The Caribbean may still be some distance away from leaving its COVID-19 woes behind, but on the basis of the available evidence it would very much appear that the region is sparing no pains to ensure that it does everything in its power to ensure that its tourism industry survives, and, if possible, prospers in a challenging environment.
Late last week the Port Authority in Kingston disclosed that the tourism industry is anticipating the arrival of up to fifty cruise ships to visit up to five ports on the island during November and December.
With COVID-related heavy job losses in the tourism sector having inflicted a severe dent on Jamaica’s economy over the past two years, the disclosure that international travellers have not lost faith in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country as a tourist haven will considerably lift spirits, particularly in those communities on the island where the falloff in tourist arrivals has affected both employment and consumer spending.
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Port Authority, Professor Gordon Shirley, reportedly disclosed during a recent media interview that the cruise ships will visit ports in Ocho Rios in St Ann, Montego Bay in St James, Port Antonio in Portland, Falmouth in Trelawney, and Port Royal in Kingston, in the coming weeks.
Contextually, he noted that expanded berthing at the port in Montego Bay, St James, will facilitate larger cruise ships which will start visiting the island in 2022.
Montego Bay is among the more popular tourist areas in Jamaica and the recent expansion of the Montego Bay pier was reportedly undertaken at a cost of JM$184 million.
Jamaica has reportedly previously garnered more than US$10 million over the winter season – which runs from mid-December through mid-April, according to a recent Jamaica media report.
The media report also says that the investments by Carnival, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines means that the Caribbean will benefit from visits of new, larger cruise ships. Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism is currently projecting the arrival of 200,000 cruise passengers, representing 110 calls between October 2021 and April 2022.
