“Safety of Visitors Our Top Priority” – Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Prepares for Hurricane Melissa Landfall

As Hurricane Melissa’s begins its direct hit on Jamaica, the country’s Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett is assuring all visitors – including about 4,000 Canadians currently on the island, that their safety remains the top priority.

About 25,000 visitors overall are on the island and are currently housed at resorts or the country’s shelters which include the Montego Bay Convention Centre and the James Hunter Conference Centre in Negril.

“It’s all hands-on deck to ensure the safety of our visitors and locals alike,” Bartlett said in a statement.

The Tourism Emergency Operations Centre (TEOC) which is operated under the Ministry of Tourism, remains fully operational and serves as the central coordinating hub for all activities within the tourism sector related to the hurricane response. The Centre monitors development, coordinates communication, and ensures a seamless flow of information between hotels, attractions, trade and other key stakeholders, transportation providers, and relevant government agencies.

The TEOC consistently liaises with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), and other key partners to guarantee that all tourism entities are following established safety protocols.

Hurricane Melissa has strengthened and is one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes in history with sustained winds of 185+ mph with a UN agency calling it “the storm of the century.” It is expected to hit Jamaica this afternoon before continuing through southeastern portion of Cuba, and then through the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos.

In its latest update at 10:00am ET Tuesday (October 28). the National Hurricane Centre in Miami warned this is the “Last chance to protect your life. This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation! Take cover now!”

Official information and advisories will continue to be shared through the Meteorological Service of Jamaica (@metservicejamaica) and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (@odpemjamaica).

Important numbers:

Tourism partners and visitors who require assistance should contact the TEOC using the following channels:

Emergency Lines: (876) 382-6712, (658) 213-2802, (658) 213-2803, (658) 213-2804

WhatsApp Line: (876) 469-0265

Email: teoc@mot.gov.jm

Travel & Supplier updates:

• Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay has been closed since October 26, with a planned reopening at noon on October 29.
• Holguin (HOG) and Santiago de Cuba (SCN) airports in eastern Cuba will be closed for at least today and tomorrow.
• Air Canada is offering a flexible rebooking policy for flights through October 29 to several destinations including  Kingston, Montego Bay, Varadero, Cayo Coco, San Salvador (El Salvador) and Providenciales (Turks & Caicos). More information is here.
• WestJet has issued a flexible booking policy for flights to Kingston, Montego Bay and Holguin through October 29. More information can be found here. 
• WestJet flights servicing Sunwing Vacations customers within the closure period for Sangster Airport have been cancelled. For Sunwing Vacations clients in destination, more information is here.
• Air Transat repatriated guests from Holguin to Montreal and Toronto yesterday. The airline’s Transat’s Hurricane Policy applies to flights scheduled on October 31 to Holguin from Montreal and Toronto. More information here.