The Caribbean Region has Rebounded Magnificently — But There Is No Room for Complacency

Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, has cautioned the region’s travel leaders that despite a strong recovery from the pandemic, the Caribbean cannot afford to rest on its laurels.

“The Caribbean region has rebounded magnificently from the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors, such as natural disasters, but there is no room for complacency, especially in a world filled with uncertainties and external factors beyond our control,” Bartlett told hundreds of travel advisors and officials at the 4th annual American Society of Travel Advisors Showcase, held at Sandals South Coast this past week.

He pointed to tourism’s outsized role in the region’s economy, contributing about 22 percent of gross domestic product and sustaining roughly 2.75 million jobs. “Tourism remains the Caribbean’s most vital economic driver,” Bartlett said, underscoring the urgency of tackling sustainability challenges head-on.

Among the looming threats, Bartlett listed climate change, more intense hurricanes, rising sea levels, coral reef loss, and the volatility of source markets. “Our tourism-reliant economies make us susceptible to internal and external shocks,” he noted.

The minister reported that 2024 saw international tourist arrivals rise 6.1 percent over 2023, reaching 34.2 million visitors — a signal of both resilience and opportunity. But he stressed that long-term viability requires “more aggressive” action to preserve the region’s appeal.

Several regional leaders joined Bartlett at the event, including St. Lucia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire; Barbados’ Ian Gooding-Edghill; St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Carlos James; and Grenada’s Adrian Thomas.

Their presence, Bartlett said, reflected a growing spirit of “copetition” — a cooperative competition that he argued will make the Caribbean stronger.

“By continuing to work together, the possibilities are endless in how far the Caribbean can go in continuing to be one of the most highly sought-after tourism destinations in the world,” Bartlett said.