TravTalk Middle East Online Magazine
At the recently concluded JAPEX 2025, Jamaica unveiled ambitious plans to revive and expand its tourism sector. By 2030, the country expects to add more than 11,500 new hotel rooms, many of them luxury brands which international travellers, especially those from the Middle East, already know and trust. Meanwhile, the govt is upgrading infra to keep pace.
TT Bureau
Jamaica is focusing on new markets, such as the Gulf countries, Latin America, and India, and tailoring its tourism products to match their needs. Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Jamaica Tourism Board, in an interview with TRAVTALK, pointed out that Jamaica has set a clear goal, to bring 11,500 new hotel rooms into the market by 2030. These projects are already in different stages, with some being planned and others, like Unico and Moon Palace, under construction. The aim is not just to build more rooms — the government wants to focus on luxury and high-quality hotels that can appeal to travellers from new markets.
Many visitors from Latin America, the Middle East, and India prefer to stay in well-known brands. That is why Jamaica is working to attract these kinds of investments. The government has also been building strong partnerships at events like the Arabian Travel Market to bring in new investors from the GCC region.
“Our goal is not just to build more hotels, but to build high-quality properties with top international brands, as part of our clear strategy to focus on luxury and attract new markets,” White said.
Upgrading infrastructure
Jamaica is investing heavily in infrastructure to support the tourism growth, and airports are a big focus. Montego Bay Airport has already upgraded its departure area and is now making improvements on the arrival side. Kingston Airport has started expanding as well, with a longer runway and modern facilities to be ready in two years. There are also early plans for a third international airport to handle more visitors in the future.
On the other hand, road projects are another priority. A new bypass in Montego Bay will cut travel time by about 45 minutes. Another bypass is planned for Ocho Rios, removing traffic bottlenecks in the town. The Southern to Eastern Coastal Highway will connect Kingston to Port Antonio.
