Hurricane Melissa leaves devastating trail in Jamaica, as officials scramble to rebuild ahead of tourism season.
The death toll from Hurricane Melissa has risen to 32, with eight more fatalities still being confirmed, according to the Jamaican government. The storm made landfall on October 28, bringing catastrophic Category 5 winds that ravaged the western region of the island.
Before the hurricane struck, officials had predicted a significant surge in tourism this winter season, with an estimated 4.3 million visitors expected. However, with many hotels and attractions still reeling from the storm, it remains to be seen how quickly the sector will recover.
"It's doable for some and not for others," said Christopher Jarrett, head of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association. "The larger hotel chains will likely recover quicker."
Tourism is Jamaica's main source of foreign exchange earnings, contributing 30% to the country's gross domestic product directly and indirectly. The sector employs an estimated 175,000 people and drives other sectors such as construction, banking, finance, utilities, and agriculture.
However, many in the tourism industry are facing significant disruption, with some hotel workers left without jobs or income. "The storm didn't just destroy buildings; it shattered jobs and incomes for many of us," said Patricia Mighten, a hotel housekeeper in western Jamaica.
Craft vendors like Desrine Smith are also feeling the pinch, as their sales have dried up due to the lack of tourists. "Going days without tourists coming to buy anything means no sales and no money," she said. "The hurricane has impacted our pockets hard."
Efforts to rebuild and repair the damage are underway, with officials working tirelessly to restore hotels and clear debris in the western half of the island. All international airports have reopened, but the full extent of the damage to the sector is still being assessed.
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett had previously predicted that the sector would be back to normal by December 15, the start of Jamaica's peak tourism season. However, with many hotels and attractions still in the dark about their status, it remains to be seen whether this timeline will be met.
The death toll from Hurricane Melissa has risen to 32, with eight more fatalities still being confirmed, according to the Jamaican government. The storm made landfall on October 28, bringing catastrophic Category 5 winds that ravaged the western region of the island.
Before the hurricane struck, officials had predicted a significant surge in tourism this winter season, with an estimated 4.3 million visitors expected. However, with many hotels and attractions still reeling from the storm, it remains to be seen how quickly the sector will recover.
"It's doable for some and not for others," said Christopher Jarrett, head of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association. "The larger hotel chains will likely recover quicker."
Tourism is Jamaica's main source of foreign exchange earnings, contributing 30% to the country's gross domestic product directly and indirectly. The sector employs an estimated 175,000 people and drives other sectors such as construction, banking, finance, utilities, and agriculture.
However, many in the tourism industry are facing significant disruption, with some hotel workers left without jobs or income. "The storm didn't just destroy buildings; it shattered jobs and incomes for many of us," said Patricia Mighten, a hotel housekeeper in western Jamaica.
Craft vendors like Desrine Smith are also feeling the pinch, as their sales have dried up due to the lack of tourists. "Going days without tourists coming to buy anything means no sales and no money," she said. "The hurricane has impacted our pockets hard."
Efforts to rebuild and repair the damage are underway, with officials working tirelessly to restore hotels and clear debris in the western half of the island. All international airports have reopened, but the full extent of the damage to the sector is still being assessed.
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett had previously predicted that the sector would be back to normal by December 15, the start of Jamaica's peak tourism season. However, with many hotels and attractions still in the dark about their status, it remains to be seen whether this timeline will be met.
I'm so sorry to hear about Hurricane Melissa and its devastating effects on Jamaica 
I was always fascinated by Bob Marley's music and visiting the island for its beautiful beaches and laid-back vibes... now it looks like that might not happen anytime soon 
The thought of all those people losing their jobs or struggling to make ends meet is just heartbreaking 
, it was a disaster 
and I can only imagine how tough this must be for the Jamaican people 
It's going to take time and effort to rebuild, but with organizations like the Red Cross and other aid groups helping out, maybe there's hope 
Fingers crossed that the tourism sector will recover soon 
but seriously, how do they expect tourism to recover when alot of hotels and attractions are still messed up? i think christopher jarrett is right tho, bigger hotel chains might bounce back faster. what about all those craft vendors like desrine smith though? 
they're losing out on sales big time... gotta feel for them 
I'm thinking a Venn diagram for these two things: tourism and disaster recovery. One circle has "rebuild" in the center, with lots of hotels and attractions getting fixed up 
. The other circle has "people's livelihoods" in the center 
. These are definitely intersecting right now. Some people might bounce back fast 
, while others... not so much 
. That means many jobs and lives depend on it. But rebuilding will take time 
. Maybe the timeline was overly optimistic? 
Anyway, I feel for Desrine, Patricia, and all those hotel workers 
.
. I hope the government can help support them during this tough time 
. Rebuilding will take time, but with the right mindset and resources, Jamaica will bounce back stronger than ever 
. The government is working hard to restore things, I hope they can meet their deadline of Dec 15th 
. But honestly, it's gonna take a while for tourism in Jamaica to recover from this.
like seriously it's so moist & flavorful 
what's the deal with hurricanes tho? why do they always gotta come in at the worst times? anywayz back to jamaica - i've been thinking of visiting soon, but now i'm kinda hesitant cuz of the whole hurricane thing 
guess i'll just have to keep an eye on things & see how tourism recovers 
.
The storm was just devastating, with Category 5 winds leaving a trail of destruction in its wake 
It's crazy to think that they were expecting a huge influx of visitors this winter season, but now it's looking like a long road to recovery 
fingers crossed that tourism can bounce back stronger than ever though