Jamaica Sees 4.5 Percent Increase in 2009

While most Caribbean islands reported anywhere from a slight decrease to a whopping 20-percent dip in tourist arrivals last year, Jamaica is boasting the opposite.

At a media luncheon hosted by the Jamaica Tourist Board Tuesday, Travel Agent learned the country saw a roughly 4.5 percent increase in tourist arrivals in 2009 compared to 2008. New flights from such carriers as Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and JetBlue contributed to the success, says Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica's minister of tourism.

And with more new flights on the way, new attractions and hosting such notable industry events as the Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) in May, Bartlett says he won’t be surprised to see that number quadruple.

Visit www.visitjamaica.com.