News Releases

Tourism Housing Assistance Recovery Programme (THARP) Being Introduced KINGSTON, Jamaica; Monday, December 15, 2025: With 70 percent of the island’s tourism assets ready for today’s December 15 official reopening of the tourism sector, following the impact of hurricane Melissa, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett is crediting the indomitable spirit of tourism workers for making it happen, noting that “the recovery cannot be complete without the workers of our industry.” In hailing the contribution of the workers, Minister Bartlett outlined that “I visited the various hotels and attractions as they were coming back onstream and we heard the stories of our tourism workers and partners who all rallied around to ensure that we could meet the December 15 deadline for the reopening of the industry.” Noting that the reopening also coincides with the start of the winter tourist season, Minister Bartlett lauded the support provided by tourism businesses to their workers who have been impacted by Melissa.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Wednesday, December 10, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, departed the island today for Toronto, Canada, to begin a two-day strategic engagement mission aimed at deepening partnerships in one of Jamaica’s most vital source markets. Coordinated by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), this visit comes at a pivotal moment as Destination Jamaica intensifies its winter season preparations and accelerates its post-Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts. Minister Bartlett noted that the Canadian market, which was already demonstrating strong pre-Melissa demand, remains central to Jamaica’s global tourism outlook. He said, “Canada continues to be one of our largest and most reliable partners. With several new routes coming online this winter and strong interest from travellers seeking warm, safe and enriching experiences, this mission ensures that Jamaica remains top of mind and top of market during this critical recovery window.”

Miami, Florida; Monday, December 8, 2025: Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has been appointed Chair of a new high-level Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) committee that will craft a regional strategy to manage the supply side of tourism and retain a larger share of tourism earnings within Caribbean economies. The committee will focus on deepening linkages between tourism and sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and the creative industries, so that more value is created and kept in Caribbean communities. It will include representatives from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Turks and Caicos Islands. “This committee is about moving from leakage to linkage,” Minister Bartlett said. “Our goal is to ensure that more of every tourism dollar stays in the Caribbean, builds our businesses, creates quality jobs for our people and strengthens the resilience of our economies. By working together as a region, we can secure a bigger share of the value that tourism generates in our own space,” he added.

KINGSTON, Jamaica; Thursday, December 4, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, departed the island yesterday for Miami, Florida, where he will undertake a robust series of high-level engagements designed to reinforce international confidence in Destination Jamaica as the country advances its tourism recovery and prepares for the 2025/26 winter tourist season. Ahead of his departure, the tourism minister explained that Miami, one of Jamaica’s most important airline connection hubs and a major source market gateway, provides the ideal platform to deliver direct updates to media, business partners, diaspora stakeholders, and regional policymakers on Jamaica’s readiness and resilience following Hurricane Melissa. Reflecting on the significance of this mission, Minister Bartlett emphasised Jamaica’s strong rebound: “Jamaica is recovering with tremendous momentum. Across Ocho Rios, Negril, Montego Bay, Port Antonio and Kingston, we are seeing properties come back online, attractions reopening, and workers returning to their duties with remarkable dedication. Our people are eager to resume full operations, and this visit to Miami allows us to reassure the global market that Jamaica is safe, ready, and open for business.”

Tourism Sector Records Earnings of US$2.9 Billion Since January MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica; Wednesday, December 3, 2025: 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 which indicates that global tourism arrivals had surpassed 1.1 billion at the end of September, 2025. The UN Tourism Barometer projects increased growth continuing at a rate of 3 to 5 percent.

Negril, Jamaica; Monday, December 1, 2025: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has declared that Negril will officially reopen for business on December 15, 2025 following a rapid and coordinated recovery effort after the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Speaking at the end of a Negril Tourism Recovery Tour on the weekend, Minister Bartlett said the uniquely styled resort area – long branded the “Capital of Casual” – has shown remarkable resilience, driven by strong collaboration among tourism partners, their workers and surrounding communities. The tour placed particular emphasis on Negril’s signature boutique hotels, while also including major resort properties and key attractions along the corridor. Across the board, operators reported that the eagerness of staff and community members to rally around cleanup efforts has allowed many properties to begin receiving guests again and prepare for the critical winter tourist season, underscoring that Negril’s recovery is being led from the ground up by small Jamaican businesses that define the destination’s character.