Hurricane Fallout Hits Jamaica’s Tourism Workforce Hard — But Locals Push to Rebuild
Written by b87fm on 11/04/2025
Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The airport is the main gateway for tourists visiting the country’s north coast.
KINGSTON, Jamaica — While Jamaica’s tourism leaders say the island’s hotel industry has largely weathered the storm, many residents working in the sector are now grappling with lost income and uncertainty about what comes next.
According to tourism officials in Kingston and Montego Bay, only one major property in Montego Bay sustained roof damage — repairs are already underway. But across the island, from resort towns to small craft markets, the ripple effects are being deeply felt.
Despite the setback, industry veteran Donovan Jarrett said the economic blow may not be severe, as hotels in Kingston and Ocho Rios are now hosting an influx of aid workers and volunteers responding to the hurricane.
“Right now, we’re giving discounts — between 25% and 50% — and some hotels are offering complimentary stays,” Jarrett said, underscoring the sector’s push to keep Jamaica open and welcoming.
Tourism remains Jamaica’s largest foreign exchange earner, accounting for about 30% of the nation’s GDP and employing roughly 175,000 Jamaicans. But for many who rely on tourism for daily wages, the loss of visitors means more than a short-term dip in revenue.
“With some hotels closed and most of the tourists gone, many of us are left without work,” said Patricia Mighten, a hotel housekeeper in Hanover Parish. “This storm didn’t just destroy buildings — it shattered jobs and incomes for many of us and our families.”
In Falmouth, craft vendor Desrine Smith echoed that pain.
“Going days without tourists coming to buy anything means no sales and no money,” she said. “We survive on daily earnings, and now everything is uncertain. The hurricane has impacted our pockets hard.”
As recovery continues, government officials reported Monday that the death toll has risen to 32, with crews still working to reach 25 isolated areas in western Jamaica. Helicopters are being used to airdrop food and supplies, while nearly half of all power customers remain without electricity.
For now, communities across the island are uniting to rebuild — with the hope that Jamaica’s people, not just its resorts, will emerge stronger from the storm’s devastation.
