Visited Treasure Beach recently, the place feels like most people have left the community.

I agree From Yard. This time of year Treasure Beach really quiets down. Not many visitors are in town and lots of us take the opportunity to take some time away or stay close to home and enjoy a bit of down time. Don't worry, come back around the holidays and you will see everything hopping again!

This is actually my favorite time of year to be in Treasure Beach. September and October usually have a bit of rain so everything is green and lush and the sea is nice and calm.

perfect time to be here!!!! We are loving it !!! we come in september FOR the quiet!!! the people of TB are great, thank you for your hospitality and friendly attitudes...the first 8 days flew by..8 more to go...anyone know how to slow time??Thanks. Wes

Time is constant and cannot actually be slowed, however the perception of TIME can be altered with a ganga spliff.
ONE LOVE !!
Mike

quietness ,calm ,off the beaten track,it sounds all so nice and it is wonderful,however,less guests ,or no guests means no income,as a Tourist destination,we do need at least 35 % to 45% occupation,to run the places year round ,even with two month with nothing,our employees have to feed the family's,has to pay the bills,and much more.Treasurebeach is an attraction ,but we all have to work on it,not just wait and see who is coming!Treasurebeach has potential ,in all classes of entertainment ,sport ,food and beach activity!Lets start fresh in the coming Season and spread the word:Treasurebeach you love it!

We love Treasure Beach! but why can't businesses be successful there?. Too many negative people, some people want all! others just simply live there and could not care less about the community

We love each other but we don't like to support each others business.

I have to disagree with you Peace. Of course there will never be 100% cooperation. That is normal. But I feel the support of many every day and I in turn try to support other businesses as well. Just because you do not utilize a business does not mean you don't support them. Many times I've recommended a place or service to someone where I might not go there myself but I know it is a good place so I recommend it.

well said Rebecca!

I have come in summer and winter and enjoyed it at both times. When I am there I try to spread the wealth around among several businesses, especially the cafes.
My plans for retirement is to spend the winter months in TB, and then head back home for Spring/Summer.
ONE LOVE !!
Mike

Rebecca, you are there everyday so you would know best. It just seems like every time u talk to someone about opening a business... the response would be "dem ya people a pedro them prefer go a Black River than support your business right here". I hope this is not true. The place has so much potential! but we need some kind of entertainment for the visitors. The tourist season is coming lets get the South Jammin and all the others up and running... see u soon JA

Peace and all, what forms of entertainment would you like to be available locally?

I would say that most tourists want all the bells and whistles.
I base this opinion on the fact that we syayed in Negril for a couple years, this same time of year? And the glass bottom boats, jetskis, para-sails, pricey restaurants etc..had plenty of tourists around...even in the "slow" season.
It would seem to be a two-edged sword, if you give them all the "stuff" you totally change Treasure Beach...forever.
I certainly want an economy to thrive here, and I see tremendous potential for that to happen. Unfortunately I don't know the answer. I do know there are more people like us that want the Treasure Beach experience. We "discovered" TB via the internet...and perhaps that is one key---advertising? This place really is a "hidden gem"...if that fact could be advertised in the right publications abroad...perhaps this hidden gem called Treasure Beach would see even more tourists?
Even then, like our state of Maine ("vacationland") this place will always be a seasonal destination for most. Concentrate on and gear up with that in mind!!
As for us...we will keep coming in the "off season" and it will continue to be a pleasure to spend our hard earned amd carefully saved money here. And like others have said we will continue to make an effort to do so with as many cookshops. Restaurants, roadside stands, grocery stores, fisherman etc.. As we can.
We leave this Sunday, thankyou people from Great Bay to Ft Charles and everyone in between for your hospitality!!
Sincerely
Wes

I very much agree with Wes. I very much agree with Axel. I see everybody's points, but what is the solution? So where is that common ground, avoiding getting cut on the two edged sword?

A BIT more development CAN'T hurt. A few more nightlife options, a few more spots to buy locally produced goods, as well as produce and not to mention things vacationers may want and need that are harder to find in our village.

MORE programs and business to attract "that certain kind of tourist (traveller)" such as the enviro. program suggested by SallyT, such as sports tourism, eco-tourism etc.

Nothing wrong with glass bottom boats (except not enough calm days in season to make them profitable perhaps). Maybe something wrong when you add jet-skis!

When people do internet searches for Jamaica, you know what they see and it is NOT Treasure Beach at the forefront. How can we change this? Maybe all of us who can need to make a concerted effort to make links with travel agents and learn the new marketing tools that are drawing the right tourists in such as social media, etc.

It no easy, but it can happen. We have too beautiful and peaceful a place with too much to offer for rooms to be going unfilled and residents to be going on unemployed.

TB does not have to change. It just to do a better job of promoting what it already has "peace and tranquility" along with safety and a genuine Jamaican experience. That is what people return for.
It is tuff to compete with the well know mass "all-inclusive hotels tourism campaign of MoBay, Ochi, and Negril.
TB is a "niche market" and needs better promoting.
ONE LOVE !!
Mike

Let's start with the Jamaican Tourist Board. Go to their website, and there isn't even any listing for Treasure Beach; instead, there is this place called "South Coast." Under South Coast, there are 10 pictures, one entitled "Treasure Beach." Click on the "accommodations" link for the South Coast and there are links to all of two places to stay, both in Black River. This is indicative of what the country of Jamaica does to publicize Treasure Beach and its unique charms. "Sad" doesn't even begin to describe it.

There are several other organizations that want membership from Treasure Beach accommodations and attractions owners. After nearly 30 years of being in Treasure Beach, I remain confused about what each of these organizations does--and why there is a need for so many of them.

Meanwhile, there are numerous hotels, villas, guesthouses, and other places--each trying the best they can--but on their own--to attract visitors. It seems clear that all (or most) of us, working together, could achieve something of substance. There is strength in numbers.

http://www.jamaicamyway.com/uncategorized/jamaica-tourism-minister/

Probably forgot the link...

Karen, you make so many excellent points. You would be interested in this, everyone from a JA Blogger/turn travel agent- she points out some flaws (and asks for a job to fix them with the JTB).

I think Karen has hit a point. Maybe we the people who have interests here should be banding together to make a concerted marketing group of our own.

Maybe something informal with open discussions on line such as this, until it can manifest into a Treasure Beach Tourism Cooperative with advertising plan and budget???

Don't know but perhaps the intake from T/Beach is so
small it does not justify much exposure ?? locals might just have to pool resources and market the area.

Gosh, there is so much than can be done! someone ask what would I like to see? maybe a nice cafe, some entertainment for those who has no desire for the dance hall music clubs. People would ask is there any entertainment for the children?. What I am saying, lets start by writing to the Jamaica Tourist Board.What can we advertise for people to come to Treasure Beach to do?. After 9:pm not a store to buy something. We just need to wake up the place. If people find things to do in Treasure Beach then they will want to stay overnight at least, Villas will be rented. Let's put out ideas together and get the people employed, they are suffering.

Maybe form a cooperative and get in contact with Interval International since the Jamaican tourist Board is not much help, go figure.

I am never one to back away from a challenge.

I see the greatest opportunity in a good number of people from Treasure Beach banding together to promote the community and all it has to offer, rather than waiting for the JTB to do it--which I feel may only lead to frustration.

Rather than develop new activities and things for people to do, I would suggest we first promote what we have--which is very wonderful. Then, if people are able to make sufficient money from increased tourism, they might have the incentive to spend some of it on new attractions.

Promoting tourism needs to be done on a businesslike basis. People from all parts of the community including accommodations owners, attractions owners, restaurants, transport providers, shops, fishermen, farmers, and more all need to be involved. We need to make a plan, each contribute what we can, and then do our best to encourage visitors to come to Treasure Beach, have the best possible experience when they are there, make them want to return over and over, and encourage them to tell their friends and relatives about Treasure Beach.

We need to stop competing with one another and instead work together because we all have something special to offer.

Off the beaten track is TB's magic key. Treasure Beach is a niche market with its own niche stake holders. Promote it for what it is a quiet Treasure. Many people do want to hide away in a luxury villa which TB now has in abundance. Erstwhile many people like myself enjoy the 'back pack,' on the cheap and mingle with the local community living life as the locals do which again TB now has in abundance. No-one comes to TB for the Negril all inclusive ideology.
Perhaps abundance is the key. Perhaps the occupancy rates for each property are lower now as there are many more properties than ever competing for the same tourism dollar. I sense that in the last decade the number of villas competing for $$$$$$$ has doubled. And don't forget many countries are in double dip and triple dip recessions still and flights from Europe are astronomical. TO travel to JA with my 5 year old daughter from the UK will cost almost £2000 to £3000 depending on time of year, before any accommodation rates.
Yes the government led tourism efforts are poorly managed for the south coast but let's not forget this very vehicle.
This web site is the best promotion for Treasure Beach and some of us found our heaven by searching for 'off the beaten track Jamaica,' and arrived at Treasure Beach.net. Give a big up to Rebecca and Eric for the best promotional vehicle for our beautiful treasure. Without their foresight none of us would have this forum to promote our products and services. Big up TreasureBeach.net and the beautiful Rebecca and computer wizard Eric. One Love.

Good day everyone. This is my first time seeing this website and I found it because I received an email from Karen this morning (I assume) regarding my letter to the ministers of tourism at the link provided a few posts above.

The part in the letter where I'm "asking for a job" was sort of a joke. I just included that segment because you can't really send a complaint letter but not offer a solution. #1. I highly doubt my letter will ever be addressed. And #2. If they do attempt to make any change they will do it quietly without involving the Canadian complainer. They would probably be embarrassed that a foreigner could do the job better than what they're doing.

Anyway, I've been blogging about and promoting Jamaica for 5 years now, and traveling there for almost 11 yrs. I'm a little past the point of just writing now and have gone rogue lol. If I do anything else it will be overthrowing the JTB and creating my own tourism site that is COMPLETE!!! If I had a team of 10 more of ME and had sponsorship and financial backing from somewhere, it could be accomplished.

I'm not sure why it's in my heart so much to try and help an island that won't help itself.

Thanks Mrs Kennedy, Kristi, Kazie, Distraction and all.

Lest we forget, we have:

1 Cycles and cycling tours.

2 Beaches and sea and river tours.

3 Accomodations for most pockets.

4 Safety and security.

5 WiFi.

6 Walk anywhere anytime, except during bird shooting season.

7 Jakes.

8 Jack Sprat.

9 Sports Park.

10 Mostly quite.

11 Local artists.

12 Local Crafts People.

13 The cook shops and small restaurants.

14 Always baby sitters and caregivers available.

15. Black River and Mandeville Hospitals and our local doctors in reasonable distances.

16 An ideal home base for those doing island travelling.

What else?

And united we stand for sure.

We've heard Treasure Beach described by government officials as the "tourism mecca of the South Coast"; we've had, among others, an influential board member of the Jamaica Tourist Board, "social entrepreneur/sustainable development advocate/leisure tycoon", Jason Henzell of Jakes, representing TB interests in the meeting rooms of power...YET, when the Jamaica Tourist Board sends out their slick newsletters meant to entice travel agents in key foreign markets, there seems to be a homogeneity of pristine luxe that could be slipped into the pile of brochures with Bermuda, the Bahamas, Aruba, and some other unmentioned upscale Caribbean islands.

In an era of increased on-line travel bookings, we might question the influence of travel agents, the prominence & deference afforded them in their "tastes", but do their associations not still hold sway with all tourist boards competing for a shrinking piece of the pie?

You could easily add to turey's list, enchanting businesses, like Ann Lyon's cafe/reading-writing salon at Calabash Bay, and an ice cream parlour, on the main in Frenchman's, serving homemade fresh deliciousness, which came and went due to financial pressures, and others which would have spread the quaint far and wide.

Jamaica Tourist Board Newsletter Geared To UK Travel Agent:
www.jtbonline.org/resources/Newsletters/Island%20Vibes%20Newsletter%20June%20201 3.pdf

Back Roads Travel: One Small Family's Road Trip 'Bout J'ca
www.sfgate.com/magazine/article/BACKROADS-TRAVEL-Road-Trip-Jamaica-Looping-26094 82.php#page-3

TB is a community of good, good people. Not just nice people, tho that, too. Good people!!

We've been coming to TB for nearly ten years now, starting with one week, now up to five, and hoping to set up more. Many tourist destinations are seasonal, and with some planning for the "off season," such as Calabash Festival, a visitor presence can be stretched out. I had gone to Negril for many years, and it was "all the things to do" that drove me out. I thought TB was great from the first day. By the way, it was Treasure Tours that booked me that first trip and we've been friends ever since.

In the Jamaican Tourist Board newsletter that's sent out, the only accommodation mentioned is Jakes--no other Treasure Beach hotels. The vast majority of travel agents do not understand the villa experience, much less guest houses. There are a few people who know what Treasure Beach has to offer and can book people into accommodations where they are apt to be happy, but these are NOT the people to whom the JTB is talking. Instead, to talk to someone truly knowledgeable about Treasure Beach, someone needs to get in touch with people like Rebecca of Treasure Tours and Nicole of Jamaica Escapes.

I contend that Treasure Beach has LOTS to offer, but we must publicize it and advertise it on our own (in a group) and not wait for the JTB to do it for us. This will take an investment of time and money, and it will not show results overnight. To make this work for all of us, there must be cooperation, a professional plan, ongoing funding, and patience.

I was listening to Power 106 today, the talk show host said" Jamaica is run by bribery and corruption!. If the people at the top does not care about Jamaica what should the little people do. Jamaica is at a stand still so it looks like our little village is on the back burner.Unless the people of Treasure Beach build up their own community we are SOL.

As with the roads, so it goes with promotion of the village for tourism.

What is the "customer satisfaction rate" in percent of first timers to Mobay or Ochi?

Betcha it doesn't come close to that in Treasure Beach.

When there is a pothole, quicker we band together to fix it than wait on he who collects taxes to do so, ditto to promoting ourselves as a destination...