While the Government celebrates billions in tourism earnings, Opposition spokesperson on tourism and linkages Andrea Purkiss says as much as 70 cents of every dollar spent by all-inclusive visitors leaves Jamaica, depriving local communities of the industry’s full economic benefits.

Purkiss made the claim during her contribution to the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in Parliament on Tuesday, arguing that despite record visitor arrivals and foreign exchange earnings, too little of the industry’s wealth remains in the hands of Jamaican workers and businesses.

In a wide-ranging presentation, the first-term Member of Parliament representing Hanover Eastern accused the Government of focusing on impressive headline figures while ignoring what she described as deep structural weaknesses within the tourism sector.