Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says over US$4 billion in new investments is aimed at developing Rose Hall as Jamaica’s official casino zone.
Speaking at the 64th Annual General Meeting of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) on Friday, Bartlett reported that 2024 has already seen 2,000 new hotel rooms added, with another 4,000 planned within the Rose Hall strip.
“Later this month, we will break ground for the Moon Palace mega hotel, a 33-storey tower unlike anything Jamaica has seen,” Bartlett said. “Next to it will be the Hard Rock Hotel. This area will become Jamaica’s casino zone, without question.”
He described the ongoing development as “unprecedented,” with several groundbreakings and project announcements expected in July.
Among the large-scale investments are expansions at Bahia Principe, Viva Wyndham, Negril and Grand Palladium, the latter set to begin construction by year-end.
But Bartlett made clear that tourism growth will not leave workers behind. The government, he said, is addressing housing needs with the development of 3000 new homes across Barrett Hall and Rhyne Park (formerly Rangeland), specifically for tourism employees.
“We cannot build a world-class tourism industry without first ensuring that our workers are treated with dignity,” he stated.
The strategic expansion aligns with Jamaica’s broader push to redefine the island as a premier luxury destination, while also integrating sustainable development and workforce upliftment.