A section of the Falmouth cruise ship pier
Diversions from hurricane-ravaged Caribbean islands have caused Jamaica to record an increase of 66.3 per cent in cruise passenger arrivals for the month ending October 2017, according to latest data from the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ).
Data from the quarter ending September 2017 also revealed that despite the temporary closure of Jamaica’s airspace during September, all categories of visitors to the island increased, partly due to the diversion of passengers.
The Ocho Rios Cruise Port Terminal recorded the highest increase of 53.2 per cent to 103,028 passengers; while Montego Bay and Falmouth reflected increases of 33.7 per cent to 94,070 passengers, and 15.5 per cent to 154,561 passengers, respectively.
Overall, the island saw an increase of 28.5 per cent in cruise passenger arrivals for the three-month period July to September.
The surge in passenger arrivals also helped to prevent Jamaica from falling into a recession, after main growth producers — agriculture, forestry, fishing, and the mining and quarrying industries — were estimated to have remained flat, recording a contraction of 8.6 per cent, respectively.
Growth for the quarter totalled 0.9 per cent and was mainly driven by the hotels and restaurants, manufacture and electricity and water supply industries.
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