In Our Neighbourhood

Hurricane Melissa decimated some parts of my country, Jamaica, in late October 2025. It was the most powerful hurricane to make landfall in the Americas in 90 years. Scores of people died and homes and livelihoods were destroyed in vast areas of western and southern Jamaica. Cuba and Haiti also suffered significant impact.

Yet, there were videos circulating on social media of visitors to Jamaica berating hotel staff about the quality and quantity of the food being provided in the middle of a hurricane. One guest, for example, bemoaned a breakfast of pastry. There were reportedly also complaints about having to leave the guest rooms to shelter in a common area. Might I add that this was in the middle of a hurricane, where weeks after its passing, hundreds of people remain homeless and hungry?

I don’t intend to dwell on the insensitivity of these complaints. I merely wanted to highlight a troubling phenomenon, that is, that popular tourist destinations are perceived as nothing but a tourist playground. This is not unique to Jamaica. I have read of measures taken by Austria and Japan, for example, to reduce visitor numbers in certain areas because of the disrespect meted out to local people, their private property, or their way of life by said visitors. Too often, the destination country is viewed merely as a place to entertain the visitor, with no regard for the complexities of life for the citizens of that place.

That sentiment is perhaps even more pronounced in relation to the small islands of the Caribbean, with generally high dependence on tourism. Our islands are frequently reduced to beach resorts that should cater to every whim of the visitor. Any aspect of a country not packaged in a way to tickle the visitor’s fancy is utterly ignored and even berated.

Now, don’t misunderstand me: I fully appreciate that most people go on vacation to escape their lives for a while. I certainly do not expect them to assume another country’s burden. In fact, as someone from a popular tourist destination, I am happy that each year we are able to afford millions of people the respite and refuge that they need, for a few days or weeks.

Having said that, I believe there is need for a more empathetic and holistic view of the places that welcome us. There is a need to see the residents as people in their own right, with lives, careers, hopes, dreams, and concerns, just like everywhere else. They are not actors in our fairytale. They and their countries deserve our respect.

Bad Bunny’s “Turista“, released earlier in 2025, essentially sums it up. As a fellow Caribbean national, he understands this phenomenon quite well. Do yourself a favour and go listen to his message, ensconced in traditional Latin Caribbean rhythms.

Te fuiste sin saber el porqué (You went away without knowing the reason)
El porqué de mis herida’ (The reason for my wounds)

That’s about right.