Jamaica Tourism Reopens After Hurricane Melissa

Published on Nov 11, 2025, 3:09 pm CST

5 min read

Key points

Jamaica Tourist Board says all international and domestic airports are operational
Hotels on the north coast are reopening in phases with more properties targeting mid December
Officials emphasize that main tourism corridors remain open while harder hit southwest areas recover
Power restoration and essential services are advancing, which supports flight and hotel operations
Advisories urge travelers to confirm reservations and watch operator updates as recovery continues

Impact

Confirm Bookings: Contact your airline and hotel to verify schedules and room status before departure
Build Buffers: Add time for airport transfers and check in while services scale back up
Monitor Advisories: Watch Jamaica Tourist Board alerts, airline waivers, and government notices
Choose Corridors Wisely: Prioritize Kingston, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, and Montego Bay while rural southwest recovers
Support Responsibly: Expect some amenities to be limited and follow local guidance as communities rebuild

Hurricane Melissa left deep scars across Jamaica on October 28, 2025, yet the country is moving quickly to restore travel. The Jamaica Tourist Board says all international and domestic airports are operational, and hotels along the north coast are reopening in phases. Recovery will remain uneven by region, so travelers should reconfirm plans and allow extra time, especially for transfers and services that depend on power or telecom restoration. Officials continue to caution patience as the island rebuilds key infrastructure and brings more capacity back online.

Jamaica Tourist Board outlook

Philip Rose, deputy director of tourism for the Americas, framed the reopening as both practical and hopeful. He returned to the island on November 3 and reported an "airport up and running" experience at Ian Fleming International Airport (OCJ), plus a clear drive from Ocho Rios to Montego Bay with only isolated debris. Rose highlighted that north coast hotels are returning to service, with properties such as Moon Palace Jamaica and Ocean by H10 resuming operations and several RIU resorts working toward mid November targets. His message to advisors was direct, do not cancel if your client's property is open, confirm the booking, and expect some amenities to lag as staffing and supplies normalize.

The tourist board's dedicated travel alert page aggregates airport status, hotel reopenings, attraction updates, and ways to assist communities. It is updated frequently and is the primary first-party source that advisors and travelers should check before and after booking.

Latest developments

Power and essential services underpin travel recovery. Jamaica Public Service reports steady progress restoring electricity to hundreds of thousands of customers, which enables hotels to reopen room blocks, kitchens, and water systems, and supports stable airport operations at Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay and Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) in Kingston. Government briefings to Parliament describe a transition from emergency response to structured recovery, with a continued focus on the hardest hit southwestern districts.

Casualty figures and damage assessments remain sobering, a reminder that travelers will see ongoing repairs in many communities. International reporting places the confirmed death toll at dozens, with significant displacement of residents and widespread infrastructure damage. These facts explain why some services will feel slower than usual and why operators continue to phase capacity back rather than switch on all at once.

Analysis

What changed for travelers is the shift from shutdowns to managed reopening. Airports have power and are moving traffic, yet schedules and hotel inventory are still fluid while suppliers bring staff back, repair facilities, and re-qualify equipment. The most reliable experiences, near term, will track the main tourism corridors, Kingston, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, and Montego Bay, where roads and utilities recovered first. Rural and southwestern areas that took the brunt of Melissa will require more time, so expect detours, intermittent telecom, and longer service intervals there.

Advisors should anchor every trip on three checks, airport schedule verification, confirmed hotel status for the exact dates and room type, and ground transfer timing with realistic buffers. Where airlines publish waivers, use them early. Where hotels phase open, be flexible on room categories and amenities. For clients who prefer certainty, target stays after mid December when multiple operators, including large resort brands, indicate higher confidence in staffing and services. Several chains have already reopened select properties, with more phasing in through late November and December 15, the date tourism officials have cited as a realistic milestone for about 80 percent sector recovery.

Background

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica as a Category 5 storm on October 28, 2025, the island's strongest direct hit since 1988. The storm damaged power networks, roads, and hotels, affected airfields, and disrupted water and communications. Recovery sequencing typically restores airports and hospitals first, then major tourist corridors, then outlying districts. This is why airport and hotel reopenings can appear rapid while other neighborhoods still face difficult conditions.

Final thoughts

Jamaica's travel restart is underway, with airport operations restored and hotel capacity returning in stages. If you plan a trip, confirm flights and rooms directly, build time into transfers, and expect selective amenities to come online over the next few weeks. Jamaica tourism is reopening after Hurricane Melissa, and conditions should continue to improve toward mid December.