Tourism Minister credits Diaspora as Jamaica surpasses 1-million visitors in Q1 2026
/ Our Today
administrator
Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett, is crediting the Jamaican diaspora as one of the country’s most influential ambassadors, announcing that the island welcomed more than one million visitors and earned US$956 million in foreign exchange during the first quarter of 2026.
This is five months after the disruption caused by Hurricane Melissa, which hit the island on October 28, 2025, causing severe damage to the island and the tourism sector in particular. Minister Bartlett made the disclosure in an address at the Jamaican Embassy in Washington last week, where he praised the role of overseas Jamaicans in supporting the country’s rapid tourism recovery.
Speaking before Jamaican professionals, community leaders, and friends of Jamaica in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area — home to more than 38,000 Jamaicans- the Tourism Minister described the rebound as “resilience in action” and urged diaspora members to continue promoting Jamaica globally.
Most powerful Ambassadors
“Before a traveller ever books a ticket, before they see a brochure or a campaign, they often hear about Jamaica through you,” Bartlett told the gathering, adding, “you are among our most powerful ambassadors, and I mean that in the most literal sense.”
The tourism minister noted that Jamaica’s strong first-quarter performance following Hurricane Melissa, citing the continued support and advocacy from Jamaicans abroad helped prevent negative perceptions from affecting travel demand.
According to him, “these figures speak to the resilience of the destination and global support that our island continues to receive. The world is confident in our ability to recover from disruptions and deliver top-class hospitality at every level.”
Comments