JHTA projects prolonged drought could cost tourism $500m

The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, JHTA, projects that a prolonged drought could cost the tourism industry a half a billion dollars.

JHTA president, O’Brien Heron, was speaking on Nationwide This Morning on Thursday.

Over the past several weeks, Jamaica has been grappling with reduced rainfall and increasing temperatures. Both have been contributing to declining water levels at storage facilities across the island.

In response, the National Water Commission, NWC, has put water prohibition orders in effect in seven parishes.

In a release on Wednesday, the NWC said the drought is now impacting several of its systems in St. Ann, St. Mary and Portland.

According to the NWC, several facilities across the three parishes are operating at between 10 per cent and 50 per cent of their normal output as drought conditions worsen.

Heron says players in the sector are doing what they can to protect brand Jamaica in light of the conditions.

And, Heron says the association plans to continue discussion with the Ministry of Finance to examine alternatives.

O’Brien Heron, president of the JHTA.