Contracts worth about $51 million have been signed to rehabilitate Harbour Circle and improve St James Street sidewalks in Montego Bay, with work expected to start in August.

Jamaica in 2026 presents a study in profound contradiction. Tourism revenues are approaching historic highs as the island cements its position as the Caribbean’s most recognised brand. The murder rate, while showing a declining trend from the peaks of the late 2010s and early 2020s, remains among the highest in the world. The reparations debate has moved from the margins of diplomatic conversation to its centre. And Jamaica’s relationship with the United States, the United Kingdom, and China is being renegotiated in real time.

Jamaica in 2026 presents a study in contradiction: record tourism revenues alongside one of the world’s highest murder rates; fiscal stability alongside persistent social inequality; growing international profile alongside the unresolved reparations debate.

Agriculture Minister Floyd Green says new resorts in St James and St Ann create a large market for local produce, but only for farmers who can supply consistently and to a high standard.

Jamaica welcomed over 1.5 million stopover and cruise visitors up to May with only 70 per cent of tourism capacity available after Hurricane Melissa, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said.

Director of Tourism Donovan White says arrivals from Caribbean countries have risen 60 per cent in three years, driven by better regional air links, with Latin America the fastest-growing market.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett told the Diaspora Conference that tourism, a third of economic output, must be protected from climate risks exposed by Hurricane Melissa.

The mayors of Montego Bay and St Ann’s Bay say public beach access and sound management go hand in hand, pointing to upgrades at several public beaches.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has invited overseas Jamaican engineers, scientists and technical experts to help protect coastal assets and build a tourism industry that can withstand disasters.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the confidence visitors take home from Jamaica helps attract investment, jobs and talent, speaking at RIU Jamaica’s 25th anniversary in Montego Bay.