Jamaica’s strong recovery from the pandemic is leading to record-breaking tourism revenues for the island, according to the country’s Minister of Tourism. 

Minsiter Edmund Bartlett say the island ended the year with tourism earnings of $3.64 billion. 

“The 2022-2023 fiscal year is going to show $4.2 billion earnings in tourism,” he said. That would represent $500 million more than in 2019, which had been the best year in Jamaica’s history. 

So far, the winter season has “started with a bang,” he said. That includes a 463 percent increase over least year. 

Jamaica is forecasting tourism arrivals to exceed its record numbers of 2019 this year.