The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) is pushing back against criticism of managed beach access, arguing that proper regulation rather than unrestricted entry is essential to protect beach users, coastal environments, and the country's tourism industry.

The position comes amid growing public debate and legal challenges surrounding beach access rights, with the tourism lobby insisting that the issue is not whether Jamaicans should have access to beaches, but how that access should be managed.

"The question before Jamaica is not whether Jamaicans and visitors alike should access our beaches, they absolutely should," said JHTA President Christopher Jarrett.