Jamaica Is Launching a Nationwide Plan to Reopen Tourism in December

Jamaica is reopening for business, sooner than most expected.

Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism has announced an integrated national initiative to fully restart the country’s tourism industry by Dec. 15, following the widespread impacts of Hurricane Melissa.

That would help preserve what is always the most lucrative time of year for the island’s tourism-focused economy — the Festive Season between mid-December and the New Year.

Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett outlined the plan with the launch of the Hurricane Melissa Recovery Task Force and the Tourism Resilience Coordination Committee — a joint public-private collaboration designed to bring the sector back online safely, efficiently, and compassionately.

“Recovery cannot be left to chance,” said Minister Bartlett. “We are aligning marketing, communications, infrastructure repairs, aid, logistics, and every enabling support behind a single objective: full industry operation by Dec. 15. Progress will be tracked through the Ministry of Tourism with regular public updates, so workers, visitors, and partners can plan with confidence.”

The Hurricane Melissa Recovery Task Force, chaired by John Byles, Executive Deputy Chairman of Chukka Caribbean Adventures, will oversee rapid assessments, product rehabilitation, and service readiness across resorts, attractions, airports, seaports, and key tourism corridors.

The Tourism Resilience Coordination Committee, led by Jessica Shannon, Chief Experience Officer at Sandals Resorts International, will focus on mobilizing resources and technical assistance — raising funds, securing in-kind aid, and recruiting skilled volunteers to support tourism workers, micro and small businesses, and local communities. The effort will operate in coordination with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management and through the national aid platform supportjamaica.gov.jm for transparent processing and timely delivery.

Minister Bartlett emphasized that readiness, empathy, and collaboration will continue to guide Jamaica’s approach to recovery, echoing the same resilience model that helped the country achieve a record-breaking tourism rebound in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several top Jamaica hotels have already announced plans to reopen, including the Half Moon resort and five of Jamaica’s top all-inclusive resorts in the country, among others. 

All of the country’s three major airports have already reopened for commercial operations, including, most recently, Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.