Jamaica’s visitor total of 2.08 million air
and sea visitors for the first half of the year was a 7.5% increase year over
year, according to the Jamaica Tourist Board.
The numbers put Jamaica firmly on the path
to welcoming at least four million visitors this year, which would be up from
3.7 million in 2015, according to Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett.
The U.S. market contributed to the bulk of
the growth with a 5.6% increase, with Texas visitors leading the pack.
The island benefitted from a 14.2% surge in
cruise arrivals in the first six months, totaling 949,883 passengers. Stayover
numbers were up 2.5% to 1.1 million arrivals.
The bulk of stayover visitors flocked to
resorts in Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril and stayed an average of eight
nights, the same as in 2015.