Photo by Brian Major

The Jamaica Tourist Board confirmed reports in Jamaica saying John Lynch, Jamaica’s director of tourism since 2008, will resign the position In May. Lynch will assist in the search for his successor, according to a JTB statement.

“Serving as director of tourism has been a joy for me,” said Lynch in the JTB statement. “I could not have asked for a more supportive team. Even as we worked through many challenges we knew the destination would continue to grow.”

Jamaica recorded more than two million tourist arrivals in 2013, the island’s highest-ever total. Only the Dominican Republic, with 4.7 million visitors, and Cuba, with 2.9 million arrivals, out-paced Jamaica’s 2.1 million overnight arrivals in 2013.

According to Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) figures from April 2014, Jamaica ranks third in overnight visitors with 169,280, trailing only the Dominican Republic (895,641) and Cuba (320,032).  

“John Lynch has served the organization well,” said Dennis Morrison, JTB’s chairman. “We are satisfied he has made a significant contribution to the development of the tourism sector.”