Above: Alexis and Craig Greiner met by a government delegation

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Jamaica welcomed its 2 millionth tourist to the island on Sunday, the first time the country has reached that number in its history.

The travelers that put the country over the milestone were Alexis and Craig Greiner of Massachusetts, who arrived on American Airlines Flight 380 in Montego Bay on Sunday.

The Greiners were received by an official delegation led by Tourism Minister Dr Wykeham McNeill. They received two return airline tickets and a complimentary stay upon their return to Jamaica from Grand Palladium Resorts.

Jamaica had come close to 2 million visitors several times in recent years, narrowly missing the milestone.

“In the course of time, Jamaica has become an iconic brand in the travel industry, achieving name recognition in almost every nation on earth,” McNeill said. “Certainly, Jamaica remains high on the aspirational lists of consumers the world over. We feed these aspirations by our marketing efforts, the excellence of which we have consistently earned admiration and recognition.”

10 years ago, the country received 1.3 million stopover visitors.

“Our geographic location, the natural beauty of our island, our rich and vibrant culture, and our colourful history have all been factors in this success,” McNeill said. “But none more so than the Jamaican people themselves, who have infused Brand Jamaica with warmth, humor and a unique flair for hospitality that remains unchallenged.”