JAMAICA - Despite not yet being able to give a final dollar figure, Carnival 2025 in Jamaica has had an enormous economic impact, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange has said.
Grange told the Jamaica Observer last Sunday that the benefits have trickled down to “even the peanut man”, and earnings have surpassed last year’s.
“Carnival this year has made an economic impact. In fact, we are at least 10 percent above what we did last year. Even down to the peanut man, he is able to generate an income, as well as stylists, costume designers, the promoters, and the people who design the various bands. The Airbnb people and the hotels have been stepping up. That is what we expect,” Grange said.
Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said Carnival 2025 brought new excitement and dynamism to events tourism in Jamaica, and said he looks forward to collating the numbers.
“I look forward to being able to reel out the numbers in the way that we expect to show the impact that Carnival has on the economy of Jamaica,” Bartlett said.
The minister said the positive economic outcome is already obvious, though, with the outpouring of visitors filling hotel rooms from Kingston across to Ocho Rios, St Ann.
“This is exactly what the objective is, and the engagement of tourism is to bring more, what we call heads to beds, and to bring a greater sense of awareness of destination Jamaica, not just as a location for sun, sea, and sand, but also for entertainment and for the fulfilment of the passions of people,” Bartlett said.
The sentiments were echoed by State Minister in the Ministry of Tourism, Senator Delano Seiveright, who told the Observer last Sunday that he expects Carnival to deliver another major boost to the local tourism sector and economy.
Seiveright said thousands of visitors flocked to the island for Carnival, boosting the numbers of visitors to hotels and Airbnbs.
“The hotels are full, the Airbnbs are full, other short-term rentals are full,” he said. “They’re enjoying our local attractions, they’re supporting restaurants and small businesses and micro enterprises and of course, the benefits spread, of course, into persons in fashion and our hairdressers, our barbers and so on.” (Jamaica Observer/ Karl Mclarty)
