That is the title of the following article printed in the Observer on May 4. This past season definitely saw a decline in visitors, both to the entire island and to Treasure Beach.

Many of us in the industry have had conversations and theories on why this is. We would like to hear your comments.

Why do you think tourism is down and what should we do to bring the numbers back up?

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20070504t000000-0500_122559_obs_dark_cl ouds_over_tourism.asp

Rebecca,
I believe it has to do with the new law on everyone to have a passport to travel to and from the caribbean, a lot of familys dont have that kind of money to spend.

SIMPLE,CORRUPTION,CRIME AND (BAD ROADS) WHICH IS ALSO A CRIME.

I speak only as an outsider, but the only topic that ever comes up is safety. Tourists are always concerned about safety.

News agencies tend to print negative publicity and people latch on to the stories of big city murders in every country.

The illicit gun trade from Haiti is of increasing concern for Jamaica and the Jamaican government needs to get more involved. I realize this may be easier said than done but in the United States, everyone can see for themselves what poor leadership does to a country's reputation.

The number one cause however may simply be the airline costs have increased as a percentage of vacationers' expenses.

Maybe a package deal can be made with some of the air providers to encourage travel to the island.

The prices for Resorts in Treasure Beach are way too expensive. The crime rate is sout of control. Reading the Jamaica Gleaner every morning gives you no encouragement.all inclusive to Cuba an all place else is very affordable.

Repair and maintain the roads. Increase police presence to prevent hodlums from any mischiefs and it always help if the hoteliers and flight cost less.
Most countries in the world have lobbysts promote some of the sectors of their trades and economy to some of the goverment entities to secure more favourable business and tax breaks. Israel in USA for example.
Tourism is down due to real estate burst in USA, when real estate is down all ancillaries businesses folows, including jobs, vacation and tourism.
Insurances and taxes are way up and less discretionary spending, most in USA, where most of the tourists comes from.Foreclosure is on the upswing.
Roof over ones head and food comes first before pleasure of vacation. If the hotelier make it affordable, vacationer and tourists may stretch the dollars,euros, peso, duetchmarks, sterling etc.and for all the Americas to come to Jamaica. Imagine the cost of flight between the National Airline and Spirit Airline, We now know who seems to be winning. We want to be Nationalistic but not with our pocket but our feet.
One more thing encourage Jamaican to take vacation on the Island rather than going to Canada, Europe and USA. Disney does this in Florida. They encourage Floridian to visit the resort and the attractions for less in their own backyard.

I have a question for those involved with tourism in Treasure Beach (and all of Jamaica, for that matter)

How was this year compared to last year (which was a very good year, right?)

How was this year compared to 5 years ago?

And in general, over a long time period have things gotten better or worse?

I'm sorry to hear that tourism is down island-wide and in TB specifically. In my small way, I've had no choice but to contribute to that decline. Work obligations meant giving up my plans in October, and now I've had to push back my May plans to the summer.

Although both of my trip reschedulings have been caused by my job, it is true that plane fares have gone up. The tickets I'm looking at for summer cost almost $200 more than the tickets I bought last spring. That really cuts into my budget. Add to that the $150 carfare (one way) quoted by one guesthouse owner, and my travel bill is up almost $300. That's a LOT of money for me, nearly a week at the guesthouse I've reserved, so my vacation is now going to be shorter than I'd originally planned.

I'm still planning to come to TB, and I have no plans to stop coming. The roads won't keep me away, I've never had a problem with safety (and I am a woman traveling alone), and I've never been anyplace else in the world where I've felt so comfortable and at home, so of course I'll keep coming to TB. The warmth of the people and the strong welcome I've felt each time I've been in TB ensures that I'll be a visitor for the rest of my life. I'm just sorry that I won't get to spend as much time there as I'd like.

I know here in the US that most people view Jamaica as dangerous, crime wise, compared to other Caribbean spots. Anyone from the US that goes on a cruise and stops in Jamaica comes back and talks about the aggressive higglers....not a great impression.

Have we been encouraging locals to stay?

I was born and raised in Kingston and stayed

with family in TB in the 1960's.

I witnessed the changes in Ochie, Mobay

and Negril.

During the 90's I would take every opportunity

to stay in TB with my wife and children.

Having lived in the centre of town, we had

experienced some of the intensities that

occured there from the 70's. Low stress,

low crime and healthy lifestyle kept bringing

us back to TB.

With a little encouragement I think many locals

would come and find no problem with costs.

I know there are the handfull who have found

the secret through Calabash Festival and

friends. I'm sure there are many more that

would enjoy the 'Treasure Treat'.

Best to all, turey the dryland tourist.

Could part of the problem be over-development? The last piece of the article reads: "Meanwhile, Peterkin said Jamaica will need 150,000 to 160,000 more visitors than last year, given the number of new rooms that have been built."

This leads me to wonder if there's been a drop in tourism or an increase in the number of available rooms ... and now that those rooms are sitting empty the hoteliers are freaking out a bit. I'm curious to know if there's been a fall-off in visitors to TB or if this is a problem seen more by Butch and his AI friends--folks who expanded because they anticipated an increase in tourism that didn't pan out. I know that nearly every place I contacted in Negril for my pre-TB stay was already booked solid.

So I'll be curious to read the answers to Eric's questions, to hear what the situation is like for the guesthouse and villa owners in TB.

S.

We are planning our first trip to Treasure Beach at the end of June of this year. This is our third trip to the island.
We are taking to couples with us for their first trip to JA. We have had to calm their families fears of violence and danger in coming to JA. While I know that money and rising cost of travel do account for some not wanting to travel, I do think it is this mis-conception of danger that keeps people away. Good luck and look forward to being in TB soon.

With the exception of the DR and the "Mexican Riviera"(Cancun to Playa del Carmen), tourism to Caribbean (and Florida) in general is down over
the past banner two years. But tourism itself is changing into a predominantly last-minute booking and more interest in luxury accomodations, especially since Jamaica hasn't been an inexpensive destination in at least a decade.
Some of the forces at work are beyond tourism's
control:
A need for passports, a tighter US economy, higher gas prices for commuters and higher flight prices.
The rise of megaresorts fueled by the current JA government need for cash and rapacious Spanish developers promised 'luxury' but delivered
little on the promise in Jamaica. Currently, the old 'Come back to Jamaica' thememusic with newly-edited footage has appeared in targeted US markets this late Spring -- too late for the prime winter season which Jamaica squandered millions of promotional monies on in pursuit of the World Cup Cricket matches which produced little revenues and much confusion, let alone unneeded construction.
Jamaican tourism is viewed by the government mainly as how well the megaresorts like Sandals and RIU and the Grand Bahie whatevers are doing
-- a much misquided strategy. But then the Jamaica Tourist Board is not exactly brain-sharp.
Off-the-beaten track destinations like Treasure Beach and Port Antonio will continue to attract
visitors despite the usual JTB too little too late efforts. The usual media-hyped crime reports and the lack of essential infrastructure (e.g.,
roads in TB) aren't major contributing factors to holidaymakers overseas.

as mentioned many times before.... the roads really turn people off...

but in the first place it is the crime...whoever speaks to me about Jamaica, one of their first questions is.... "Jamaica.... oh my god, do you feel safe there..." this is one topic that one can hear over and over again... at least here, in Europe...

Jamaica needs a new image, new pictures that go to peoples brains, pictures apart from the usual cliché....

Like a few others, for me, a few things come to mind:
In Canada, I hear 6 months of the same benign "Come to Jamaica and Feel Alright" (Marley One Love tune in background) commercial. I don;t even have to look at the television to know the commercial... it hasn't changed for decades. People don't pay attention to it anymore because that "feel good", enticing commercial has been overshadowed by news articles about the ever-lenghtening hurricane seasons, the heightening criminal element in all parts of Jamaica (it's not just Kingston anymore folks), potential malaria infected areas, high air transportation costs, expensive accomodations, poor transportation infrastructure, unreasonable healthcare costs (should you need it when you visit) and if you do... the fact that it is not suitable for someone coming from a first world nation. And, the ever concerning passport costs, and document costs if travelling with a child alone to the country. And on and on. Jamaica has done very little to make someone new want to try Jamaica. Why go somewhere that media calls dicey at best with so many internal problems when you can spend the same amount somewhere else that has a good, solid reputation.

For example, from a foreign perspective, I am afraid that I feel Jamaica has become outdated to many. You can spend the same amount of money and be in the lap of luxury in Cuba, Barbados, ST. Lucia, etc. and have access to stellar healthcare in every town, police actually make tourists feel safe, low crime rates, cheaper accomodations and flights, public transportation that is inexpensive and roads that are maintained well etc. Many of the other Caribbean nations boast the same updated values to encourage tourism these days.

Don't get me wrong, as a person who has family in and has spent many years in Jamaica, I can live with Jamaica the way it is. I know Jamaica from end to end and how to be safe and healthy there.

But with so many other affordable and accessible options in the world for people to travel to, unless Jamaica updates a lot of their media perception and internal strife and puts some serious plans in place to make people feel safe and feel like they are spending their hard earned $$$'s well, I see more of a decline in the future.

It's good that they are "looking" at the problem. It will be intersting what "they" do about the concerns raised.

One of the reason for the slow season could be due to the unsual winter season that we had, it was very warm far up into the season in a lot of places that is normaly cold.

Rebecca, Just an FYI tourism is down here in the united states too e.g. I'm living here in Florida and as I was watching the news the other day they mentioned that this has been an extremely slow tourist season, One of the slowest in a while and they think it has alot to do with the rising fuel cost, and cost of living with no increase in salaries, Theirfore people are not able to vacation as much as they use to, Think about it guys these are some of the same people who would probably have been visiting Jamaica.

I have a friend in Grenada who is a major tour operator and he said it was slow there also.
I think the passport thing has some to do with it but the HIGH gas prices here at home and everywhere I think also cause havoc for tourism. I agree that the transfer price from the airport to TB is costly but with the gas prices I don't see how that can be helped.
I have heard "pros and cons" from people who have never even been to Jamaica. They either say they would never go there nor have any desire or they torn between wanting to go and being pulled into the media hype of crime etc. or if some person has told them what a rotten time they had. In TB it's not so much a problem but I know in Negril and Mo'Bay hustling can get aggressive and old. Some people just can't accept it as a way of life at times and I agree that even though I understand it to a degree it does get old. Usually a simple no thanks takes care of it but say that 100 times when you are trying to just relax on the beach and it does get old.
For some reason Jamaica has gotten a bad reputation somewhere along the line and word of mouth is powerful. It only takes one bad experience from someone to fuel the fire.
I think the tourism board (or someone) is doing some thing right. I was afraid I had landed in the wrong airport on my last trip. The people there were so friendly and helpful. Usually for the most part they were in the past obviously not liking their job much.
To get good airfares or hotel rates anymore takes time and research. You have to stay on top of it and alot of people don't have the time for that. I know there are travel agents still out there but hard to find anymore and I think alot of people do their own online.
The roads would never stop me from visiting someplace but they do stop me from renting a car to drive myself.

The trend from the website below suggests through 2006 that foreign nationals visiting Jamaica are on the increase. A couple caveats: I'm uncertain of the origin of this data and obviously the 2007 data is incomplete. http://www.investjamaica.com/sectors/tourism/stats.php
TAB

It would appear that a number of tourist destinations in our region has experienced decline in arrivals for the first quater. One could possible attribute this to a number of factors.Definately, the recent instituted requirement for tourist to have visa would have created a ripple as some people sort out their documentation.Then, the crime situation is another negetative factor that is scaring away people from coming to enjoy themelves here.Likewise , the bad roads also cast a dark shadow in the minds of some travel agencies when they are selling a destination. In addition, I have heard a number of visitors complain about the behaviour of the higgliers in Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. In the same breadth, some of the prices of goods and services appear to be killing.

I give credit to all those in the tourist sector who are working toward a meaningful tourist product. However, I think many people in the industry need training to understand how it really works. The whole country needs to be more sensetive to tourism and its implication to our future.

I strongly feel that tourism should be included in the school curriculum to ensure that from a young age children are aware that tourism is an integral part of our lives and we should keep it healthy.

Steps will have to be take soon to arrest the problems before they destroy an industry that has the potential to set Jamaica flying high.

A lot of people in the US are struggling $$$$ now. Gas is at an all time. I know people who would love to come to TB but just can not manage it.

My airfares have probably tripled in the last 4-5 years while my discretionary spending cash has decreased. I think I'd still be going to Negril if it wasn't for the coke and the aggressive higglers. I enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of Treasure Beach. It has been enough to make up for beach conditions which are relatively poor compared to other areas in Jamaica. The people in TB truly are some of the nicest in all of Jamaica but I have been asked for money (straight out begging) and if I wanted any nose candy. I realise that the world has changed in the 20 plus years I've been going to Jamaica, but my dollar buys much more in Mexico and if airfares are again in the treetops I too may not return next year. I feel very safe in Treasure Beach. I'd love to come back. I hope I will. I'm really not sure though.

Jamaica has done something to anger the Midwestern charters. Neither Apple nor FunJet had any good deals plus they changed fly-out dates from Saturday and Sundays to mid-week which causes us vacation poor Americans to use more precious vacation time. They stopped the charters from Milwaukee quite early this year and Chicago, which had basically daily charters year round has none this summer. St. Louis is the only departure city left and I just read that they too will discontinue charter flights on July 7th. I believe that Minneapolis had much the same story. Sangster is the poorest excuse for a vacation destination I have ever come across. Slow, slow, slow and they have a larger staff per tourist than any place I've seen. It starts with "The walk" to customs, next the surly clerks who take their good natured time checking you in, and the slow baggage wait and then another surly declarations clerk. Within 20 minutes of landing in Puerto Vallarta, you and your bags are outside ready for a ride to your destination. Departure is another train wreck. Expedite departures. Bring back an outdoor area to wait with food and drink available. Pay everybody on a piecework basis so the clerks that get you quickly to your next stop are rewarded for doing a good job.

Jamaica needs to wake up.

The cost of US passports for a family of four is pretty steep. The wait can be up to 10 weeks. The other choice is to expedite the passports at another large fee. That process still takes a month.

My hubby travels for his job. I need a signed and notorized form or have him present to get my children passports.

We have been twice to the post office to get the passports. The first visit we missed the 4 PM cutoff time for accepting passports. The second time they would not accept our photos - claiming we needed more shoulders in the photo - not so close up. These were professionally taken photos.

I hear stories such as mine all the time. I think the Passport requirements put a big damper on families travelling to Jamaica, Mexico, Etc.

My personal contribution to the tourism industry in Jamaica this year - or lack thereof, is just due to lack of bread.

I tend to agree with the person in an earlier post who said something that implied that perhaps tourism isn't down, but there are just more rooms to fill.

I also agree that there is very little advertising here in the states, with the exception of the aforementioned relic commercials featuring Bob Marley's music. Ingrained in my head from childhood are the words to one particular commercial, "Come back to Jamaica. Whats old is whats new. We want you to join us. We're waiting for you. (swaying in my seat)I don't see ads for Hawaii, but I'm certain that people still go there, and ya gotta mortgage your house to do it.

What ads are predominant in other countries?

Go into almost any travel agency and you'll find any information that you need about Negril, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Kingston but nowhere else. I got airline tickets from a travel agent who had never heard of Treasure Beach, Black River, or pretty much anything on the south coast. They only know Whitehouse because of Sandals - now.

The passport issue. (ugh) I worried about that from day one. Not just for Jamaica, but up here in New Hampshire. I'm curious as to how many Canadians are going to visit us on the seacoast when the requirements will include land passage. (I think in 08)

The decline, in my opinion, is probably due to just too many things going on at once. Passport requirements, rising gas prices, little positive advertising to squash any negative publicity - such as widely, and wildly publicized Natalie Holloway in Aruba, and cruise ships on fire in Montego Bay. Is there a general Caribbean Tourist Board?

I don't think there is one set reason why the tourism has declined this year, many things have contirubuted to this, ie (air costs, crime, roads, costs of lodges, etc....)

For me it is the price of everything going way up and income staying the same. Makes it hard to afford a trip to TB.

Tourism has a major set-back in the 70/s but rebound in the 80\s continued through-out the 90/s ,then the crime rate increase ,even though we were having a steady flow of Tourist the image has change ,we seeing were less families and honey-mooners ,but increase in Europeon tourist.
Other Caribbean countries has follow what we started and they/re doing well.
Miss-management ,crime ,road ,and higglers harassing tourist is our down fall
We need people with brain and imagination to run Jamaica and the tourist industries so that we can still be the number ONE tourist destination of the world ,we still have our natural beauty ,and even though poeple has lost some of there love and charm due to economic crisis ,with the right mangement we can turn thing around

I think the customer officers and the airport workers really turn of a lot of people.

two word for the dark clouds over tourism crimes very expensive

The Jamaican government, JTB and its tourism officials and embroiled minister, lost the plot, or at least the very powerful strategy employed by former PM P.J. One (1) widely-broadcoast hour trip on the syndicated US travel channel a few years ago with PJ on a military helicopter did more for positive PR than most efforts have in decades. The print advertising campaign in upscale magazines on now is EXEMPLARY. But, with current government, the monies critical for both
'free PR' and more widely-reaching and memorable
NEW tv that co-ordinates with the wonderful full page print series everyone on this forum seems to love, have gone 'elsewhere', shall we say.
Aruba, Barbados and Puerto Rico are the 3 top
broadcast/tv-radio-print-online/direct mail advertisers in the US Eastern market this past year. Even Butch promotes his ANTIGUA Sandals to this market, not his Jamaican operations. The message as well as the messengers have gotten
old and stale, especially when the market CRAVES reassurance and everything NEW. As once many remarked before, however, Jamaica has a history of not paying its ad bills, so few media nor agencies on the horizon who could add the BUZZ
the print ads have started and counteract the usual bad press media love today with good.
Look at the wonderful series ROVING WITH LALA
The Gleaner does and its readers love. Now
there's the Jamaica we all crave and love, too.
Beyond the ordinary.

Some thoughts.

Welcoming guests is a pleasure and a treat for

most of us and has been from old times.

The phrase 'Tourist Industry' is indicative

of our approach. Makes me think of factories

belching smoke and watching the bottom line

with anxious concern.

The intimacy of home hospitality is lost in

mass tourism.

As the public sector is currently devoted to

tourist factories, I encourage the home owners

willing and able to welcome guests to create

the necessary network and encourage communities

to pay attention to the 'beyond the ordinary'

(thanks one view) things that we have either

taken for granted or are in the process of

destroying.

I hope the Tourist Board and the various bodies

involved in tourism start to trust thousands of

rooms across the island that could provide

the Jamaican experiences that are touted in

the mass media.

Who better than those living in the communities

to take care of security and environmental

concerns!

The statisticians and revenue collectors may

dislike this uncentralised possibility.

Revenue will be collected, the goodwill and

educational value for both visitor and host

may challenge economists.

Then, I'm a dreamer and idealist!

I forget that we are such a bunch of ginnals

with some bad habits that any encouraging of

letting foreigners loose in Jamdown is a risk.

I cannot think of any other risk worth taking.

Unless we are not to be trusted!?

turey, still dreaming.

Some thoughts and ideas:

Jamaica needs an excellent ongoing advertising program and an excellent ongoing public relations program. The ad program needs to attract both new and returning visitors, while the PR campaign needs to emphasize the positives and downplay the negatives. For instance, Jamaica (not Treasure Beach) has a continuing reputation for crime. This makes possible "new to Jamaica" tourists apprehensive, including those who have never before come to Treasure Beach. However, some (though certainly not all) other Caribbean islands also have widespread crime, but their ongoing PR efforts have minimized those to the point where most tourists do not even realize it exists. The Jamaica Tourist Board is, in a word, ineffectual.

Jamaica itself needs to be much more attentive about how tourists are treated. For example, cruise ship visitors get hassled unmercifully. In their short time on Jamaica, their picture of Jamaica and Jamaicans is not one of relaxation or fun or respect. They feel as if they come back they will be subject to the same type of non-stop annoyance. Yes, this is untrue in Treasure Beach; but, yes it is true in many other Jamaican tourist areas. Tourists’ cars are often stopped and subject to annoying and intimidating drug searches. Since the World Cup, arrivals at Sangster have been processed much more quickly and with much less hassles; however, leaving Sangster is disorganized and annoying and leaves a bad taste in the mouths of departing tourists.

There are serious infrastructure problems in Jamaica. This not only refers to crime, but it includes medical care. The road and driving problems are widely known; Jamaica is the only Caribbean island on which a U.S. visitor needs to purchase extra insurance when renting a vehicle because of the high rate of accidents and the exorbitant costs of vehicle repairs.

Contrary to what people might believe, bookings to the Caribbean are up. Travelocity reports a 22% increase for 2007 over 2006, with the best deals in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, and Guadeloupe. But bookings to Jamaica are down. One might argue it is because the “deals” are not as good as to the other islands; or one might argue that the crime and hassle factors play a large part. It would be difficult to throw up the passport necessity “smokescreen,” because one needs a passport to enter those other islands. Also, assuming one is coming from the U.S., those other islands are farther away than Jamaica, and the air fares to them are normally higher. Jamaica has plenty of widely-advertised “deals” such as the dramatically cut rates to all-inclusives such as Sandals; these don’t seem to be attracting sufficient visitors even to those places. I have seen similar cut-rate deals to many places in Treasure Beach; again, these seem insufficient to overcome the problems. One can only cut prices so much before it almost doesn’t pay to rent. Cutting prices also cheapens a product. Products with appeal such as Apple computers do not sell on price; they sell on quality. Selling based on low price is a self-defeating strategy.

Come to Jamaica and feel alright!!!!! The people there are not feelinng alright, they are scared(crime) and struggling; unable to portray that oldtime infectious good feelings.
New leadership with vision is needed, get away from the short term solutions...how can the TOURIST BOARD not know when, and to what extent they need to advertise Jamaica's strongest product....throw them out and let someone else try. MAY GOD HELP YOU ALL. MC

Interesting thoughts and facts from Ad Guy. We used to live on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It had a hideous crime problem, complete with multiple home invasions. Residents were armed, often at the beach. Virtually every home had burgler bars. People (nice people) had trained attack dogs. The police force, by and large, was a joke; in fact, they were being "helped" by the Washington. D.C. police force (when D.C. was being governed by the infamous Mayor Marion Barry.) A Delta pilot was even killed on a stopover. The entire atmosphere was scary. Meanwhile, the license plates said, "American Paradise." What a joke! Needless to say, we moved back to the United States. The unbelievable thing (to me) was that people outside St. Croix were unaware of the crime problem. The reason: Excellent PR.

Does this mean that crime in Jamaica isn't a problem? Of course not. But, it is almost totally confined to locals and usually does not touch tourists, most especially in areas like Treasure Beach. In 15+ years, we have yet to have one of our guests robbed, much less hurt. Where is the PR for Jamaica that tells the crime story as it applies to tourism?

Wake up, Jamaica!! The JTB is a substandard organization. I'm not saying they don't try, but their efforts seem haphazard and disorganized. (This has nothing to do with attracting tourists, but here is an example of the JTB's lack of planning: We try to give Jamaican road maps to each of our guests, whether or not they choose to drive; we used to buy them from the JTB, but they've been out of them for about the last two years.)

All I ever have said to me when people discover I always go to Jamaica is 'oh do you feel safe?'.Jamaica has a terrible reputation for violence in the UK and no matter how many times I say that I feel safer in Treasure Beach than I have done anywhere in the world...it doesn't convince anyone. The costs to travel anywhere by car are very expensive too (as well as high plane fares) I understand the high costs to repair cars (due to the horrendous roads) but never can fathom the complaints about fuel prices when we pay almost the highest petrol prices anywhere!(I know its all pro rata to wages)
We love Treasure Beach and all its wonderful people (and my husband is Jamaican born) so we will never stop coming. I can promise you I sing the praises of Jamaica and all it has to offer but some people are not for turning and look for the safer island in the Caribbean (in their eyes only!) I cannot really suggest anything more than has already been said,I just wanted to add my 2 pennies worth from England!

Well I'm still upset that Air Jamaica quit flying out of Boston!!!

just left saturday, great as usual, was very quiet and everyone I spoke with echoed that sentiment,
the problem as i see it...way too much dependence on tourism.

I see all of these beautiful kids going to school, but no jobs, that will help the crime issue. Jamaica better stop being the whipping post for multi-nationals (riu, sandals etc.)and develop other industries, highlight the local guesthouses more, some are indeed beautiful.

treat the local farmers right, i saw this film "life and debt" national scandal.
and expand attractions, every one as seen Dunn river, YS falls, nine mile etc.

when i was there last week, Gut River was a mess. damm shame.

I think Bob Marley was a true prophet and musical genius, but JA must expand, enough bob trinkets, some of the crafts need updating, I rarely buy any more as the imagination is gone,

just my own opinion., I have been comming since 1995. and will continue. Jamaica does not need the hordes like mexico has.

finally, Americans in particular need to expand there minds, to each is own, but enough of this all-inclusive stuff. free you mind and your behind will follow.

St. Elizabeth forever.

I do agree with Carolie.Everyone should read her message and give her an A.

Rebecca, is there any chance you'll have that Observer reporter see everything that's been written here?

I am still upset that I am stuck in England.
sweet sweet Jamaica I am missing you.

See you soon.

Air Jamaica must be hurting for cash and for reservations. They are pushing a big package of advance tickets for $2,500 US (Buy Now, Fly Later). They also are running $60 and $99 round trip specials from the US; though there is a very limited time period for these flights, Treasure Beach lovers should go to the AJ website to see if they can take advantage of the cheapie tickets.

Every time I go to Jamaica I hear the same thing from people, "aren't you afraid of the crime" & "I heard" etc. etc. I do my best to inform people that we have never felt unsafe or had any problem & how much we love JA but it doesn't do any good. People (in US) have a picture in their mind of stepping off the plane & being robbed or worse. I will keep coming to JA because I love it but sometimes all this crime talk even makes me scared. But only for a second & then I'm on line looking to book another trip! But I do think this is the problem. Not the passport thing. Needing a passport won't stop someone who really wants to come to this beautiful island.

Did you know . . . in 2006 Jamaica had the lowest crime rate against tourists in the entire Caribbean? Not sure of the numbers for 2007.

Miss Rebecca, did you know the JTB isn't smart enough to be pushing that low crime against tourists statistic? AdGuy and Karen from Rainbow Tree Villas seem to get this. I bet lots of others do too. What's wrong with the JTB?

I live in the US and I tend to get upset when I hear Jamaicans negatively taking about Jamaica and worse of all the crime down there....Yes, I do agree that we tend to get upset and angry when we hear about the crime in our homeland, that is just natural but people seem to realize that crime is all over the world. Look at all the horrible crimes that have happen here in the USA, people going into schools and killing innocent kids and teachers, ie the massacre at Virginia Tech, where have you ever heard such things happening in the carribean period. People need to stop downsizing Jamaica and take a good look at what's going on here in the USA........

I agree with Jammin! It's the image of Jamaica that I believe is hurting tourism. That image hurts the entire island, deserving or not! I've only been to TB on two trips so far so I know better. Getting thru Mo Bay is a bit scary, with everyone approaching your vehicle, trying to sell you something. But, I'll keep coming back!

Rebecca...Could you give a citation to your SOURCE that Jamaica has the lowest crime rate aginst tourists in the Caribbean. Karen & others have offered anecdotes re: Virgin Islands, St Lucea reputedly safe in the perception of island-hopping travellers, but shown otherwise.Could it be true that "full employment" Cayman and "docile Britishized" Barbados have a higher crime-on-tourist rate than Jamaica?
Do those dated overhead, john crow-view JTB videos of country buses along the shore truelly represent a visitors sense of traveling hither & non (without fear) when long term citizens of Jamaica carry deep in their psyche so many incidents of criminal mayhem that have touched so many in their families?
Would wize old TivertonHouse add his experience to this Forum?

As a Jamaican born person who visits twice a year several things struck me in March.

As far as TB is concerned there seemed to be too many people chasing to few opportuities. Firstly, there is a glut of accomodation. Secondly, there are few things for the visitor to do and there is a glut of boat tour operators. Thirdly, the local ethos is not really focussed on visitors. Pure survival is the order of the day. Fishing was the traditional business and that is shot to smithereeens. Fourthly, there are far too many local people doing nothing because there is nothing to do. Nothing to earn a living from.

Before all this lies the international and local perception of Jamaica as an over populated, crime ridden and expesive island with a creaking infrastructure.

Jamaica in the past was never like this. So what?
Blame who? The Governments since independence?

It is an awful problem that only strong, focussed and incorruptible governance can begin to make any impression - and education (the lack of), perhaps, lies at the root of the matter.

Still, I'd rather be in TB than anywhere else on the Island even though every time I visit I have to go through the hell of the roads and their users. My Jamaican friends come from TB and I love their friendship. But it is very difficult to know how to help.

Many people have voiced excellent comments here. Is there a local rep who might convey the best ideas to the Tourism Board?

Tee
How can you compare 'crime everywhere' to what is happening in Jamaica? We all know crime occurs around the world but certainly not on this scale. The below should open your eyes a little and prevent you from burying your head deeper in the sand. Check out where Jamaica stands in these statistics.

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur_percap-crime-murders-per-capita

COME ON CRIME AND VIOLENCE IS EVERYWHERE I AM LIVING IN JAMAICA I HAVE NO FAIR TRUST AND BELEIVE IN GOD I TRAVEL ANYTIME WITHOUT FAIR I LOVE JAMAICA LOOK WAT TOOK PLACE IN UNITED STATES JUST COUPLE WEEKS AGO IN VIRGINIA I AM MORE SCARED TO TRAVEL OUT OF JAMAICA GOD BLESS JAMAICA ONE LOVE

LA-DEE-DAH, I heard this statistic from the president of the Jamaica Housing and Tourist Association in a meeting I attended late last year.

Peeps, those stats are not good, no doubt. But we need to keep them in perspective. I believe the percentage of reprisal murders in Jamaica are around 85% and many others are motivated by domestic violence. I heard this stat recently on a morning talk show. Not good, and we certainly would like to lessen that number, but let's not paint a picture of random voilence when that is just not the case.

Peeps,
It seems you are one of the same people I talked about that have so much negative things to say about Jamaica...point taken.
Thanks

To all those negative Jamaicans: You are the very ones who are turning our visitors away. I am one of those Jamaicans who will defend our wonderful island, let me say one thing you don't know what you miss until you travel abroad. There is no where like home. When you surf the TV channels State by State here in the USA and see what's happening then you will second guess to what is happening in JA. One more thing, we are living in the end times, so those of you who are still without Christ in your lives, there is no better time but now to start serving Him. As I would say "no way nuh betta dan yard"

Peep's statistics are depressing, but if you choose another option besides "per capita" it is more of a glass half full scenario. =)
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur-crime-murders

I have visited Jamaica pretty regularly since 1974. I realy enjoy the people and the country. I have stayed exclusively in Treasure Beach since 1990 with forays occasionally to the tourist areas. Obviously the cost to stay in Treasure Beach has gone up substantially in 17 years. The houses on the point by Jack Sprats leased by Jakes used to be $35.00 US per night each. My son who used to play with Israel when both of them were 4 or 5 lived with his family in the home which was converted into Jack Sprats is now 17. My income has not risen at the rate of the cost of accommodations in Treasure Beach but I still enjoy going there. I do believe the rising costs could keep people away. Personally though, roads and all, my friends and I will be back in February. It is just hard to pass up a nice place to hang out when it is the dead of winter in Northern Michigan.

ALL IS NOT LOST. THE STORY BELOW IS REFLECTIVE OF JUST WHAT MANY PEOPLE OVERSEAS, INCLUDING MAJOR INVESTORS, THINK OF JAMAICA AND ITS PROSPECTS. THAT IS NOT TO TAKE THE PROBLEM OF CRIME LGHTLY, SIMPLY TO SAY THAT DESPITE SUCH PROBLEMS, THERE ARE MANY WHO STILL BELIEVE THE COUNTRY IS WORTHY OF SUPPORT.


US$2b luxury resort on track
Harmony Cove to provide more than 10,000 jobs
INGRID BROWN, Observer staff reporter
Thursday, May 17, 2007



Construction on the first phase of Harmony Cove, the US$2 billlion upscale resort city being built in Trelawny, should begin in the next 18 to 24 months, according to Tavistock Group, the American developers, who say that the fully completed project will employ more than 5,000 people.

Christopher Anand, managing director of Tavistock Group, made the announcement yesterday as he unveiled the company's plan for the multi-faceted resort city which, he projected, would be completed in full within the next decade.

"Assuming we get through in a reasonable amount of time with environmental permits, it will take 18 to 24 months to start phase one, which will be under construction for two years," Anand told an American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica Speaker's Forum luncheon at the Hilton Kingston Hotel in New Kingston.

Anand and other Tavistock principals arrived in the island on Monday for talks with Government officials, members of the Opposition and the principals of Harmonisation Limited, the vehicle created by the Government to give effect to its partnership with Tavistock.

A 2,500-room boutique hotel, a mega yacht marina, two golf courses, attractions and other amenities will be built in phase one of the luxury resort.

Government officials say 10,000 jobs will be provided during the construction phase.

Asked if they understood the environmental issues surrounding such a development and whether they would conform, Anand said yes.

"You can't build a marina and do the things we want to do unless there is extensive co-operation with environmental agencies and the various ministries that control building," he said.

He explained that when Harmonisation Ltd bought the land they already had preliminary reports compiled for the environmental agencies to ensure there were no unexpected issues.

Harmony Cove will also include vacation homes, shops, restaurants and gaming facilities that will allow for the placing of wagers on events such as horse racing.

"We will target the luxury end of the market with its different tiers," said Anand. "So for the billionaire with his mega yacht who wants to spend US$10,000 a night, we will have that. It can also mean a beautiful star vacation in the mountain or a 2,500-room hotel not only geared to tourists but to convention centre business."

Donald Buchanan, the development minister, said the Government welcomed Tavistock's investment in the island.
"The Government welcomes the interest in this particular development which will significantly expand the luxury end of the Jamaica tourist industry," he said, adding that the resort will create vast investment and economic opportunities for local businesses, as well as enhance the linkages to several other key sectors of the economy and spur job creation.
Buchanan said that while the original idea was for the development to be done exclusively as a private sector venture, Tavistock urged the Government to retain interest as a partner.

He said that given the importance of the development, feedback from the public will be of great significance.
"We will continue by ensuring that the dialogue with all interested parties and stakeholders is kept flowing, especially those in the wider Trelawny community," the development minister said.

During his address, Anand praised the investments made in Jamaica within the last five years, and said that these influenced Tavistock's decision to do business in the island.
"We are an incredibly choosy partner," he said. "We do not spread our wings too wide and we generally don't use debt because we are fortunate to be capitalised by one of the world's wealthiest men, Joe Lewis."

Anand especially lauded the investments made in improving the highways, airport, water supply and the building of the
Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium.

Air access, he said, also played a very important role in Tavistock's decision to invest as that is the number one factor to be taken into consideration when developing a luxury resort.

"If you don't have the ability for people to get there, what is the point of building something," he said.
He said that a recent survey of about 200 airports in the Caribbean to determine airlift volume, revealed that Montego Bay was second only to Puerto Rico. "This is in terms of airport access as it relates to numbers and diversity of flight," he explained.

Anand said that the master plan for the layout of Harmony Cove should be ready in another eight to 10 weeks as the original plan had some issues that needed to have been worked out.

"We really had to understand the contours of the land and how the golf course will fit into that, because golf is a major component at Harmony Cove," he said.

Tavistock is an international, privately held investment company which owns several luxury properties throughout the world, including Isleworth and Lake Nona Golf & Country clubs in Florida.

Anand also said that his firm has plans to introduce a professional golf tournament at Harmony Cove, a luxury car show, as well as collaborations with major recording companies to bring further publicity to the island.

Optimist...I am not sure that even the BEST publicity can make places like that affordable to the average Joe wanting to visit the island. It will cater to the rich and famous, not the average family or couple wanting to take an annual weekly winter getaway vacation. It may create jobs, but will the workers be paid what their worth? Or is it a major company looking to use cheaper labor and make a HUGE profit?
I can see a venture like this going both ways. Being as I lived up in the hills of Trelawny as well as Duncans before moving down to T.B., I would hate to see something like that take over the unspoiled coast there too. As it is now, Falmouth, Duncans, and all the little communities on the North coast between Mo Bay and Ochi, are relatively undeveloped by major chains and companies (much like Fort Charles is now, or like Whitehouse used to be) - for me it would be a shame to lose that likkle bit of quiet, affordable luxury and have it replaced by "the man" so-to-speak.

Optimist I have some good swamp lands for sale,the airport at FONT HILL will be completed March of 2008, and ELECTIONS will be held very soon. Let's wakeup, Live good amongst ourselves,contribute positively to our community and our YOUTHS and forget the politicians with grand announcements ; the more we rely on politicians the worse things will become in T/B.

Two sets of statistics were presented by previous posters on this same thread, Peeps and M. The source of these stats is the same site, just a different view.One chart shows Jamica ranked # 3 in per capita murders, the other 17 in total murders. These are extremely absurd figures, whichever one you look at. No other country in the Caribbean shows up in the top 50. We should stop sweeping the dust under the carpet, wake up, and demand better from our leaders.

I REALLY LIKE WAT YOU SAID.AN AWAKEN OPTIMIST.

I used to be a 'verandah politician' in so far as I would sit and complain about Jamaica and it's problems with my friends and do very little about it. Well those days are over for me. I don't plan to run for an elected post but here is what I do as a concerned Jamaican. When I see something that is wrong, I phone the relevant authorities non stop until it is solved. Here are some examples:
When I see a Police Car parked outside a rum bar and a uniformed officer is sitting at the bar having a drink. I call Internal Affairs in Kingston and report it.
When I see a JUTA bus driver throw his box lunch out the window into Fern Gully, I call the head office and report it.
When NWA doesn't clean up their mess after construction, I call and report it.
When I see a man walk and drop his garbage, I go up to him and talk to him about it.
When a man trespasses on my property, I call the police and have him arrested.
When I go to a gas station and the pump attendent is rude, I report it to the manager or owner.
When the potholes in Ochi are out of control, I call and get them to go an fix them.
This may seem like a small thing to everyone, but the minute that we get up off our behinds and do something about even the smallest injustices, we will start to see things happen. We are fascinating country and have a lot going for us but we lack the basic discipline that a successful country needs. So the next time you see something WRONG, no matter how small, get on the telephone and don't stop calling until something is done.
FYI - The policeman was suspended as was the JUTA driver. The NWA cleaned up their mess and I have got nothing but stellar service at the gast station every since. Even more remakable is the potholes were fixed...albeit temporarily.
We can no longer just sit back and say 'so it go'. The citizens of this country are the keepers of it and when we see something that is wrong, get it corrected. In time the bigger problems will follow.

A. Todd,
The interesting thing is that many of those accepting that 'a so it go' here in Jamaica, would not accept it in North America. We accept a lower standard for ourselves than for other countries.
And, in many instances, it is not that the bureaucrats or politicians in those countries are any better; they are just held to account by their citizens more.
As for corruption, you know how endemic that seems to be in Washington.
I agree with you. It is time to do some things for ourselves, even if it means making those calls and holding those in responsible positions accountable.

A.Todd and Anthony, I must agree 100%. I myself am guilty of the 'a so it go' mentality. I live in the states and trust me I am the first one to complain when I don't receive good service. However, when I go home to JA and receive the same bad service, I just seem to take it because it seems to be the norm. A.Todd, you have made me think twice :-)

All the villa owners and hoteliers in T. Beach NEED to join the JHTA (if you cannot join the JHTA because you do not have the amount of rooms, then join JAVA who are members of JHTA and you will be able to attend the meetings through this membership) - - go faithfully to the JHTA South Coast chapter meetings (held monthly) - you will then be well informed and also get info before it hits the newspapers. You will also be updated on Team JA. training, TPDCO standards, et al, crime, cruise business...fam trips, everything, really. You will also hear about incentives for your villas/hotels and hear about what is going on in Jamaica vs. the other islands. You will also be able to attend the on-going trade shows througout the year on behalf of the JHTA south coast chapter and be able to meet tour operators, travel agents and key people in tourism to help you get more business, or make your business more attractive to the tourist. There is just too much information out there to grab and glean when you are in this business!!

Everyone above have expressed very good points on why tourism is down, but I think this year it has alot to do with the new law on the passport...figures from the US are down because of the cost, especially if a fam. of four want to travel, they are looking at airfare, hotel costs and then USD $400.00 on top of that for passports.

Just my opinion anyway.

I think everyone here has hi-lighted very important issues in regards to Tourism. The two main issues that concern me are-

The effect that so called 'Crime' and it's negetive portrayl in the media and in the minds of foriengers, has on Jamaican/TB's economic sustainablity.

The Lack of Jobs amoungst the youth and their families, because of the heavy relience on tourism only, and not other business ideas and self suffiency.

These TWO key issues are a major problem for TB. Yes I think that the JTB needs a serious shake up, No I don't think that it is going to happen in the near future. So what to do in the mean time?

I really don't think that we can do anything about the horrible 'Crime' Label that Jamaica has unfortunatley aquired. (of course by not commiting it, and standing up for justice and keep coming to jamaica helps)
But we have to deal with the right now! and in the right now, the label exists and is a major factor for tourism.

So I think that we all need to try and ignore it for now and focus on the positives of what treasure beach has to offer! Focus on the NATURAL, environmental, ANTI Resort,family, couple getaway,arty, friendly guest house aspect.

Band together to create a specific LABEL as a community and on ways of attracting this market via online, etc..

Focus on and Keep attracting the voulenteer type holidays (they are huge at the moment) and Artist retreats, Target Backpackers, Gap year/ spring break enthuesists etc..

If we focus on different types of tourism seeds i really think that the tree will GROW.

Yes Jamaica has such a unique culture and this has to been circled and shown much more in the way jamaica is represented! The food, the music,the concerts, the people, dominos, rastafarians, cricket and most of all how Jamaica has developed this all as a post colonial socity and within such a short time. This is truelly unique. Yes it may all be sterotypical to most jamaicans but for tourists they need to cling on to something.

And aside from tourism, what happened to the discussion on Viable self sustainable business ideas within Treasure Beach. TB needs to generate jobs for the youth or crime and exodus will provail etc.. YOU NEED A BACK UP PLAN. Tourism is your plan A, you need a plan B!

I think that there is alot of work to do, but in the words of a Treasure Beach Jamaican, "Hard work is hard work but it can be easy work to.... In the doing, things will get better."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Kat on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 - 08:03 am:
For me it is the price of everything going way up and income staying the same. Makes it hard to afford a trip to TB.

I hear ya! My income has gone down and prices for every thing have gone up. A freind & I used to travel to TB every 3-4 months. She's also making less and paying more. I haven't been back in 9 months. She hasn't been back in 22 months.

My brother and his wife made their 1st trip to Jamaica in January. They stayed at Sandals in Ochie because they got a good deal. My brother hated Sandals (his wife didn't mind it but would not go back to Sandals and is not dying to return to Jamaica)

My brother is interested in coming to TB (from listening to me and seeing photos he thinks it would be more his style). But when you figure in air fare, ground transport, lodging and meals it looks more costly than an AI. He also would preferr to be there when we are there (my husband is from Great Bay living in FL). I keep telling him that they would be fine in TB with out us. But, many foriegners do believe that all of Jamaica is crime ridden.

A. Todd really has it nailed! GOOD FOR YOU! If everyone just sits back and complains on a forum - then nothing will change. Calling the proper authorities and making them respnsible isn't the easy way out - it is doing what you can and I plan on taking the same action. We need more of that "I AM MAD AS HELL AND I AM NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE" attitude here - then things have to start to change. As to the statistics - forget them. Everyone who lives in Jamaica knows they are manipulated to serve the purposes of the powers that be - and that includes crimes against tourists. Let's be realistic - the place is a mess and it is up to the people who live here to change it.

Tourism is down across the world. The States have two wars going on simultaneously,the economy in the States is far from being great,the dollar isn't worth what it used to be,gas is at an all time high in the States,and quite frankly money just doesn't stretch like it used to. People in the States are doing their vacationing closer to home. Crime is the reason people are giving but the real reason (that people will never admit is MONEY). Yes crime is a reason people give but crime has been a problem for quite sometime. When you go to an all inclusive hotel, they tell the people to stay on the site and dont venture off because of the crime. JA is a wonderful place to visit. Treasure Beach is a jewel and it's probably one of the few places that a person can come and get the relaxation,view of the water and not to be harrassed. It just seems that with the tourism trade going on that JA needs to find another way to get the economy going. I believe this will be a problem for awhile until the economy in the States and other countries pick up (The wars need to end to get this to happen). JA to alot of people in the states is a vacation that people take spontaneously. They just decide they have had enough of the hussle and bussle and book a flight for a different change of pace. I have to think twice about this because of the cost. The passport is a big issue. The cost of them have gone up since it's mandatory that we must have them to travel. Too much thinking boutt$meansperson will second guess the vacation and stay closer to home. I'm not staying away from JA but I have to now plan my trip more cautiously because of these items.

you and I are in concert missktluck, I have to open 1 can of worms..sorry, how much does one think the crime perception is race related? My point is Mexico has had drug wars in some of their resort areas, including cancun, Zhiwat, acaupolco, as does puerto rico, dominican republic. Brazil where I and millions go every year have warfare in the streets, and is well known, but crime against tourist in all of these lovely places is low. and in the us where i live just about every major city has gun crime issues, including crime against tourist..on ocaisson. just food for thought.

It's funny the discussion about money. In Treasure Beach you can rent an ocean front, four bedroom, villa with staff and a swimming pool for between 1000 - 2500 a week. If you have eight people in your party that works out to about 35 US/night per person. You can't stay in the seediest motel on the seediest strip in the seediest town in America for that price. I know where I'd rather spend my money.

Passport requirements are mentioned by many as cause for Tourism decline in Jamaica but keep in mind that whenever Governments like ours practice reckless,illadvised foreign policies like flirting with communist minded Hugo Chavez of Venezuela then Uncle Sam finds ways of making us pay and rethink our policies,and evidently it is working .....little food for thought.
O/T

Passports are a fact of life - period. I am Canadian and I need a passport to go to the States, I went to Africa with my daughter last November - we needed passports. I have taken her to Cuba many times - we needed passports. In life if you want to travel, you need passports. Passports are a cost you have to factor in to travel. If you are a traveller, you bear that expense. It is not very often going to be a factor of whether you take a vacation or not. To take a vacation you need documentation and a passport for the majority of the world anymore.

Would people stop going to Jamaica if they couldn't find their birth certificate? Or not take their children because they didn't want to pay for their child to have a birth certificate? Short answer: no.

I think the passport excuse can only go so far. It is a way of life for all travellers now, and for many countries in the world, it has been a fact for a long time.

US Heimat -- Homeland Security -- rather than
Chavez is the reason for the new passport requirements valid for all entry to US as well
as exit/entry to all Caribbean nations. Jamaica is not being penalized for any ties to Venezuela,
just as Joe Kennedy in US is not being pilloried
for his low-cost Venezuelan oil imports sold to
US poor.

Perception abroad of HIGH Crime Rate...lethal for tourism

Expensive...yes everyone, Jamaica has become VERY expensive, not only for tourists but for the whole of the population...lethal for tourism

Your present PNP government, ruling corruptly for the past 17 years...lethal for tourism

You may not agree with the facts, but with responsible, ETHICAL government, comes not only PROSPERITY,ENTEGRITY, but above all, SECURITY.

My dear Jamaican brothers and sisters, elections are coming soon...are you still happy with the tourist and crime stats?...you know what has to be done.

O/T, In reflection, the passed down experiences

of the enslaved, the indentured and those that

fled political or religous intolerance, have

given Jamaicans some resistance to both

'working for the yankee dallah' and swallowing

communism whole.

After the '70's I figured the only way to make

us accept communist ideology was to bring in

9 million communist military personel.

3 for each of us. 1 to watch for subversive

ideas, 1 to watch for non centralised hustling,

and 1 to watch the other 2 in case they

where becoming 'Jamaicanised'.

Some consider the continent to the north a

vast shopping center and source of amusement

for the tolerance of hypocrisy and double talk.

Enthousiasm for falling in line or be punished

seems too much like the sound of the whip.

I think the passport regulations are part of

security arrangements and are not designed to

decrease tourist arrivals.

Thanks to everyone for contributing to this

and other exchanges of ideas.

Bullets can harm, ideas can only challenge.

Forget tourism.
How about an economy of the future?
As we move towards the last resort of our internal combustion addiction, the world is looking to biofuels. Could this be the resurgence of sugarcane?
Or aluminum? As the technology for hydrogen based hybrid engines are realized, an aluminum based hydrogen producing fuel cell will bode well for the mines.
But that is long range.
Short term? Maintain the beauty and simplicity of TB. Safety concerns? They exist everywhere, but there are few places in the world that have an online community that posts biographies of the local residents, that chats about lost freinds, that is concerned about the new bridge near the woman's shelter.
Over time, folks will find this special place.
And the higglers (like the owner of Sandals) will try to capatilize on it. Nothing wrong with making a buck, we all need to eat. But IMHO TB's greatest marketing is word of mouth about the simplicity and peace, the ability to recharge in a special place that has maintained it's identity in this crazy world.
I wish you the best of luck.

If any of you who love TB so much have any conections with your local newspapers, see if you can get somene to write a story on what a wonderful place this is. Have them direct people to TB.net. If the Government or JTB isn't doing it, maybe we can?

just thinking, what if every jamaica overseas bring a friend home to see our WONDERFULL ISLAND,visiter would feel alot more comforable going with somebody who now the island.they can book there guesthouse and once they get there they will feel safe for the rest of there stay.jamaica is a beautiful island, and not as some people make it out to be.i am from tb and will bring a visiter in december. TRY ME JAMAICA. love you tb

I first stayed in TB 6 or 7 years ago. The cottage I rented has quadrupled in price.The next house has doubled.Today I got an email that the place I want to rent is going up 32% next year. Plain tickets are much higher. Much of this is due to increased cost of doing business. Unfortunately my wages don't go up at the same rate. I love TB and I'm not afraid of crime there. Vacationing outside the US just may not be affordable in the future.