Top things to know
- Hoteliers warn a proposed 51 per cent NWC water and sewerage rate increase could deepen financial strain on Jamaica's tourism industry.
- Richard Wallace of Boardwalk Village Hotel in Negril says sewerage charges effectively double the water bill in the resort area.
- Jamaica Inn Managing Director Kyle Mais says the industry is still struggling to recover from COVID-19 and hurricanes Beryl and Melissa.
- JHTA President O'Brian Heron says the 51 per cent increase is significant and seeks clarity on its impact across customer categories.
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Hoteliers are warning that a proposed 51 per cent increase in water and sewerage rates could deepen the financial strain on Jamaica's tourism industry, with smaller independent properties facing the risk of further hardship.
Richard Wallace, operator of Boardwalk Village Hotel in Negril, said water was already one of the sector's highest expenses, warning that the proposed increase could prove devastating for hotels already burdened by substantial sewerage charges. "In the resort area of Negril, we pay not just for water, we [also] pay for sewerage," Wallace said, noting that sewerage charges effectively double the water bill. "So if we pay $100 for water, we pay another $100 for sewerage."
Jamaica Inn Managing Director Kyle Mais described the prospect of higher water rates as another blow to an industry that has yet to fully recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hurricane Beryl and Hurricane Melissa. "We're on the road to recovery, but we haven't recovered. We're still struggling," Mais said, pointing to disappointing summer visitor arrivals and high airfares.
JHTA President O'Brian Heron said a 51 per cent increase was significant and raised questions about how the new rates would affect different categories of customers, particularly hotels and attractions. The association said it looked forward to meaningful consultation with the NWC.