Get Ready for a Sizzling Jamaica Carnival 2022

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Jamaica Carnival is back!

Source: Jamaica Observer

After a 2 year hiatus in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, the Carnival in Jamaica (CIJ) National Stakeholders Committee announced via press release that this year’s Jamaica Carnival will begin on July 01, 2022.

According to Kamal Bankay, co-chair of the umbrella group Carnival in Jamaica (CIJ) National Stakeholders Committee.

The season will culminate with the grand road parade on July 10, 2022 throughout sections of the Corporate Area.

Bankay stated “we are beyond happy to be able to announce, plan and execute another amazing carnival season for all the CIJ revellers we have missed since 2019. Having the event sector closed was devastating to us all but we believe there is no better way to officially start summer than with a carnival. Additionally, Carnival in Jamaica is the biggest entertainment and tourism earner for our country, with an economic impact of over $4 billion annually.”

Jamaica Carnival Plans

“Several bands and fetes are starting to make their own special preparations for this season to ensure that the first summer staging of carnival will be one of the best yet,” Bankay continued.

During his recent contribution to the 2022/2023 Budget Debate in Parliament, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced the full reopening of Jamaica’s entertainment industry. He also said that in the six months following this reopening, permit fees would see a 50 per cent reduction.

Holness further said the Development Bank of Jamaica will allot a total of $500 million as “start up” grant loans for vendors who contribute to the entertainment industry, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises.

Vendors are eligible for up to $750,000, while business owners can get up to $5 million.

Mask-wearing is no longer mandated. However, it is encouraged in enclosed spaces that sell food and drinks.

Lenford Salmon, stakeholders committee co-chair, also remarked that: “The carnival season is one of the largest employers of people within the creative sector annually. Hosting the season this summer will jump-start the economic recovery of our sector and the practitioners who depend on it for everything.”

Carnival in Jamaica was launched in 2017 and is used as the umbrella brand for all carnival activities during the carnival period, making it a national product. This is an annual undertaking that aims to transform the carnival experience locally. It is a key initiative of the Tourism Linkages Network, with support from the Jamaica Tourist Board and key stakeholders.

A calendar of events will be released in short order for the adjusted 2022 season. In 2023 Carnival in Jamaica will return to its home in April.

Getting to Jamaica

There are several options to travel to Jamaica. You can travel via major airlines to international airports located in  Kingston, Montego Bay, or Ocho Rios. As most carnival celebrations tend to be carded for Kingston, your closest airport to action would be the Norman Manley International Airport. If cruising is your preferred mode, ships dock in Jamaica’s main cruise ports in Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Falmouth.

If you plan on visiting for Jamaica Carnival, be sure to book your tickets early for the best rates and deals.

As far as COVID-19 restrictions and requirements, effective March 01, 2022, travelers no longer need to obtain a Travel Authorization to travel to Jamaica. In addition, mandatory quarantine order assignments have also been removed for all arriving passengers and persons are free to move within the island while maintaining social distance and mask wearing protocols in public spaces.

Travelers 12 years and older, however, will still need to provide a negative COVID-19 test (Antigen or PCR) conducted within 3 days of the date of travel at check-in for their flight. For more travel requirements for Jamaica and other Caribbean islands check out our Caribbean Travel Requirements before you book.

Where To Stay

There are many accommodation options in Jamaica. From 5-star hotels to luxury resorts. They cater to families as well as adults only resorts. Jamaica’s Tourism website offers a list of well known and not so well known resorts to check out.

Be sure to check out our shop for all your gear to make your visit a memorable one.