Jamaica's Tourism Industry Surges Post-Pandemic, Strains Airport Capacity.
Jamaica's tourism industry has seen a nearly 100% increase in visitors in the first three months of 2022, causing long queues and hours-long waits at Sangster International Airport. The airport is struggling to process the unexpected volume of people due to a shortage of staff. The government plans to invest in technology to streamline the airport's processes and end the requirement for visitors to fill out forms upon arrival. The $70 million modernization and expansion project already underway is expected to be completed by 2025, including the lengthening of the runway to accommodate larger aircraft. The government aims to draw 5 million visitors annually by 2025, including from new markets in Asia and the Middle East.