Days after its passage through the island, Hurricane Beryl continues to pose major challenges for primary utilities Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) and the National Water Commission (NWC).

This has impacted many of the hotels on Jamaica’s north coast with guests becoming irate.

Hotel operators are calling on JPS and NWC to get its act together and quickly service the ‘Elegant Corridor’ where many hotels are located. 

Hotels have had to turn to back-up generators and water reserve tanks but how long will that last?

The generators may be able to service resorts for around four days, then things become a major problem.

Up to today (July 7), the ‘tourism Mecca’ Montego Bay was severely challenged. Our Today understands that RIU’s Ocho Rios and Negril hotels experienced water supply problems, souring the post-hurricane experience for many guests.

Villas have had to find a way to placate guests as many demand refunds and find the situation unacceptable.

A degree of patience is needed as the country has just undergone a hurricane albeit not as destructive as initially expected. 

Minister of Tourism Ed Bartlett, commenting on the resilience of the tourism sector said, “We are grateful that there has been no wide-scale impact to our general tourism infrastructure and our tourism industry is fully operational. Our message to our partners and visitors is Jamaica is ready for you, so come back to the destination you love.”

At Round Hill, one of the country’s top hotel’s located in Hopewell, the staff and general manager Josef Forstmayer have rolled ups their sleeves and come together to remove fallen trees obstructing power lines.

The NWC has heard Round Hills’ calls and the elegant enclave now has water.

Tourism is vital to Jamaica’s economy and after the most recent State Department travel advisory, every effort must be made to have guest continue to come to the country.  

Both JPS and NWC must do all they can and more to get the hotels, resorts and villas back on track with electricity and water.

Back-up generators for the hotels can last for around 12 hours and then have to be refuelled with diesel. This is arduous for hotel operators particularly when these back-up generators start giving problems. 

Some of the more reputable hotels are offering guests caught in Beryl two extra nights free of charge.  
What Hurricane Beryl has brought to light is that the country needs back-up generators both for electricity and water. 

Ocho Rios and Negril are expected to have both water and electricity by tonight, all going well.
Jamaica has fared better here than many countries that have been hit by a hurricane of this magnitude. Utilities have been returning relatively quickly.

Speaking in Parliament earlier this year Bartlett said that for the first three months of 2024, Jamaica welcomed 1.34 million visitors netting the country US$1.27 billion in earnings. 

Tourism earnings were up 10 for the 2023/24 year coming in at US$4.38 billion.