≡-Jamaica Cruise Sector Hits New Milestones with High-Profile Vessels Like Disney Treasure and Celebrity Ascent Making Inaugural Visits, Boosting the Island’s Global Appeal as a Leading Cruise Hub in the Caribbean – Viral of Today

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Home » CRUISE NEWS » Jamaica Cruise Sector Hits New Milestones with High-Profile Vessels Like Disney Treasure and Celebrity Ascent Making Inaugural Visits, Boosting the Island’s Global Appeal as a Leading Cruise Hub in the Caribbean Monday, June 23, 2025Jamaica’s cruise tourism sector has reached exciting new heights as world-renowned ships like Disney Treasure and Celebrity Ascent make their inaugural calls to the island, underscoring its rising prominence as a premier cruise destination in the Caribbean. These landmark visits reflect Jamaica’s growing appeal on the global stage, driven by enhanced port infrastructure, strong tourism partnerships, and the island’s unmatched cultural and natural attractions.The Ministry of Tourism is actively working to expand the cruise tourism sector, acknowledging its significant role in Jamaica’s growing number of international visitors.Cruise tourism has proven to be an invaluable part of Jamaica’s tourism industry, bringing thousands of tourists to the island each year. Recognizing this, the Ministry of Tourism, led by Minister Edmund Bartlett, is focusing on capitalizing on the increasing popularity of cruise travel. Minister Bartlett emphasized the vital contribution of renowned cruise lines to Jamaica’s tourism, particularly highlighting recent inaugural calls to the island from esteemed vessels such as Disney Treasure and Celebrity Ascent. The arrival of these high-profile ships underscores Jamaica’s rising stature as one of the Caribbean’s leading cruise destinations.These developments in cruise tourism are a key component of Minister Bartlett’s broader strategy for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. During his address to Parliament on June 17, 2025, Minister Bartlett outlined fifteen strategic priorities aimed at improving the tourism sector’s contribution to Jamaica’s economic prosperity. Cruise tourism is a major focus within this framework, reflecting the government’s commitment to enhancing the sector’s overall impact.One of the standout initiatives in this plan is the “Local First” initiative, which seeks to increase local involvement in the tourism value chain. Minister Bartlett introduced this initiative as a way to ensure that a greater portion of tourism-generated income remains within Jamaica. The core idea is to create a tourism model where local businesses—especially farmers, artisans, and professionals—play a more prominent role in serving the needs of the sector. The Minister has also announced plans for new legislation and incentive programs designed to promote the participation of Jamaican producers in the tourism industry, encouraging domestic growth and sustainability.The “Local First” initiative is crucial for ensuring that the economic benefits of tourism are more widely distributed among the Jamaican population. By ensuring that tourism dollars flow back into local communities, the government aims to foster more equitable economic growth and enhance the resilience of local economies. Minister Bartlett stressed that this initiative will be key to preserving the long-term success of the industry, creating a positive cycle where local businesses continue to thrive alongside the influx of international tourists.In supporting this vision, the Ministry of Tourism is also looking to expand upon the success of the Agri-Linkages Exchange (ALEX) platform. This digital tool has played an important role in connecting local farmers directly with hotel purchasing managers, creating a more efficient and direct supply chain. By cutting out intermediaries, the platform has allowed farmers to secure better prices for their goods, resulting in better returns for local producers. ALEX has demonstrated the effectiveness of localized collaboration, and the Ministry aims to extend this model across other sectors of Jamaica’s tourism industry.Minister Bartlett has highlighted that tourism dollar retention—the proportion of money spent by tourists that stays within the country—is a key indicator of the success of these initiatives. Jamaica’s tourism sector has already achieved an impressive retention rate of 40.8 percent, one of the highest in the Caribbean. The government intends to increase this figure through the ongoing “Local First” initiative, with the goal of ensuring that a larger percentage of tourism revenue benefits local communities directly.Building on these efforts, the government also plans to focus on other aspects of Jamaica’s tourism infrastructure, including enhancing the island’s port facilities and strengthening connections between international cruise lines and local businesses. A key part of the strategy is to provide Jamaican businesses with the tools, resources, and incentives they need to meet the demands of the growing cruise tourism market. This includes expanding the range of local products and services available to cruise passengers, ensuring that more revenue from tourism stays within the country.In addition to expanding cruise tourism, Minister Bartlett also emphasized the importance of improving Jamaica’s overall tourism offering. This involves not only upgrading facilities but also promoting sustainable tourism practices that will benefit both visitors and local communities. Through this comprehensive approach, the Ministry of Tourism aims to position Jamaica as a global leader in sustainable tourism while ensuring that the local population benefits from the expanding tourism sector.Minister Bartlett concluded by reaffirming his commitment to making Jamaica’s tourism industry more inclusive, sustainable, and economically resilient. By strengthening local participation and continuing to attract high-quality cruise tourism, the Ministry aims to build a more balanced and prosperous future for the country. As the tourism sector grows, the focus will be on ensuring that its benefits are felt by a wider cross-section of the Jamaican population, ensuring that all Jamaicans are able to share in the success of this vital industry.In summary, the Ministry of Tourism’s strategies for expanding cruise tourism and strengthening local supply chains are designed to create a more sustainable and inclusive model for the future. With the “Local First” initiative at the forefront of the plan, Jamaica is positioning itself to capitalize on its growing cruise industry while ensuring that more of the economic benefits stay within the country. These efforts reflect the government’s commitment to fostering a competitive, resilient, and equitable tourism sector that will continue to benefit Jamaica for years to come.

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