ST JAMES, Jamaica—Jamaica’s swift repatriation of 25,000 tourists in just one week following Hurricane Melissa has demonstrated the island’s resilience and capacity for crisis management, says Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett.

Speaking during a tourism partners’ meeting at the Iberostar Hotel in St James on December 13, Bartlett commended the coordinated effort through which thousands of stranded visitors were safely returned home in record time.

He credited hoteliers, transportation crews, airport personnel, security teams, and other tourism-sector workers for the evacuation, noting that the move sent a clear message to the international community about the country’s readiness to handle a crisis.

“I want to congratulate all the players of the industry who, together, [made possible this initial demonstration] of confidence and strength… to the world,” Bartlett said.

He noted that within 24 hours of the hurricane’s passage, the tourism ministry established a recovery task force to spearhead the sector’s rebound.

The initiative brought together key public and private stakeholders, including senior ministry officials, tourism agencies, and partner entities, all working towards the single objective of restoring tourism faster than any other sector.

“I want to thank and commend Chairman of the Tourism Recovery Task Force, John Byles, and the full recovery team that worked so hard with me, my permanent secretary, the director of tourism, my chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board, my chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, JAMVAC (Jamaica Vacations Limited), and I want to especially include the Port Authority of Jamaica,” Bartlett stated.

He emphasised that tourism’s ability to rebound swiftly is vital, as it forms the backbone of Jamaica’s economy and has the capacity to drive rapid growth.

The minister added that the sector delivers immediate benefits to ordinary Jamaicans, with earnings flowing directly into communities the moment planes land and ships dock.

Bartlett noted that this “immediate convertibility” of tourism activity into income gives the sector its unique power to drive national recovery after a crisis.

“Tourism links people and processes, industries, economic activities, business models; you name it… That’s what we do. There is no tourism without linkages… and so we pulled the linkages together. That was our job over the weeks [following Hurricane Melissa],” he underscored.

In the meantime, Bartlett commended the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) for working tirelessly to restore electricity to resort areas and highlighted the success of the National Water Commission (NWC) in returning water supplies to full capacity across all major tourism destinations, including Negril, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Port Antonio and Kingston.

-JIS