Jamaica’s Travel Industry Warns of Rising Energy Costs

Jamaica’s hotel and resort operators say skyrocketing energy costs are affecting their ability to operate and loom as a major challenge to the island’s tourism industry, according to a report in the online edition of the Jamaica Observer.

The article quotes tourism stakeholders who concerned about an upcoming increase mandated by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR)’s annual inflation adjustment to non-fuel electricity rates, particularly as they face lagging bookings following the recent unrest in Kingston.

“It’s really, really killing us,” Sandals chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart told the newspaper. Stewart called on Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett to get acquainted with the operations side of the tourism industry and ensure that the product is not prohibited from being upgraded by high overheads. “The electricity factor is a very great hurdle to make investment in Jamaica profitable,” said Jesus Silva, Spain’s Ambassador to Jamaica.