Stopover arrivals in September 2021 were 100,654, representing a 251.3 per cent increase over the 28,648 recorded in 2020.

However, arrivals were 30.4 per cent down on the 144,583 arrivals recorded in September 2019, prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. For the January to September period, arrivals increased by 39.5 per cent, with 970,435 stopovers recorded.

This is 274,714 more stopovers compared to the 695,721 in 2020.

Statistics based on segment

USA

Stopover arrivals from the United States market recorded a total of 88,383 arrivals in September 2021. The Northeast US marketing regions recorded 37,904 arrivals, the South recorded 27,004, the Mid-West recorded 13,082 and the West recorded 10,393 arrivals.

For the January to September period, the US market region has increased by 85.8 per cent with 893,990 arrivals. The Northeast was up by 87.9 per cent, the South up by 127.1 per cent, the Midwest up by 17.2 per cent and the West region up by 138.8 per cent.

Canada

Air service continued in September 2021 but only with flights from the gateway of YYZ Toronto (Toronto Pearson International Airport). The Canadian market recorded 5,053 arrivals. Majority of stopovers came from Central Canada with 4,516 arrivals. Cumulatively, the Canadian market with 22,061 visitors has recorded a decrease of 81.3 per cent or 95,707 fewer visitors than in 2020. The top producing provinces of Ontario with 18,555 fell by 77.6 per cent, and those from Quebec, with 1,265 visitors fell by 92.2 per cent.

Europe

Air service increased during September 2021, with flights from the gateways BHX, LGW, LHR and MAN in the UK and FRA Germany and ZRH Switzerland. Stopovers from the European market region recorded 4,820 arrivals in September 2021. From the Northern European region, 3,909 visitors were recorded.

From the South-Western European region 747 visitors and from Central-East Europe 164 arrivals. For the January to September period, arrivals decreased by 47.1 per cent, with 36,230 stopovers, this is 32,320 fewer stopovers compared to the 68,550 recorded during the same period in 2020.

Latin America

Arrivals from Latin America recorded 519 in September 2021. From the Central American region, stopover arrivals recorded 367. Mexico with 154 arrivals and Panama with 130. From the South American region, stopover arrivals recorded 152 arrivals. Uruguay with 80 arrivals, Ecuador with 17 arrivals and Chile with 13 arrivals.

Cumulatively, from January to September 2021, stopover arrivals from Latin America declined by 67.7 per cent, with a total of 4,145 arrivals, which was 8,670 fewer visitors compared to the same period in 2020. Stopovers from Central America with 2,390 arrivals rose by 12.9 per cent. Stopover arrivals from South America fell by 83.6 per cent with 1,755 arrivals.

Asia

The Asian market recorded a total of 105 stopovers in September 2021. China, India and the Philippines, are the major visitor-producing countries with 35, 25 and 24 stopovers arriving from each country, respectively. Year to date, stopovers for the January to September period fell by 24.0 per cent moving down from 1,331 in 2020 to 1,011 in 2021.

Wider Caribbean

Stopover arrivals to Jamaica from the Caribbean region in September 2021 were 1,663. The Bahamas and the Cayman were the major visitor-producing Caribbean countries in September 2021 with 258 and 257 stopover arrivals, respectively.

Year to date, stopovers for the January to September period fell by 5.8 per cent moving down from 12,796 in 2020 to 12,056 in 2021.

Other countries

Overall, stopover arrivals recorded from other countries were 942 arrivals, for the January to September 2021 period. Of the ‘Other countries’, the African continent provided the most stop-over arrivals to Jamaica, with 389 visitors compared to 337 in 2020. This represents an increase of 15.4 per cent.

Statistics on Length of Stay

The average length of stay of foreign national arrivals in September 2021was 9.0 nights. The average length of stay in hotels was 6.2 nights in September 2021.

The average length of stay of non‐resident Jamaican arrivals in September 2021 was 28.7. The average length of stay in hotels in September 2021 was 8.9 nights.

During the January to September 2021 period, the average length of stay for foreign national arrivals in all types of accommodations was 8.8 nights compared to 8.6 nights in 2020. For the non-resident Jamaican arrivals, the average length of stay was 24.7 nights compared to 19.3 nights.

Statistics on Purpose of Visit

During the month of September 2021, 78.2 per cent or 71,732 of the 91,699 foreign nationals visited Jamaica for leisure, 1.1 per cent were on business, 20.5 per cent were on other purposes of travel and 0.2 per cent did not state their purpose of travel.

A total of 3,450 or 38.5 per cent of the 8,955 non‐resident Jamaicans were visiting for leisure, 2.0 per cent were on business, 58.9 per cent were on other purposes of travel and 0.6 per cent failed to provide a reason for travel.

Year-to-date January to September 2021, 78.0 per cent or a total of 756,957 of the total stopover arrivals of 970,435 visited Jamaica for leisure, 0.9 per cent were on business, 20.9 per cent were on other purposes of travel and 0.2 per cent did not state their travel purpose.

Statistics on Intended area of stay by tourists

Of the 153,560 stopover arrivals visiting Jamaica in September 2021, the resort area of Montego Bay welcomed 60,840 arrivals or 39.6 per cent; Ocho Rios received 30,349 or 19.8 per cent, Negril welcomed 29,353 or 19.1 per cent; and 10,329 or 6.7 per cent visited Kingston.

The remaining 14.8 per cent stayed in the Mandeville/South Coast, Port Antonio resort regions and other areas in Jamaica. Between January and September 2021, the combination of Montego Bay, Negril, and Ocho Rios accounted for 683,861 or 78.6 per cent of the 869,781 total stopover arrivals.

Statistics on airlines used by tourists

Of the 970,435 stopover visitors to Jamaica during the period January to September 2021, 958,959 or 98.8 per cent used scheduled airlines, while 11,476 or 1.2 per cent used chartered flights.

During the corresponding period in 2020, the percentage distribution was 92.5 per cent for scheduled airline use and 7.5 per cent used chartered flights.