10 April 2026

Jamaica’s tourism sector is regaining momentum following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa, with the reopening of several major hotel properties signalling a decisive phase in the island’s recovery. 

Key resorts including Half Moon in Montego Bay and Bahia Principe in Runaway Bay have resumed operations, restoring hundreds of rooms, reviving employment, and reinforcing confidence in the sector’s resilience.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said the recovery has now surpassed 80% of pre-hurricane levels, driven by the steady return of hotel capacity and visitor arrivals. “Yesterday, we brought back 660 rooms to the inventory, and today we bring back a little over 200… we will be now over 80% in the recovery of arrivals into the country,” said Bartlett at the reopening of the Eclipse property at Half Moon.

Hurricane Melissa, which struck in October 2025 as a Category 5 system, caused an estimated US$12.2bn in damage, more than half of Jamaica’s GDP, and forced widespread hotel closures, particularly along the north coast. In Montego Bay alone, 12 major hotels were shuttered, with some reporting that more than 80% of staff were directly affected.

The reopening of Eclipse at Half Moon marks a significant milestone. The luxury property has restored 57 beachfront rooms, alongside upgraded amenities including an infinity-edge pool, restaurants, and reimagined villas. While only part of the resort has reopened, additional rooms are expected on stream later this year.

Half Moon Managing Director Shernette Crichton underscored the human dimension of the rebuilding effort. “Hurricane Melissa came through Western Jamaica like a thief in broad daylight and took things from us that we never imagined we could lose… But look around today, every team member here is proof that Melissa did not get the last word,” she asserted.

Minister Bartlett stressed that employment restoration remains central to the recovery strategy. “Jobs mean income, and income means the ability to provide for your families… and that is the critical purpose of this recovery,” he said.

Further east in St Ann, the reopening of Bahia Principe Runaway Bay has added 664 rooms back into Jamaica’s accommodation stock and reinstated 800 jobs. The development was hailed as a major boost to both tourism capacity and community livelihoods.

Tourism Director Donovan White noted that the return of both rooms and workers reflects broader momentum across the destination. “The return of these 664 rooms and 800 team members represents the kind of momentum we have been building across the destination,” he said. “We are seeing strong and sustained interest in Jamaica from our major markets… Jamaica is open, Jamaica is ready, and we are welcoming the world back with the authentic hospitality that defines us,” proclaimed White.

The recovery has been supported not only by hotel reopenings but also by expanded air connectivity. Increased flights from Latin America, Europe, and traditional North American markets have strengthened visitor inflows, with new routes from Colombia and enhanced service from the UK contributing to demand growth. Officials report that over 70,000 visitors arrived in the first week of the winter season alone, with projections indicating that arrivals could reach 95 to 98% of pre-storm levels by the end of 2026.

The interplay between airlift and accommodation capacity has become a central pillar of the recovery strategy. As Bartlett noted, “The whole purpose of our being and building tourism is driven by air connectivity… We’re bringing the airlines here so that when more rooms come on, more airlines are going to be interested in coming.”

Tourism remains a cornerstone of Jamaica’s economy, contributing roughly 30% of GDP and employing about one-fifth of the workforce. The sector also underpins a wide network of linked industries, including agriculture, transportation, and entertainment.

Other major hotel chains, including Sandals Resorts International, RIU Hotels & Resorts, Moon Palace Resorts, and Jamaica Inn, have already resumed operations, further accelerating the recovery trajectory. Additional reopenings are planned later in 2026, with at least one major property expected to add hundreds more rooms and jobs.

Bartlett framed the broader recovery in national terms. “When tourism thrives, Jamaica thrives. When hotels like this one reopen, families eat. Communities prosper. The entire nation moves forward.”

While challenges remain, particularly in achieving full capacity restoration and strengthening climate resilience, the reopening of flagship properties signals that Jamaica’s tourism industry is firmly on a path to recovery.

Photo Credit: Half Moon Resort – https://www.halfmoon.com/

Source: Caribbean Insight – Volume 48, Issue 7