How does Jamaica's economy rely on tourism?

Jamaica depends on tourism for about a third of its annual revenue, making it highly vulnerable to the devastation caused by powerful hurricanes like Melissa.

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Powerful Hurricane Melissa Threatens Jamaica's Tourism-Dependent Economy

Q: What are the predictions for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season?

Experts predict that the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season will be above average, with 18 named storms and up to 9 of them becoming hurricanes, including the possibility of a major hurricane making landfall in the U.S.

29 Oct

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Summary

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 3 storm, hits Caribbean as Jamaica braces for impact
Jamaica relies on tourism for a third of its annual revenue, with limited resources to prepare
Experts predict a major hurricane will likely make landfall in the U.S. this season

Powerful Hurricane Melissa Threatens Jamaica's Tourism-Dependent Economy

As of October 29th, 2025, Hurricane Melissa, a powerful Category 3 storm, is currently moving through the Caribbean Sea, posing a significant threat to the island nation of Jamaica. Jamaica, a country that relies on tourism for about a third of its annual revenue, is ill-equipped to handle the devastation that a storm of this magnitude can bring.

According to disaster and emergency preparedness experts, Jamaica has limited resources to prepare for and respond to such devastating storms. Officials had anticipated that some 50,000 of Jamaica's 2.8 million population would be displaced by the hurricane. The Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1st and runs through November 30th, has already seen 13 named storms form, and experts predict that this will be an above-average season, with 18 named storms and up to 9 of them becoming hurricanes.