By Georgetta Williams

Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett says carnival in Jamaica generated over $95 billion dollars in economic output last year.

He made the disclosure while presenting the economic findings of a landmark Economic Impact Assessment of Carnival in Jamaica.

The study, conducted by Michael Marshall, Research Fellow at the Center for Leadership and Governance at the University of the West Indies Mona, was commissioned by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) through its Tourism Linkages Network.

It assessed carnival’s impact on job creation, income generation and its broader linkages within the tourism sector.  

Mr. Bartlett said carnival is not merely a celebration, it is a business.

He noted that Carnival in Jamaica supported over 115,000 full-time equivalent jobs across various industries last year.

Mr. Bartlett outlined plans to further strengthen carnival through enhanced marketing, deeper community linkages, innovation in band offerings and sustainability initiatives. 

He said with continued collaboration involving government, the private sector, and communities, carnival in Jamaica will continue to be a celebration that builds the economy.