The Jamaica Tourist Board is seeing an impressive lift in British visitor figures this 2013/2014 winter season, registering a 6% increase in UK travellers from November 2013 to February 2014 on the previous year. This equates to 2,449 more British tourists travelling to the island, compared to the same period in winter 2012/2013.

In line with the expected continued growth in British holidaymakers to Jamaica for the remainder of year, Jamaica is offering several new tourism developments in 2014. The new Sensatori Jamaica officially opened this April on Negril’s famous Seven Mile Beach, and Hyatt is set to open two new properties, Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Ziva, in Montego Bay towards the end of this year, further enhancing the island’s impressive hotel portfolio.

For cruise lovers, the platinum cruise ship Thomson Dream will make Montego Bay its base this winter. This is particularly significant as this will be the first time a British cruise ship has made Jamaica its home port.

Elizabeth Fox, Jamaica Tourist Board’s Regional Director for UK and N. Europe, comments; “Our UK visitor figures for the start of the winter season are highly encouraging. They come on the back of the very strong British stopover figures for summer 2013, when we saw an increase of 13% on summer 2012. With new hotels opening and our increased cruise offering, coupled with further increases in airlift from the UK this year, Jamaica is set to retain its position as the UK’s favourite Caribbean destination.”