Private Jet Frenzy: Celebrities descend on Ja as 18 sets land in a day

Senior Advisor and Strategist in the Ministry of Tourism, Delano Seiveright, is upbeat over a flood of luxury travellers recently vacationing in Jamaica, with 18 private jets touching down at the Sangster International Airport (SIA) last Monday alone.

Seiveright cited the inundation of high-profile travellers to the island as proof of Jamaica's growing status as a first-class vacation destination.

"There has been an overwhelming growth in the arrival of celebrities and other high-profile visitors to our shores over the years. This, no doubt, is testimony of the growing allure of the destination," said Seiveright.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett was equally excited over the unprecedented momentum in the sector, describing Jamaica’s tourism resurgence as “a testament to remarkable resilience and triumph”.

In elaborating, he said, “We’ve moved from a complete halt during the pandemic, to achieving one of the most extraordinary recoveries in global tourism history.”

While Seiveright kept specific names confidential, it is evident that the allure of the island is drawing an increasingly exclusive crowd. Notably, most celebrities are vacationing discreetly along Jamaica's scenic north coast, as well as the tranquil locales of Portland and St Elizabeth.

Afrobeat sensation Burna Boy and US music heavyweights Dua Lipa, Cardi B, Offset, Rick Ross, Omarion, and Chance the Rapper, are among those who have chosen Jamaica for their retreats.

File photo of Nigerian international music sensation Burna Boy (right) is presented with a bag containing Jamaican souvenirs by Delano Seiveright, Senior Advisor/Strategist, Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism; and Regional Director of Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), Odette Dyer (left), at the Private Jet Centre at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica at Christmas in 2022.

A release from the Ministry of Tourism said, "this year’s celebrity presence builds on a steady trend of elite visitors to Jamaica.

"Over the last 18 months, the island has welcomed stars like rap icon 2 Chainz, actress Angelina Jolie, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen; Prince Harry and Meghan Markle; and Hollywood luminaries Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Tracee Ellis Ross," the release said.

It added that, "From serene villas to world-renowned hotels and exclusive rustic retreats, the island is currently hosting a dazzling array of Hollywood stars, celebrated entertainers, television personalities, a former leader of a major European nation, prominent US and global politicians, and high-profile business magnates."