JHTA says reduced room occupancy caused by external shocks helping to fuel staff discontent at hotels

The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) has established a working committee to look at the challenges facing the tourism sector, such as reduced occupancy rates, and their impact on workers, some of whom have taken industrial action in recent days.

In a media release on Friday, the JHTA said it has taken keen notice of recent unrest by some workers within the sector. 

It noted that 2024 has been extremely challenging for its member businesses due to a confluence of external shocks that continue to severely depress both room rates and hotel occupancy.

It said a growing problem of unavailability of sufficient air seats to Jamaica to satisfy the rapidly expanding tourism sector has exacerbated the problem.

This has impacted tourist arrivals and occupancy which has had impact on staffing schedules and aspects of compensation for some workers, the JHTA explained.

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The JTA said the referenced external shocks include negative travel advisories from the US, Canada and the UK.

"These advisories have had way more airplay in these source markets than ever before, resulting in Travel Advisors as well as direct consumers being cautious about Jamaica and depressed demand," the association said.

It also cited the protracted and adversarial US Presidential election and higher than normal load factors on airlines serving Jamaica among the shocks.

"With the increase in Jamaica's room stock of hotels, but in particular the rapid expansion of the Airbnb type accommodations (and other similar facilities), the demand for air seats is greater than what is being provided by airlines flying to Jamaica. Airlines on the other hand are limited in their ability to add more planes, due to not only inadequate staffing and the challenges caused by the grounding of the Boeing 'Max' aircraft planes due to maintenance issues, but also the backlog of new plane deliveries from both Boeing and Airbus," it said.

The JHTA said the new working committee, chaired by its president, will take a broad look at the numerous challenges facing the tourism sector including those impacting workers.

With this, it is expected that the information gleaned will form the basis of, firstly, an understanding of the conditions that exist and ultimately provide the basis for recommendations to be made to members to take any necessary action, where needed, across the sector, the JHTA explained.

Workers of Iberostar hotel in St James walked off the job Friday, alleging poor working conditions. 

This follows Tuesday's strike by workers at Secrets and Breathless resorts in Montego Bay, St James, and the recent industrial action by workers at Royalton Negril.