Almost three years later, tourism industries are still bouncing back from the COVID-19 pandemic. Jamaica’s tourism industry has almost reached full recovery, according to its Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett.
“The good news is that Jamaica has now recovered 90 percent from the COVID-19 pandemic in the tourism sector,” says Bartlett during a meeting led by Namibia’s Minister in the Presidency, Hon. Christine Hoebes.
Bartlett continues, “our recovery in terms of arrivals this year is likely to be well over 3 million, and we are also expecting our earnings will be just about $100 million, or so, below our best earnings in 2019 of $3.7 billion.”
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Don’t call it a comeback
Bartlett says that the main source markets in Jamaica are rebounding strongly. He shares that compared to 2019, the United Kingdom is the only market Jamaica is pacing ahead of in terms of figures. “We are six percent ahead in the UK market,” says Bartlett.
Agreements were signed following the meeting with Namibia in areas such as tourism, urban development, logistics, and Diaspora cooperation.
“The U.S. has come back very strongly, and while Canada is lagging behind a little, progress is being made,” shares Bartlett. He also shares that since Jamaica’s tourism industry has recovered, they can help Namibia with its recovery efforts.
Helping Namibia with its tourism recovery will include collaboration in marketing, sustainability, human capital development, and resilience building.
Minister Hoebes of Namibia says, “this will strengthen the collaboration between the two countries.” She continues, “the agreement will put Namibia in a better place.”