Jamaica Sets December 15 as Target Date to Restart Tourism
Jamaica is racing against time to restore its tourism infrastructure and fully reopen the sector by December 15, just ahead of the winter high season. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Tourism following the severe damage caused by Hurricane Melissa, the first Category 5 storm to hit the island in 2025.
The powerful system made landfall near New Hope, less than 40 miles from Montego Bay, with sustained winds of 185 mph, triggering widespread flooding, power outages, and serious damage to tourism facilities—especially along the northern and western coasts, home to the island’s largest concentration of hotels. Melissa is being described as one of the most destructive hurricanes Jamaica has faced in decades.
Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett stated that the goal is to have the industry “fully operational” by December 15. To achieve this, the government activated two dedicated teams: the Hurricane Melissa Recovery Task Force and the tourism coordination committee Tourism Cares, which will oversee joint actions between the public and private sectors in key areas such as infrastructure repair, marketing, and community assistance. “Recovery cannot be left to chance,” Bartlett emphasized.
Air connectivity remains one of the biggest challenges. Norman Manley International Airport (Kingston) and Ian Fleming International Airport (Saint Mary) have reopened, but Jamaica’s main tourism gateway, Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, is still closed to commercial flights. While it is operating for emergency landings and humanitarian support, authorities expect it to resume regular traffic sometime next week.
Damage to the hotel sector is extensive. According to Philip Rose, Deputy Director of Tourism for the Jamaica Tourist Board, many hotels along the northern and western coasts are reporting everything from flooding and electrical failures to significant structural losses. Some properties have had to suspend operations temporarily, while others are sheltering and assisting both guests and employees affected by the storm. Communication remains difficult in areas such as St. Elizabeth, Montego Bay, and Westmoreland, where blocked roads and power outages persist.
Despite the challenges, authorities confirm that the vast majority of tourists and tourism workers are safe, thanks to emergency protocols that were activated before the hurricane made landfall. “Jamaica’s tourism is resilient—not only because of what we offer, but because of our people and our partnerships,” Bartlett said. Rose also praised first responders, calling them “the heroes of Jamaica.”
The government acknowledges that full recovery may take longer than December, but insists on moving forward with determination to provide certainty to travelers, operators, and international partners. With December 15 as the target, Jamaica is determined to show that its spirit of hospitality and resilience remains unshaken: “The same spirit that welcomes the world to Jamaica is now fueling our recovery.”
