Jamaica Plans Nearly 4,000 Housing Units for Tourism Workers in Montego Bay

Jamaica's tourism boom is producing a tangible benefit for the industry's workers: nearly 4,000 housing units planned in and around Montego Bay, the nation's tourism capital.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett announced that arrangements are being finalised for the construction of 2,250 housing units at Grange Pen, St. James, in addition to a 1,500-unit programme already underway at Barrett Hall.

New Policy Mandate

Under a new government policy, any tourism development of 500 rooms or more will be required to incorporate a housing component for industry workers — a first for the Caribbean.

"The people who serve Jamaica's visitors should have a stable place to call home," Bartlett said.

Worker Benefits Beyond Housing

Jamaica's tourism sector pension programme — the first of its kind globally — has accumulated over J$6 billion in savings in just two and a half years, with projections to reach J$10 billion by 2027. The government plans to use $2 billion from the fund to establish a Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) for tourism workers.

The initiatives reflect a broader shift in Caribbean tourism policy toward ensuring that the industry's benefits reach the workers who sustain it, not just investors and visitors.