Jamaica Tourism Minister Reaffirms December 15 Recovery Goal

Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has reiterated his goal for a full tourism industry restart by December 15, 2025, following the severe disruption caused by Hurricane Melissa. He says the government is mobilizing all sectors to achieve a synchronized recovery.

To deliver on that ambitious timeline, the Ministry has established a dedicated Hurricane Melissa Recovery Task Force and a separate Tourism Resilience Coordination Committee. Both bodies include public and private sector leaders.

Bartlett stressed that recovery must be intentional and coordinated: “We are aligning marketing, infrastructure repairs, aid, logistics and all enabling support behind a single objective.” He committed to providing regular public updates to keep stakeholders and visitors informed.

Chairing the Task Force is John Byles of Chukka Caribbean Adventures, while the coordination committee (“Tourism Cares”) is driven by industry figures working to marshal funds, volunteers and technical help for hotels and communities.

The Ministry is also using the recovery framework to protect tourism workers, offering training, grants, and job-rehabilitation support. Bartlett insists this is not just about rebuilding buildings, but also restoring livelihoods.

He described the upcoming winter season as a “make-or-break” moment: if key properties reopen and visitor confidence returns, Jamaica’s tourism economy could rebound strongly.

For travelers, the message is encouraging: many resorts and airports will be operational again soon, but they should plan with awareness that not all parts of the island will fully recover at once.