WESTERN BUREAU:Jamaica's tourism sector is expected to recover more than 80 per cent of its hotel room capacity by this summer, as the industry continues its rebound from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, making his contribution to the 2026-2027 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives yesterday, said approximately 5,648 hotel rooms are scheduled to return to inventory during 2026, while more than 80,000 hotel workers have already resumed employment as properties reopen across the island.

"And while capacity constraints remain real, the recovery is moving with purpose," Bartlett said, noting that hotel capacity was projected to recover to more than 80 per cent by summer 2026.