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Long before the first tourism marketing plan was written, Christopher Columbus on his inaugural voyage to Jamaica was struck by the island’s beauty. These natural attributes proved to be invaluable assets when in 1891 the government sought to explore the “economic potential of the colony.”
The decision to stage an “International Exhibition” in Jamaica during that year fuelled the idea that “the Exhibition would bring many to Jamaica for the first time who would make known the advantages of Jamaica as a winter resort to others and thus lay the foundation for a steady and increasing flow of tourists to the island.” This signaled the “beginning of government’s commitment” to the development of the tourist industry.
The industry has grown significantly since then and today Brand Jamaica is known, recognized and loved the world over.
|
Year |
Total Stopover
Arrivals |
Total Cruise Arrivals |
Total Visitor Arrivals |
Total Visitor Expenditure |
|
1955 |
86,793 |
35,356** |
122,149 |
£6,718,190 |
|
1963 |
131,865 |
70,464** |
202,329 |
£13,500,000* |
|
1975 |
395,809 |
150,433 |
553,258 |
US$128,706,000 |
|
1984 |
603,436 |
231,039 |
843,774 |
US$406,600,000 |
|
1994 |
976,635 |
595,036 |
1,108,871 |
US$919,000,000 |
|
2003 |
1,350,285 |
1,132,596 |
2,482,881 |
US$1,336,000,000 |
|
2009 |
1,831,097 |
922,349 |
2,753,446 |
US$1,925,423,000 |
*Jamaica converted from the English pound to the Jamaican dollar in 1969.
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