25 Feb 2015
Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) has announced impressive 2014 year end visitor arrival figures to the destination. These demonstrate a 17.1% rise year-on-year (YOY) in UK visitors travelling to Jamaica, the Home Of All Right. Jamaica's latest end of year figures also revealed that December 2014 saw a huge YOY increase of 34.1% in UK visitors to the island compared to the same period in 2013.
Several new developments in airlift during 2014 have helped increase visitors and secure Jamaica's position as the UK's favourite Caribbean island. Additional direct flights out of Manchester airport plus new airlift from other regional airports (including Glasgow, East Midlands, Doncaster, Cardiff and Newcastle), have meant that more Brits are heading to Jamaica to enjoy its miles of sandy beaches, fantastic cuisine and captivating culture.
The opening of new luxury adult-only and family-friendly resorts on the island in 2014 and 2015 is set to lure even greater numbers of UK travellers to Jamaica's shores in the current year. All Caribbean firsts, the Sensatori in Negril is the first property to open in the Caribbean and the Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall and Hyatt Zilara Rose Hall in Montego Bay are the brands' first foray into all inclusive resorts outside of Mexico. Palace Resorts will also open their first property outside of Mexico, Moon Palace Jamaica Grande, later this year. The new five-star all-inclusive property in Ocho Rios will offer over 700 luxurious suites with ocean-front views of the Caribbean Sea. The family-friendly resort features 17 acres of ivory sand on the longest stretch of beach in Ocho Rios. For the upcoming winter seasons, Jamaica will be buzzing with Brits thanks to the Platinum cruise ship, Thomson Dream, home porting in Montego Bay for both the Winter 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons.
Elizabeth Fox, Regional Director UK/Northern Europe for Jamaica Tourist Board, said: “2014 proved to be an extremely positive year for tourism to Jamaica. Jamaica is constantly improving and upgrading its offering and UK holidaymakers have responded well to this. We are confident that 2015 is also going to see further impressive growth in British visitors heading to Jamaica and we look forward to welcoming even more new travellers to our beautiful island, the Home of All Right.”
For more information on Jamaica, visit www.VisitJamaica.com.
-ENDS-
For more information or images please contact:
McCluskey International
Fiona Anderson / Lauren Hill
T: 020 8747 2170
About Jamaica Tourist Board
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica's national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. The JTB was declared the Caribbean's Leading Tourist Board by the World Travel Awards (WTA) from 2006 to 2013. Also in 2013, Jamaica earned the WTA's vote for the World's Leading Cruise Destination, Caribbean's Leading Destination and Caribbean's Leading Cruise Destination for the seventh consecutive year. Additionally, the Historic Falmouth Cruise Port was recognised as the World's Leading Tourism Development Project while Ocho Rios was named the Caribbean's Leading Cruise Port and Sangster International Airport was voted the Caribbean's Leading Airport. In Canada, Jamaica was voted the Favourite Honeymoon Destination by Travel Agents.
JTB offices are located in Kingston, Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are located in Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam and Tokyo. For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Jamaica go to the JTB's website at www.visitjamaica.com or call the Jamaica Tourist Board 020 7225 9090. Follow the JTB on Facebook at www.facebook.com/visitjamaicauk, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jtbuk, on Instagram at http://instagram.com/visitjamaica on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/myjamaica/or on YouTube at www.youtube.com/myjamaicajtb. View the JTB blog at www.islandbuzzjamaica.com.
