Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett has announced a new relief fund worth over $1 billion to support tourism workers affected by Hurricane Melissa. The announcement came during his tourism recovery tour of Ocho Rios, where he reviewed the phased reopening of hotels, attractions, and small businesses, along with the recovery efforts underway.
Minister Bartlett shared that the Government of Jamaica will contribute $600 million to the fund, while private sector partners will add another $400 million. This combined support will help address housing repairs, rehabilitation needs, and other challenges faced by workers whose homes or jobs were disrupted by the hurricane. He added that the blended public-private model will allow faster and more efficient distribution of relief resources.
The Minister also praised private stakeholders for stepping in to assist. Many tourism workers have already received care packages, interest-free loans and support for rebuilding damaged homes. He highlighted that the tourism sector has once again taken the lead in national recovery efforts and emphasised the important role Ocho Rios will play as a key driver of the industry’s revival.
Despite several hotels in western Jamaica being temporarily closed, Ocho Rios has remained more prepared for reopening, with at least one major hotel already achieving 40 percent occupancy soon after the storm. The resort town is also expecting 18 cruise ship calls in November, another strong sign of recovery.
Minister Bartlett noted that full recovery will take time, but confirmed that Jamaica will be ready to welcome visitors for the winter tourist season starting 15 December 2025. Over the next two weeks, he will travel to Jamaica’s main source markets to share the message of resilience and readiness.
The day-long recovery tour included visits to large and small hotels, Dunn’s River Falls, the Ocho Rios Craft Market and in-bond stores. “Ocho Rios is the most complete resort area right now, ready for both cruise passengers and stopover visitors,” the Minister said.
As Jamaica continues its path toward full recovery, the government and the private sector remain committed to rebuilding lives, restoring confidence and ensuring the tourism industry returns even stronger.
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