Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett, wrapped up a recent Tourism Recovery Tour of Montego Bay with news that, despite the impact of Hurricane Melissa last month, the destination area is on target to officially reopen for business on December 15, 2025.
The announcement comes as Minister Bartlett also revealed that since the start of 2025, the sector has recorded tourism earnings of US$2.9 billion. With the official reopening deadline fast approaching, Minister Bartlett said he expects that the year’s total earnings should reach approximately US$3.5 billion.
This outlook is strengthened by a recent UN Tourism report indicating that global tourism arrivals had surpassed 1.1 billion by the end of September 2025. The UN Tourism Barometer projects increased growth continuing at a rate of 3 to 5 percent.
The extensive Montego Bay (MoBay) tour was one of three conducted in destination areas so far to determine their rate of recovery and readiness for the official reopening of the sector post-Melissa, which also coincides with the start of the winter tourist season. It covered the Sangster International Airport as well as several large, medium, and small hotels and attractions.
Minister Bartlett was satisfied that “the most significant tourism destination within the Caribbean, Montego Bay, is ready for the start of the winter season, December 15, 2025. He was particularly pleased with the positive reaction of tourism workers rallying to get their workplaces back in immaculate condition.
“I want to commend the workers of the tourism industry who have not just been the energy that drives tourism, but the energy that’s driving the recovery, because the reports that I get from all our stakeholders are how committed the workers have been even though they have suffered damage to their homes in some instances,” he explained. In the same breath, he commended the altruism of management who have reached out in support of staff affected to varying degrees by the historic hurricane.
Minister Bartlett lauded the move by the operators of Toby’s Resort to give up half of its rooms to shelter workers and their families, who lost their homes. Concurrently, the hotel is also helping their staff members to rebuild their homes.
Minister Bartlett said he also wanted “to embrace the strong public-private partnership that has enabled this kind of recovery.” The resilient spirit of the tourism workers was a key highlight of the tour for Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism, Hon. Tova Hamilton.
“For me the key take away was the commitment, not just of the staff but for the staff,” she stated. Meanwhile, President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Christopher Jarrett expressed pleasure at the state of preparedness: “I’m happy to see that we have been as resilient as we could be and have bounced back.”
He added: “I’m pleased to note that the sector, not just the hotels and accommodation, but the other related sub-sectors – attractions and so on – have also been resilient and we have made tremendous recovery in just the few weeks and are as ready as we’ll ever be and look forward to a wonderful winter season.”
