Jamaica has entered 2025 on a high note, raking in $4.3 billion in tourism income last year — up from a record $4.1 billion in 2023, the Jamaica Tourist Board said.
Last year, the Caribbean nation — known for its nature sites, beaches, cultural attractions and culinary pleasures — registered a record 4.3 million visitors. And officials are looking to get even more this year.
“Our continued success is due to the invaluable support of our trusted partners,” said Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism. “In 2024, growing global interest in Jamaica drew millions of visitors to our island. This visitor increase is set to continue as the island becomes more accessible than ever to global visitors thanks to highway expansions and increased hotel, air and cruise offerings.”
According to Donovan White, Jamaica’s director of tourism, the new year is already showing promise.
“Already in 2025, we have seen a 12.9% increase in airline seats over the same period last year, so we anticipate this will be another landmark year for Jamaica,” said White. “Especially with the return of beloved celebrations like this month’s Rebel Salute festival and an extra-special Reggae Month in February, marked by the 80th birthday of Bob Marley, there will be a lot of buzz and excitement on the island.”
TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, some gave some added recognition to Jamaica in its “2025 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Destinations.” The website rated the nation the world’s “11 World Food Destination,” “#13 World Honeymoon Destination,” and “#24 World Cultural Destination.”
For information on Jamaica tourism, visit visitjamaica.com.
‘Blue grants’ due
Caribbean firms working towards the goals of the World Bank-funded “Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC) Project” will soon be offered a boost through the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States Commission’s “Window 2” program, giving regional grants to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) working towards ever-important environmental sustainability in the region.
Fisheries, marine and coastal tourism, and waste management sector firms in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and St. Lucia are eligible for grants ranging from $100,00 to $200,000 — through the OECS’ Window 2 program. The program kicks off on Feb. 12 at 10:30 a.m. in a virtual event. The application deadline is March 19. (For more information on the launch event and the application process email [email protected].)
“The focus is not only on increasing productivity and competitiveness but also on ensuring the sustainable management of the Caribbean’s vital marine and coastal assets,” said the OECS Commission, calling the grant program “a key component” of the UBEC Project.
In the Caribbean, a blue economy strategy is the sustainable use of freshwater and marine resources “to create jobs, grow the economy, and preserve the ocean and sea life,” and adapt to climate change. For more information on the OECS grant: bit.ly/OECS_Program2_Grant_Proposal.
Authors ‘Sip & Chat’
Experts in the areas of publishing, public relations, and marketing gathered in Manhattan last week to share their knowledge at the “NYC Aspiring Authors Sip & Chat Networking Event.”
Sponsored by the SIP NYC, Joy and James Frazier’s Black-owned wine and spirits marketing and events firm, the session was designed to inspire, motivate and inform individuals to act in 2025.
Guests included celebrity book publisher Yona Deshommes of Riverchild Media and Lucky Book Publishing co-founders Samantha Moonsammy and Simar Nounou. Author Dionne Nicholls-Germain served as the panel’s moderator.
SIP NYC provided complimentary refreshments and tastings from Black-owned wine and spirits brands. And Nicholls-Germain provided copies of her publication, “The 90-Day Conquering Unforgiveness Journal.” For more information, visit thesipnyc.com.