El sector turístico de Jamaica se enfrenta a una larga recuperación tras el cierre de al menos 26 complejos turísticos a causa del huracán Melissa

Key Points

• Hurricane Melissa forced the closure of at least 26 resorts in Jamaica, causing $8.8 billion in damages and a significant loss of peak-season tourism revenue.
• About half of Jamaica's hotels suffered damage, with major brands like Sandals, Hyatt, and RIU facing varying recovery timelines; RIU led a rapid reopening, while others remain closed for months.
• Tourism workers are facing a dual crisis of job/income loss and damaged homes, highlighting the vulnerability of the workforce and the urgent need for greater industry resilience to climate change.

Summary

Hurricane Melissa, the most powerful storm to strike Jamaica in over three decades, has caused unprecedented damage to the island's tourism sector, closing at least 26 resorts and resulting in $8.8 billion in damages. The closures have led to major revenue losses during the critical peak season and thrown thousands of tourism workers into crisis as they face both unemployment and damaged homes. Recovery efforts are underway, with some hotel groups like RIU reopening quickly, while others such as Sandals and Hyatt anticipate extended closures, underscoring the urgent need for greater resilience in Jamaica's tourism industry against increasingly severe weather events.