MONTEGO BAY, St James – With the potential rise of sea levels by two to three metres, minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation Senator Matthew Samuda has cited the need for greater investment in coastal tourism protection, in particular, breakwater systems to protect the beaches in the tourism resort area of Negril.

In the past, stakeholders in the tourism resort town of Negril have objected to suggestions of breakwater systems, which are offshore structures of concrete or stone built to protect harbours and marinas from wave action and to help prevent beach erosion.

But speaking at the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) climate resilience symposium held under the theme, ‘Climate Wisdom: Coastal Wellness’ at Iberostar Rose Hall Resort on Friday, Samuda noted that “these are the realities that we will have to face if we are to protect coastal tourism”.

“It means, for instance, we will have to invest heavily in our coastal protection. It means breakwater in places like Negril — we should have had it already but stakeholders didn’t agree. It means significant investment in groynes in the protection of our beaches,” Samuda said.

“So though we are an island with several beautiful world famous beaches, these are the realities which we will have to take on,” he added.

Samuda, who has portfolio responsibility for environment and climate change, was quick to note that Jamaica is not the only country facing these realities.

“Certainly, assessments do not see Cancun being where it is in 20 years. Assessments see significant disruptions for the Dominican Republic and for Turks and Caicos. So we are not unique, but it does not mean that we don’t have unique opportunities to adapt to make sure that we build in the resilience that we absolutely need. Because climate change is here, the climate is changing, it is changing faster than the original projections and bringing thought leaders to make sure that we strategise, build in the sort of plans and investment strategies and bankable strategies that protect the industry. It is incredibly important,” he said.

THOMPSON…the tourism sector must continue to build resilience for the region and the product in order to continue to grow and prosper

He added: “We are not out of time, but I think it’s a perfect time to have the conversation, because we do have to work around the clock to ensure that the resilience needed for this industry, this critical pillar of the Jamaican economy, is built in and is put front and centre with the economic decisions that we make.“

Samuda argued that there is a lot more work to be done, not only in the hotel industry, but within the services sector generally, to ensure that Jamaica does not only take a moral, but a practical position “to reduce our emissions”.

“The tourism industry has a role to play — though a service-based industry and not a heavy-duty industrial usage [industry], in the context of Jamaica,” he said.

“So with every light switch that turns on, with every inefficient property that exists, it does generate more emissions than we should.“

Meanwhile, Richard Thompson, acting director general of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, highlighted that coastal tourism destinations in the Caribbean depend largely on the ability to adapt and bring to bear planning and management practices to impact climate change.

“Tourism is a climate-dependent industry, and because many countries owe their popularity to their pleasant climate, climate change effects and its impacts can prove devastating in many ways to this important Caribbean and Jamaican industry. Thus the tourism sector must therefore continue to build resilience for the region and the product in order to continue to grow and prosper,” Thompson said.

Attendees at the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association’s Climate Resilience Symposium at Iberostar Rose Hall Resort on Friday.