71 percent of the island’s hotels and attractions reopened today, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

The Tourism Ministry had designated December 15 as the official date for reopening the sector.

The reopening also coincides with the start of the winter tourist season.

Speaking during an appreciation breakfast at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston today, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said the recovery is reason to celebrate.

Mr. Bartlett said within the last four weeks, Jamaica welcomed some 3 hundred thousand visitors.

He noted that over 20 thousand tourists arrived between last Thursday and yesterday.