Jamaica will welcome the first millionth stopover visitor for the year on Wednesday (June 15), bringing earnings of US$1.5 billion.

Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett said the strong arrival figure was a sign that the industry is on the “cusp of restoring its 2019 levels of arrivals and earnings”, following the disruptions caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Bartlet was speaking at the Jamaica 60 Diaspora Conference on Tuesday (June 14) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in downtown Kingston and also streamed online.

The minister credited the achievement to contributions made by locals who helped to “kick-start the industry after the pandemic lockdowns”.

Said Bartlett: “Although we had lost 130,000 workers because we had to close the industry and the country lost, in the process, US$46.3 billion, by June 2020 we were ready to bounce back and open our borders.”

He said the diaspora continues to play an important role in the full recovery of the country.

“You [the diaspora] can help us make this full recovery happen. I am imploring you to use the occasion of our Diamond Jubilee to make 2022 the best year in which more Jamaicans, than ever before, return home to celebrate the very special occasion that the 60th anniversary presents,” Bartlett encouraged.

“Our focus is now on our local people and our diaspora to invest more in tourism. The supply chain disruptions invite new opportunities for investment by our diaspora in the services and supplies that the industry needs.”