Jamaica Aims to Reopen Tourism on Dec. 15 for Holiday Season

Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett launches national task force as airports resume limited operations; Sangster International Airport may not reopen for commercial flights until next

St. Elizabeth is one of the parishes suffering the most severe damage (Photo: Sheldon Levene)

Jamaica is aiming to reopen its tourism sector by December 15, just ahead of the peak holiday season, after suffering the devastating impacts of Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has launched the Hurricane Melissa Recovery Task Force. According to an official statement from his office, "An integrated national effort was launched by the Ministry of Tourism for a full restart of Jamaica's tourism industry by December 15, 2025, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa."

He further stressed the unified national approach needed to restore the tourism industry. “Recovery cannot be left to chance. We are aligning marketing, communications, infrastructure repairs, aid, logistics, and every enabling support behind a single objective: full industry operation by December 15,” said Minister Bartlett. “Progress will be tracked through the Ministry of Tourism with regular public updates, so workers, visitors, and partners can plan with confidence.”

At present, the short-term outlook remains uncertain. Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) in Kingston and Ian Fleming International Airport in Boscobel, St. Mary, have both reopened. However, the main hub, Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, remains closed. A representative from the Jamaica Tourist Board indicated that the airport may not reopen for commercial flights until next week due to minor damage to some sections of the facility, as the storm severely impacted Jamaica’s western coast.

According to Transport Minister Daryl Vaz, all three airports are currently operating for relief efforts. Several aid flights have already arrived, including one led by Jamaican icon Shaggy. The jet, carrying emergency supplies with medicine, food, and water, landed at Norman Manley International Airport on Thursday, with plans to transport aid directly to the hardest-hit parish of St. Elizabeth.

The holiday season normally attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists who flock to Jamaica’s sun-soaked beaches and resorts along the western coast, along with many Jamaicans who live in the diaspora and return home to spend time with their families.