll on economies of the world and during a period when Jamaica had its own civil challenges.