Bartlett announces tourism recovery task force after Hurricane Melissa

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has announced the formation of a high-level recovery and donation task force to assess damage from Hurricane Melissa and guide the tourism sector’s restoration.

Bartlett also disclosed that relief flights are scheduled to depart today from Sangster International Airport and Norman Manley International Airport to help tourists return home. He did not specify the number of flights but said ground transportation would be arranged to facilitate travel to the airports.

The new task force will coordinate support, evaluate infrastructure damage, and develop a sustainable roadmap for recovery.

Bartlett emphasised that the tourism sector’s revival is critical to Jamaica’s broader rebuilding efforts and said the initiative will be integrated into the national disaster response mechanism.

“The recovery of our tourism sector must be deliberate, coordinated, and compassionate. Through these task forces, we are ensuring that the welfare of our workers, the rehabilitation of our infrastructure, and the recovery of the tourism sector move in tandem,” Bartlett told The Gleaner.

John Byles, executive deputy chairman of Chukka Caribbean Adventures, will lead the task force, while Bartlett will serve as chairman emeritus.

The task force will work closely with the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) to apply lessons from previous recovery efforts, including Jamaica’s post-COVID-19 rebound, and ensure a comprehensive approach to rebuilding.

Bartlett also said the sector must prepare for the upcoming winter tourist season, which begins December 15, and noted that damage assessments of hotel properties are still underway.

“Tourism’s strength lies not just in its product offerings, but in its people and partnerships. The speed and synergy of our response show the industry’s resilience and our unwavering commitment to recovery with empathy, compassion and innovation,” he said in a news release.

-Lester Hinds

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