According to Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica is poised to generate approximately US$1.5 billion in earnings from some one million visitor arrivals by the end of August as the sector rebounds from the ravages of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Minister noted that the projections are based on arrivals over the last seven months during which nearly 700,000 tourists visited the country.

He pointed out that the overall figure for the period exceeds 800,000 when coupled with general passenger arrivals and is set to reach the one million mark over the next several weeks.

The Minister maintained that the current and projected out-turns are testament to the sector’s resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that “no other industry could do that in seven months… [but] the tourism industry has”.

The tourism minister pointed out that the focus on recovery is being done even as the country continues to deal with the “awesome” challenge of managing the COVID-19 pandemic, which, he said, is characterized by uncertainty.

“What it requires of us is nimbleness… an ability to pivot, to respond, adapt and change… in the face of uncertainty. It’s a great call on the Government, on the individuals, as well as the institutions that operate within the wider community,” he said.

Readers Bureau, Contributor

Edited by Jesus Chan

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