Bartlett says tourism figures hit new records, Opposition rejects assessment

The Tourism Ministry is reporting that arrival figures for the first quarter of the year have hit new records.

THE NUMBERS:
*Total stop over and cruise passenger arrivals: Approximately 1.3 million (January to March)
*January to March: Over 80,000 more tourists arrived than during the corresponding quarter of 2017
*March 2018: An 11.3 per cent increase in stopover arrivals over March 2017
*Gross estimated foreign exchange earnings: US$821.2 million, eight per cent more than corresponding period of 2017

"These increased figures are as a result of a dynamic and multifaceted stakeholder engagement campaign cutting across our main markets — the U.S, Canada and Europe — by our team and our first-rate partners in the private sector," said Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett.

He said before and after the state of public emergency was declared in St James, tourism officials met with major industry players to reassure them that Jamaica was open for business.

Bartlett said with the continued growth in arrivals, Jamaica is on track to surpass its target of 5 million annual visitor arrivals before 2021 under what is called his ‘5x5x5’ growth strategy.

In the meantime, the Opposition Spokesman on Tourism Dr Wykeham McNeill says there has been a decline in the rate of growth in stopover arrivals.

He is demanding that Bartlett presents a '"fulsome" update on the real state of affairs in the industry.

According to McNeill, the rate of growth in stopover arrivals started to decline in December and has dipped significantly since January when the state of emergency was declared for St James .

"In a number of pronouncements since January 18, the Minister has repeatedly suggested that there is no real issue, everything is fine and arrivals are continuing to do very well," McNeill said, adding that he is concerned that the reality is different.

​McNEILL'S COUNTER POINTS:
*Over the past two years Jamaica has added 2,500 hotel rooms that resulted in the monthly growth in stopover arrivals from May to December 2017 which averaged 11 per cent.
*The Tourism Ministry projected a 10 per cent increase for the fiscal year April 2017 to March 2018, and a bumper winter season this year.
*Final figures show that January grew by 4.7 per cent while February grew by 3.7 per cent.
*Those growth rates are a significant decline on the growth rates of the second half of 2017. 
*Cumulatively, January and February increased by 4.2 per cent, less than half the growth rate of stop over arrivals expected which would translate to a fall out of more than 24,000 visitors and a loss in earnings to the country of more than $3 billion.
           
McNeill said while the Opposition supports the State of Public Emergency, the tangible fallout being experienced now is not necessary.

"The communications for and implementation of, the state of emergency were very poorly handled," he said.

"Apparently, the Minister did not properly advise the rest of the Government of the probable effects of the State of Emergency and despite having an elaborate PR machinery overseas, the industry is still experiencing serious fall out as reported by the overseas partners and local stakeholders."

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