One of Jamaica’s biggest hoteliers agrees that Jamaicans need greater access to the country’s beaches—but is Sandals doing enough?
Beach access has become a major national controversy. Campaigners argue that hotel development has restricted communities from coastlines they have traditionally used for recreation and their livelihoods.
During my interview on Taking Stock with Sandals Executive Chairman Adam Stewart, he rejected the claim that Jamaicans have access to only one per cent of the island’s beaches.
However, he acknowledged that Jamaica has failed to plan properly as tourism expanded.
“As tourism has grown, you’ve seen a lack of planning—not just in beaches, town planning, as things grew… We did not create enough beach access.”
Stewart’s position is that every Jamaican should have beach access—but that access must also be properly managed.
He argued that public beaches need bathrooms, security, lighting and garbage collection. Those facilities cost money, raising another controversial question: should beach access always be free, or is a reasonable fee acceptable when a property is maintained?
Stewart also outlined steps Sandals is taking.
The group has committed US$250,000—approximately J$40 million—toward improving a public beach park beside Beaches Negril. The proposed facilities include bathrooms, lighting and bleachers.
He also said the company has offered to help expand the beach near its new AC Hotel development in Montego Bay—potentially doubling or tripling the space available to residents.
At Blue Lagoon, which is owned by a Sandals-affiliated company, Stewart said access is free and contributions toward maintaining the facilities are voluntary.
Now these are tangible commitments. But they do not resolve the wider dispute over permanent, legally protected access to Jamaica’s coastline.
Investing in selected public beaches is valuable. However, Jamaicans also want assurance that future hotel developments will not eliminate traditional access routes in the first place.
The real test will be whether Sandals and other developers support beach access that is not only managed and maintained—but free, permanent and protected by law.
And that’s The Bottom Line.
Do you think Sandals is doing enough to promote inclusive beach access?
