Jamaica broke the 2 million mark for 2013 stayover visitors on Dec. 29, marking the first time that the country has welcomed 2 million visitors in a year.
In 2012, Jamaica had 1.8 million stayover visitors.
Tourist arrivals increased 11.2% in October and 7.3% in November, according to John Lynch, director of tourism.
Jewel Runaway Bay Beach & Golf Resort staff members were thrilled to be a part of Jamaica’s record-breaking year in tourism over the weekend, welcoming the couple who pushed the island’s stopover visitors this year to the 2 million mark. Newlywed guests from Newton, Mass., in the United States, Alexis and Craig Greiner, who arrived on American Airlines into Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, were welcomed to the resort with true island hospitality.
The Jamaica Tourist Board anticipates further growth in 2014, due to an increase of 40,000 air seats this winter.
