Jamaica ramps up tourism response as Hurricane Melissa approaches

Jamaica’s tourism sector is fully mobilized ahead of Hurricane Melissa, with authorities working to ensure the orderly departure of visitors and continued safety of industry workers as the storm moves closer.

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Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said the government, the Ministry of Tourism and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) have been coordinating nonstop with local and international partners as the system nears the island.

“I wish to assure our international partners, the trade, and the global press that the government and the Ministry of Tourism, in close collaboration with the Jamaica Tourist Board and our industry partners, has been fully mobilized to safeguard the wellbeing of our visitors and tourism workers,” Bartlett said in a statement Saturday.

Over the past day, tourism officials have been in continuous dialogue with airlines, the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), and accommodation providers to support structured departures before airports suspend operations.

The Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston will close at 9 p.m. on Saturday, while the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay will close at noon on Sunday.

Earlier Saturday, the Ministry met with key tourism stakeholders to assess readiness, with another briefing scheduled for Sunday as the situation evolves.

“We have also maintained close contact with all our major airline partners, many of whom have facilitated additional flights and deployed larger aircraft to support the evacuation of their passengers,” Bartlett said. “This coordinated effort underscores the strong partnerships that continue to define Jamaica’s tourism sector.”

If conditions worsen, the government and JHTA have plans prepared to activate emergency shelters for visitors who must remain on the island during the storm.

The Tourism Emergency Operations Centre (TEOC) is now fully activated and staffed around the clock. The unit is serving as the industry’s central command for communication, information sharing and incident response.

The TEOC will coordinate seamlessly with the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, its Destination Managers for each resort area and other key agencies, to ensure the safety of visitors and locals and overall sector continuity.

“Jamaica has long been recognized for its resilience and preparedness, and this situation once again demonstrates our collective commitment to the safety of our visitors and the strength of our tourism industry,” Bartlett added.

Officials say monitoring and coordination will continue uninterrupted until the storm passes and normal operations resume.