Editorial

PERSPECTIVE: JAMAICA MAY HAVE EXCEEDED ITS DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY TO SUPPORT FURTHER MAJOR TOURISM AND HOTEL DEVELOPMENT ON THE NORTH COAST

Ocho RiosPerspective

The view that the North Coast is maxed out in tourism development is nonsense. Jamaica’s tourism product is in need of constant upgrading. There was last year 2015 an eleven percent or so drop/fall off in arrivals from Canada.

Many of our properties are aging and need new attractions and craft products need more skilled artisans to produce attractive and durable craft items. The spend from tourists is low. So we have work to do. We certainly need more rooms to cater to all tastes. For example in the hills like Blue Mountains there needs to be a few large hotels and an air strip.

Our tourism product has come a long way but has a ways to go.

The north Coast is not Jamaica. There is eco-tourism to be explored. Also community tourism … some tourists like to live with locals and not confined to large all inclusive hotels like Sandals, Royalton, or Hilton, etc.

We need to attract about 8 million visitors annually. We only have three million or so now. Minister Bartlett is doing his best to improve our tourism product but we need to think bigger.

We have not reached our saturation point even on the north coast yet.

Ocho Rios The Mecca

Ocho Rios is world famous but it is a dump as the place is in urgent need of redevelopment. Progress has been made but the place needs a facelift

US$ 500 Million Needed

A new by pass road was built and improved shopping … even Usain Bolt opened an outlet for his “Tracks and Records” …. his first franchise outside Kingston. This is good news but more needs to be done. Much more development is needed. Five hundred million US$ 500 development now would transform Ocho Rios.

Squatter Settlement(s)

There are squatter/shanty villages which need to be demolished and give room to tourism. Shanties breed crime etc.

Relocate these people on suitable lands in the interior and free up the beach front spots. Designate more free beaches for locals.

PM Holness has his heart in tourism and is working closely with Minister Bartlett on tourism development. The North Coast certainly has room for more growth as clearly stated above.

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is Senior International Correspondent & photojournalist for Vision Newspaper Canada.

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