Jamaica tourism recovers as Sangster International Airport wins regional award

Jamaica’s tourism sector is showing signs of recovery following the devastation caused by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa in October 2025. Sangster International Airport (SIA) has been named the Caribbean’s Leading Airport for 2026 at the World Travel Awards, marking its 18th consecutive win and 19th title overall.

Shane Munroe, CEO of MBJ Airports Limited, noted that the airport played a vital role in restoring the island’s tourism industry by quickly repairing facilities. Expansion and modernization projects, including upgrades to immigration, security, and biometric processing, are currently underway.

In terms of travel capacity, airline seat allocations for the January-April 2027 winter season have increased by 23.5% compared to the previous year. The Jamaica Tourist Board reported that airlines have committed 1.32 million seats. This growth is driven largely by Canada, which saw a 62.1% increase in seat allocations, followed by the United States with a 23.1% increase. Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett stated that while the increased airlift is a vote of confidence, the focus must now shift to converting capacity into visitor spending and economic opportunities.