Jamaica is a long-time favourite of Canadians, attracting about 400,000 people from this country every year. But despite the familiarity, visitors – even those who go frequently – will notice rapid changes in the tourism landscape, from streamlined entry protocols to sparkling new resorts.
To that end, Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) president Omar Robinson has put together a snapshot presentation on the destination to bring agents and returning visitors up to speed on what’s new and unfamiliar; as well as for potential guests, or those who haven’t been on island in a while, whose perceptions may be a little out of date.
Noting that the island is divided into six resort areas, each offering a unique Jamaican experience, Robinson’s “Journey Across Jamaica” spans 300 kms, from Port Antonio to Negril. Following is his TripTik, delivered at the latest Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) in Montego Bay (lightly edited here for length and context):
MONTEGO BAY
Jamaica’s second city is the island’s tourism capital and you can get here with ease from a variety of gateways, arriving at the state-of-the-art Donald Sangster International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the Caribbean.
“Mobay,” as we affectionately call Montego Bay, boasts the largest number of rooms in all ranges – all-inclusive and EP hotels, high-end luxury properties, boutique hotels, small intimate properties and villas that cater to everyone – adults only and family-friendly accommodations, international chains and home-grown properties.
Tourism is not new to Jamaica, in fact we are one of the most seasoned, and recognized tourism destinations in this hemisphere, and our popularity continues to increase from year to year. This is not happenstance. A lot of hard work by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, the Jamaica Tourist Board and our partners in hospitality and tourism is what helps to keep Jamaica top of the international tourism scale.
Our JHTA members know that to keep ahead of the pack, their resorts and attractions must be maintained at the highest possible standards.
Half Moon is no exception and they are unveiling the latest segment of a US$75-million renovation. It’s Half Moon’s 65th anniversary and their gift to Jamaica, and the world, is 57 amazing new suites, expanded beachfront with natural swimming cove, restaurants, market cafés, grills, you name it.
Montego Bay boasts attractions for the adventurous, the nature lover and the vacationer in search of more serene pursuits. Mobay also features four world-class championship golf courses: White Witch, Cinnamon Hill, Tryall, and Half Moon.
And no visit is complete without a night out on our “hip strip” where the famous Margaritaville holds sway with a host of other clubs and restaurants, such as the newly renovated Coral Cliff gaming lounge, Starbucks, the Brewery, 27/27 marijuana lounge, and Usain Bolt’s Tracks and Record restaurant.
TRELAWNY
Nearby in Trelawny, the Amaterra group has broken ground for the first of 1,200 rooms in a multi-billion-dollar integrated resort development. One of the largest developments in Jamaica in recent times, it will, once completed, include 5,000 hotel rooms, an industrial park and an entertainment and shopping complex.
NEGRIL
Negril, in western Jamaica, known as “The Capital of Casual” is world-famous for its seven miles of white sand beach and shallow bays with calm turquoise waters and the beautiful sunset at Rick’s Café.
If you love the outdoors, informal, easy, no frills, Negril, with its mix of contemporary and rustic accommodations, definitely is the place.
The attractions are truly outstanding – like the Island Lux Beach Park, which boasts so many elements of Jamaica in one location: jerk chicken, Blue Mountain coffee, reggae music, white sand beach, water sports… It’s all there.
Also nearby is the Jamwest motorsports and adventure park, featuring a largest race car driving speedway and only drag and circuit track in the Caribbean, rock climbing, zipline, horseback riding, safari tours and more.
Those of you who have explored Jamaica’s south coast will understand why we call it “off the beaten track” – from bubbling natural mineral baths known for their healing powers to tours of historical great houses. The south coast is also home to the Joy Spence Appleton Estate Rum Experience.
You can cruise down the Black River and enjoy the flora and fauna of the Jamaican countryside and the wetlands around Jamaica’s longest navigable river. This is the hub of “community tourism” with options for small hotels and quaint bed and breakfast accommodations.
OCHO RIOS
Then there is Ocho Rios, the once sleepy fishing village, now a vibrant resort town with a busy cruise ship harbour and a beautiful bay beach lined with a wide array of top-notch hotels and attractions.
You can choose to climb the nearby world-famous Dunn’s River Falls, swim with the dolphins at Dolphin Cove or drive through Fern Gully, which stretches through three miles of great rocky gorge with over 540 variety of ferns. There’s lots to see and do in this town. The newly built promenade connects the cruise ship port to the heart of the town.
We’re also seeing a lot of new development in Ochi, our special aim for this bustling resort town. As we speak, the 865-room RIU Ocho Rios, built in 2005, has put the finishing touches on a massive renovation and expansion program with 145 spanking new rooms.
PORT ANTONIO
To the east of the island is Port Antonio, whose tagline is “naturally,” and that says it all. This is the cradle of Jamaica’s tourism and decades later the town still retains the charm of an untouched, unspoilt tropical paradise.
Port Antonio is known as a gateway to nearby tropical jungles, mountains and waterfalls, the famous Blue Lagoon known for its blue water fed by the Caribbean Sea, and Underground Springs is a popular bathing site. And who could resist the joys of rafting on the Rio Grande?
KINGSTON
And last, but by no means least, is Kingston – “the heartbeat of Jamaica.” This is our country’s capital and largest city – the epicentre of business, seat of government, home to foreign diplomatic embassies, corporate headquarters of international and local businesses, museums, restaurants, the seventh largest natural harbour in the world, the Bob Marley museum, and Usain Bolt – fastest man in the world.
The city is host to a number of popular local and international brand hotels like the R hotel, a new concept in long-stay accommodations, and the AC Hotel by Marriott, a US$55-million 220-room hotel with all the facilities and amenities that reflect the lifestyle of the modern traveller
Annual events such as Carnival, boys and girls athletic championships, the Kingston City Marathon, food festivals, fashion shows and an active nightlife, keep Kingston throbbing.
Kingston is served by the Norman Manley International Airport. And for those who fly into Montego Bay, the north-south highway offers the opportunity to drive into Kingston and experience the first city’s tourism while combining it with a resort stay on the north coast.
Moving across the island is also made easier with the services of domestic airline services providers like Airlink Express, which offers private air charters and air taxis from Montego Bay to Negril and Jam Air Express with four daily flights out of Montego Bay and Kingston, connecting to the island’s various local airports.
Historic Devon House, a restored 19th-century Great House, and one of the city’s most popular attractions, is surrounded by a host of local restaurants and souvenir and art shops including the ever-popular I-Scream, voted among the 10 best places to eat ice cream by National Geographic’s “food journeys of a lifetime.”
FOOD
We end our Journey Across Jamaica on a sweet note. There’s also culinary, it’s one of our passion points that sells Jamaica. Wine or food, different cuisines, Jamaica is a gastronomic destination and we urge all our visitors to go out and explore the wonderful foods that we have to offer.