has brought Jamaica’s tourism industry — the backbone of its economy — to a sudden standstill. The Category 5 hurricane, packing destructive winds and torrential rains, forced the closure of both Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston and did extensive damage to Sangster International Airport (MBJ). Cruise ship calls and port operations across the island are suspended, while many coastal resorts evacuated guests or shut down temporarily for safety.

For a nation where tourism contributes roughly 30% of total GDP, these closures represent not just a pause in visitor arrivals but a major economic shock. Analysts are warning of multimillion-dollar losses as Melissa’s winds and storm surge test the resilience of hotels, attractions, and supporting infrastructure that drive Jamaica’s visitor economy.

Visitor Disruption and Industry Response
The storm has left thousands of travelers stranded or facing cancelled flights and vacations. Airlines and regional carriers have suspended services until further notice, while tour operators have halted Jamaica vacations. Local authorities, led by the Ministry of Tourism and the Jamaica Tourist Board, have activated emergency operations centers to coordinate safety efforts, evacuation logistics, and communication with international travel partners.

Despite widespread damage reports, Jamaica’s tourism minister Edmund Bartlett has stressed that the country’s crisis protocols are working as designed. “Our priority is the safety of every visitor and tourism worker,” Bartlett said earlier this week, adding that the island would be “back in business” by Dec.15 for the holidays.

Economic Stakes and Immediate Fallout
Tourism’s deep integration into Jamaica’s economy means the storm’s effects extend far beyond closed hotels. Local artisans, drivers, tour guides, and small business owners who depend on visitor spending are now facing income interruptions. Attractions such as Dunn’s River Falls and Mystic Mountain have suspended operations, while damage assessments to beaches, roads, and utilities are ongoing.

What Can Travel Advisors Do to Support Jamaica
In a recent zoom webinar put on by ALG Vacations, Phillip Rose – Deputy Director of the JTB stressed that the most significant thing you can do to help Jamaica is to keep selling it. Jamaica has endured hurricanes in the past and came back stronger than ever. The resorts will clean up and repair their facilities, MBJ will rebuild and come back as a world class facility, roads will be cleared and utilities will be restored. But none of that will matter if there are not tourists to cater to. Encourage your clients who are booked for the next couple months to postpone rather than cancel their planned vacations.

If you want to help with the rebuilding efforts here are two options:
1 / The Sandals Foundation has been giving back to its mother island for over 15 years and 100% of donations go directly to its efforts – https://sandalsfoundation.org/donation
2 / The Gov. of Jamaica has also set up a site where donations can be made – www.supportjamaica.gov.jm