Jamaica is a primary tourism destination in the Caribbean (Photo: Visit Jamaica)
Jamaica continues to strengthen its standing as a premier Caribbean destination, with the cruise tourism sector generating USD 197.8 million during the 2023/2024 season.
According to a report released by the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), conducted in collaboration with Jamaica Vacations, the island’s overall revenue from cruise tourism stems from a combination of passenger and crew spending, and expenditures by the destination and cruise lines on port services, taxes and locally sourced goods and services.
The report says that as many as 1.43 million cruise passengers visited Jamaica during the season, with 1.16 million choosing to disembark and explore the island. These passengers collectively spent around USD 136.7 million on a variety of experiences, including accommodations, dining, shopping and shore excursions.
“We have seen tremendous growth in our cruise tourism sector. In 2023, we welcomed 1.26 million cruise passenger arrivals, which was 48.3 pc above 2022 figures. To keep up with demand, we work diligently to ensure our ports and services remain updated so cruise lines, crew members and passengers have an outstanding experience from arrival to departure, including the enjoyment of our famous beaches, historical sites and adventure experiences in between,” says Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica.
The report adds that while exploring the destination, passengers spent the majority of their money on excursions, watches and jewellery, with 71 pc of expenditures going toward these categories. Additionally, 62 pc of cruise parties reported that they had paid for excursions. Meanwhile, an estimated 166,790 crew members contributed nearly USD 8.1 million to the local economy, spending on excursions, local crafts and food, among other things.
The research also found that Jamaica ranked as the fifth-highest destination in the Caribbean and Latin America in terms of expenditures by cruise lines during the 2023/2024 season, with an investment of USD 49.7 million. This figure includes cruise lines’ payments to local businesses for various goods and services, such as port fees, taxes navigation services, utilities and other supplies.
“Cruise lines have expressed keen interest in sourcing more of their global product needs from Jamaica. Therefore, through the Tourism Linkages Network, we are working to increase opportunity for Jamaica’s farmers, manufacturers, artisans, and other enterprises to offer these services,” adds Bartlett.
The economic benefits of cruise tourism spending in Jamaica also extend to local employment. The industry directly supported 3,920 Jamaican jobs, contributing USD 36.1 million in annual wages.
“The cruise industry has played a major role in our tourism growth. We have welcomed over three million visitors this year so far, and that is largely due to our operators, vendors and suppliers who work diligently to ensure the entire visitor experience, for those arriving by air or sea, is smooth sailing,” says Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Jamaica.
The report says that the study was conducted aboard FCCA member cruise ships and it surveyed passengers and crew between October 2023 and May 2024. As Jamaica continues to elevate its offerings, the nation remains committed to enhancing its status as a global tourism powerhouse. Among the respondents, as many as 73 pc said that it was their first visit to the island, with visitors primarily hailing from the United States at 32 pc, Canada at 37 pc and Italy at 17 pc.