Tourism Lobby Pushes Back on Beach Access Debate as Jamaica Reviews Coastal Policy

The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) has entered the heated national debate over beach access, insisting that managed access — not open entry — is the only responsible path forward for Jamaica’s coastline.

The JHTA’s position came as public frustration over restricted beach access reached new levels, with legal challenges mounting and advocacy groups calling for the complete decolonisation of Jamaica’s coastline. For the tourism lobby, however, the conversation was never about whether Jamaicans should reach the beach — it is about how.

“The question before Jamaica is not whether Jamaicans and visitors alike should access our beaches — they absolutely should,” said JHTA President Christopher Jarrett. “The question is how we enable access in a manner that protects our people, our visitors, and our coastlines.”

Jarrett said the association firmly rejects any suggestion that managed access is designed to push Jamaicans out of their own coastal spaces. Instead, the JHTA argues that without structure and proper management, the beaches themselves — and the tourism economy that depends on them — will suffer.

A Decade of Deterioration

According to the JHTA, a number of Jamaica’s public beaches have fallen into poor condition due to inadequate sanitation, accumulated waste, coastal erosion, and a lack of basic amenities. The association warned that allowing such problems to continue could damage Jamaica’s standing as a premier tourism destination — one built over nearly seven decades.

“The reputation of Jamaica as a well-respected tourist destination will not survive within an environment of public disorder, insecurity, or instability at beach locations,” Jarrett stated, adding that negative visitor experiences spread rapidly through international media and social platforms that drive travel decisions.

The JHTA also stressed that any coastal access reform must account for the legal property rights of homeowners and tourism investors who have collectively poured billions of dollars into Jamaica’s seaside infrastructure.

Government’s Proposed Beach Access Policy

The JHTA’s statement was timed alongside the Government’s review of a proposed Beach Access and Management Policy, tabled by Prime Minister Andrew Holness during his contribution to the 2026/27 Budget Debate in March. Holness acknowledged that beach access has been a contentious planning issue for decades and that the existing Beach Control Act of 1956 — unchanged in any meaningful way since its 1973 amendment — no longer meets the needs of modern Jamaica.

The proposed policy aims to modernise definitions of coastal spaces, including the foreshore and backshore; improve public access points; outline required legislative amendments; and introduce new criteria for development approvals near the coast.

Critics, led by the Jamaica Beach Birthright Environmental Movement (JaBBEM), argue the framework does the opposite — entrenching colonial barriers rather than dismantling them. JaBBEM President Dr Devon Taylor has called on the Government to withdraw the policy entirely, describing it as treating access as a conditional privilege rather than an inherent right.

“The foreshore is vested in the Crown for the public’s benefit. It should not be treated as a commodity,” the organisation said in a formal statement.

What This Means for Property Owners

For homeowners and investors with coastal property, the policy debate carries real implications. The proposed licensing structure for 67 public beaches — and potential provisions for hotel-operated beach-pass systems — could reshape how coastal land is used, valued, and accessed across the island.

Beachfront property remains among the most sought-after real estate in Jamaica, commanding significant premiums in parishes like St James, St Ann, Portland, and Westmoreland. Any shift in the regulatory framework governing who can access the coast — and under what conditions — will directly influence land values, development potential, and investor confidence.

The JHTA said it plans to submit formal recommendations to the Government and has called for a consensus-driven approach balancing public access, environmental stewardship, public safety, and investor confidence. The association’s intervention signals that the property and tourism sectors intend to remain central voices in any legislative process that follows.

For now, the debate is far from settled. With court cases involving beaches in St Ann, Portland, St Andrew, and St James already in motion, and advocacy groups intensifying their campaigns, Jamaica’s approach to its coastline is entering a new and defining chapter.

Source: Jamaica Gleaner, June 22, 2026

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