Global Affairs Canada updated its travel advice late on 27 October 2025, urging Canadians to avoid non-essential travel to Jamaica’s northern coast, eastern Cuba, the southern Bahamas, Haiti and the Cayman Islands as Category-3 Hurricane Melissa barrels through the Caribbean. The advisory warns of life-threatening winds, storm surges up to four metres, flash floods and widespread infrastructure damage.
Airports in Kingston and Montego Bay have closed, with reopening tentatively set for 29 October. Consular officials report limited hotel availability and power outages. Travellers already in the region are advised to follow local emergency instructions and register with the Government of Canada’s “ROCA” system so they can receive SMS updates.
The advisory has immediate implications for Canadian tour operators and insurers: policies covering “Level 3—Avoid non-essential travel” destinations typically permit trip-cancellation claims, adding financial exposure in the winter-sun market. Corporate travel managers should review duty-of-care obligations, as employees in affected areas may require evacuation or alternative arrangements.
Border and immigration impacts are also possible. During previous Caribbean hurricanes, Canada granted temporary status extensions to foreign nationals unable to travel. IRCC has not yet activated such measures for Melissa but is “monitoring the situation closely.”
Given the storm’s projected track toward Cuba’s Holguín province and onward to the Bahamas, further advisory escalations are possible within the next 24 hours.
Airports in Kingston and Montego Bay have closed, with reopening tentatively set for 29 October. Consular officials report limited hotel availability and power outages. Travellers already in the region are advised to follow local emergency instructions and register with the Government of Canada’s “ROCA” system so they can receive SMS updates.
The advisory has immediate implications for Canadian tour operators and insurers: policies covering “Level 3—Avoid non-essential travel” destinations typically permit trip-cancellation claims, adding financial exposure in the winter-sun market. Corporate travel managers should review duty-of-care obligations, as employees in affected areas may require evacuation or alternative arrangements.
Border and immigration impacts are also possible. During previous Caribbean hurricanes, Canada granted temporary status extensions to foreign nationals unable to travel. IRCC has not yet activated such measures for Melissa but is “monitoring the situation closely.”
Given the storm’s projected track toward Cuba’s Holguín province and onward to the Bahamas, further advisory escalations are possible within the next 24 hours.
