Jamaica officially launched its 60th independence celebrations in London last week with its tourism minister confirming tourism numbers from the UK are already returning to pre-pandemic levels as he tipped full recover this year. Jamaica gained independence from Britain on 6 August 1962.
Tourist hot spots like Dunn’s River Falls, the Bob Marley Museum, the Rio Grande River and Negril Beach are enjoying high visitor levels.
Edmund Bartlett said: “We’re delighted that our British visitor numbers are already getting back to pre-pandemic levels, and our increased airlift and removal of Covid testing means we expect 2022 to be a true year of recovery.
“We expect to close 2022 having welcomed a total of 3.2 million visitors contributing more than $3 billion to our economy.”
The event on Monday was at White City House in London, and featured musical performances and speeches in front of an audience including the Jamaican minister and members of the Jamaican community living in the UK.
The line-up of events planned in Jamaica during 2022 to celebrate the anniversary includes festivals, exhibitions and carnivals.
It was also confirmed that celebrations will take place in the UK, with events planned for this year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in July and August.
Bartlett said: “We are 60. Sixty bold, brave years in which Jamaica and the Jamaican community has had an impressive impact on cultures around the world.
“We’ll be marking this anniversary with a year of cultural activity throughout the year making this the year to visit Jamaica.
“And we’ll also bring the celebrations to the UK with lots of activity around the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer.”
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