Investment in Tourism on the Rise – Minister Bartlett

Investment in the tourism industry has soared to new heights with existing hotel companies expanding their stake while new investors are in line to build new properties on the popular island destination known as Jamaica.

During his 2024/2025 Sectoral Debate opening presentation in Parliament earlier this week, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett underscored that “confidence in Jamaica’s dynamic tourism industry remains steadfast, laying a solid foundation for remarkable growth in the years ahead.” He said with the imminent completion of 2,000 new rooms this year, significant strides are being made towards the target of adding 20,000 rooms within the next ten to fifteen years.

On Saturday, May 4, the 753-room Riu Palace Aquarelle will be officially opened in Trelawny, to be followed later in the month by the opening of the first 1,000 rooms of the Princess Grand Jamaica in Green Island, Hanover. Also, the 450-room Unico Hotel in Montego Bay is aiming for an opening date next summer.

He noted that:

“These developments signify expansion and demonstrate our commitment to providing world-class hospitality experiences to visitors from around the world.”

Minister Bartlett added that construction start up dates or development plans were also being awaited for thousands more resort rooms.

High on the list is Princess Resorts, which will add another 1,000 rooms to complement those that are now near completion. Also in Hanover, Grand Palladium in Lucea will expand with an additional 1,000 rooms and further west, the Wyndham brand will rise again in Jamaica with the construction of Viva Wyndham’s just under 1,000 rooms just north of Negril. An exclusive high-end luxury development is also in the making for Westmoreland.

Meanwhile, work progresses on Hard Rock’s 1,100 rooms in Montego Bay, Secrets is expanding by just over 100 new suites, and a major new 1,285-room resort, the name not yet disclosed, is also slated for the island’s tourism Mecca.

The development of tourism continues in Trelawny with major hotel brands, Harmony Cove, Planet Hollywood and the expansion of H10 resort.

The Minister also outlined that Bahia Principe in St Ann is undertaking a multifaceted expansion project to include villas, condos, hotel rooms, a PGA-certified golf course, a fishing village, and housing for tourism workers, using a broadly environmentally sustainable development approach, while Secrets is set to develop a 700-room hotel in the Garden Parish.

Minister Bartlett emphasized that in addition to creating in excess of 30,000 new and part-time jobs, these developments promise to substantially benefit various sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, small businesses and the wider community.

“Jamaica is poised to welcome a wave of robust investments from diverse sources, including local Jamaican businesses and international entities from Canada, the United States, Thailand, the Middle East, Mexico, and Europe,” he added.