Jamaica’s tourism recovery gathers pace with 11,000 rooms expected to return to market

ST ANN, Jamaica —Jamaica is set to welcome back more than 1,900 hotel rooms in December alone, as the island’s tourism sector continues its recovery from Hurricane Melissa, with more than 11,000 rooms expected to return to the market between 2026 and 2027. Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) Deputy Director of Tourism for the Americas Philip Rose, making the announcement Monday morning at the opening of the Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) at Moon Palace Jamaica in Ocho Rios, said approximately 70 per cent of the island’s room inventory has already been restored, with the remaining 30 per cent expected to return by early 2027. The December reopening programme includes Bahia Principe in Runaway Bay, Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals Caribbean Cay — formerly Sandals Royal Caribbean — MGM Muthu Crystal Cove and MGM Muthu Diamond Lagoon in Montego Bay, formerly the Royal Decameron Cornwall Beach, and Joia Rose Hall. Rose said the recovery would gather further momentum in the first quarter of 2027, when just under 3,500 rooms are expected to come back on stream. “Overall, we have over 11,000 more rooms coming back on stream between 2026 and 2027. That is a remarkable feat,” Rose said. He said the restoration of the room stock was being matched by strong demand and expanding airlift, with airlines increasing or introducing services to Jamaica from several key source markets. Rose said just shy of 1.9 million airline seats were available to Jamaica between January and August, with an 85 per cent load factor, indicating strong demand for the destination. Although total available seats were down approximately 22 per cent compared with last year because of Melissa, passenger arrivals fell by just under 20 per cent, while load factors increased by 3.8 per cent. Rose said the strength of demand was reflected not only in airlift but also in Jamaica’s tourism earnings. From January through August, he said, the country welcomed 2.3 million visitors and generated US$2.5 billion in tourism revenue. “We no longer celebrate just heads and beds. We no longer celebrate bums in seats. We celebrate the revenue that’s generated,” Rose said, linking the performance to the country’s Tourism 3.0 strategy, which is aimed at generating greater benefits from tourism for more Jamaicans. -Horace Hines