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The number of British travellers to Jamaica grew by 6% over the key winter season, according to latest figures.

This equated to 2,449 more tourists travelling to the island between November and February compared to the same period in winter 2012/13.

Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) UK and northern Europe regional director Elizabeth Fox said: “Our UK visitor figures for the start of the winter season are highly encouraging.

“They come on the back of the very strong British stopover figures for summer 2013, when we saw an increase of 13% on summer 2012.

“With new hotels opening and our increased cruise offering, coupled with further increases in airlift from the UK this year, Jamaica is set to retain its position as the UK's favourite Caribbean destination.”

About 151,000 Britons visited Jamaica in 2013, according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The JTB expects numbers to continue to rise this year following the opening of a new Sensatori resort in Negril in April.

Hyatt is also set to open two new properties, Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Ziva, in Montego Bay by the end of this year.

Thomson Dream will be the first British cruise ship to make Jamaica its home port this winter with a base i