Jamaica Has Welcomed 2.34 Million Visitors This Year, Even With 30 Percent of Its Hotel Rooms Still Offline
Jamaica has welcomed 2.34 million visitors through the end of August, generating $2.5 billion USD in tourism earnings as the island continues its tourism recovery following Hurricane Melissa.
The numbers are particularly notable given Jamaica is still operating with about 70 percent of its pre-storm hotel room capacity, according to tourism officials.
The remaining 30 percent of the island’s accommodations are expected to return by the end of 2026 or during the first quarter of 2027, a wave of reopenings that should put considerably more inventory back into the market for the winter season.
That process is already underway.
Half Moon is fully open again, following an extensive restoration of the Montego Bay resort, while five Marriott-affiliated Royalton resorts have been returning across Negril and Montego Bay.
There is more inventory on the way. Sandals is investing $200 million across three of its Jamaica resorts, including Sandals Montego Bay, Sandals South Coast and the former Sandals Royal Caribbean, which is returning as Sandals Caribbean Cay.
Several Hyatt all-inclusive resorts, meanwhile, are now targeting reopenings in the first quarter of 2027.
“This performance indicates robust demand for Jamaica’s tourism product despite operating with a reduced room stock following the passage of Hurricane Melissa in October 2025,” Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said.
The arrivals come as Jamaica pursues a broader tourism strategy focused on increasing air connectivity, visitor volume and tourism investment.
Airlines have continued adding capacity to the island, particularly from Canada. Porter Airlines is adding new Montego Bay flights from Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton, while Air Canada has added new service from Edmonton and Winnipeg.
Southwest Airlines is also bringing back its seasonal Nashville-Montego Bay route next spring.
Jamaica Tourism Director Donovan White said continued traveler demand has helped sustain relationships with airlines, cruise companies, tour operators and travel advisors.
The next phase could be particularly significant: Jamaica will be entering the winter season with substantially more hotel inventory than it had earlier this year, including the return of several of the resorts that traditionally account for a major share of the island’s visitor capacity.