Jamaica repatriated 25,000 tourists in one week after Hurricane Melissa, Bartlett says

Jamaica’s rapid repatriation of more than 25,000 tourists within a week of Hurricane Melissa has underscored the country’s resilience and crisis-management capacity, according to Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett.

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Speaking at a tourism partners’ meeting at the Iberostar Hotel on December 13, Bartlett said the coordinated evacuation of stranded visitors sent a strong signal to the international community about Jamaica’s preparedness and reliability as a destination.

He credited hoteliers, transportation operators, airport staff, security personnel and frontline tourism workers for executing the large-scale operation in record time.

“I want to congratulate all the players of the industry who, together, made possible this initial demonstration of confidence and strength to the world,” Bartlett said.

The minister noted that within 24 hours of the hurricane’s passage, the Ministry of Tourism established a recovery task force to fast-track the sector’s rebound. The group brought together senior ministry officials, tourism agencies and private-sector partners with the goal of restoring tourism activity faster than any other sector.

Bartlett also commended Chairman of the Tourism Recovery Task Force John Byles, along with officials from the Tourism Ministry, the Jamaica Tourist Board, the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Jamaica Vacations Limited (JAMVAC), and the Port Authority of Jamaica.

He emphasized that tourism’s swift recovery is critical to national economic stability, noting that the sector generates immediate income for communities once flights resume and cruise ships return.

“This immediate convertibility of tourism activity into income gives the sector its unique power to drive national recovery after a crisis,” Bartlett said, adding that tourism’s extensive linkages across industries amplify its impact.

In the recovery phase, Bartlett also praised the efforts of the Jamaica Public Service Company for restoring electricity in resort areas and the National Water Commission for returning water supplies to full capacity across major tourism centres, including Negril, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Port Antonio and Kingston.