Articles
Tourism In Jamaica
Jamaica tourism for a long time now is the number one economy in Jamaica. Jamaica tourism really started in the 1900’s, but there were a number of activities taking place before this time.
In 1890 the Jamaica Hotel Law passed which signaled the beginning of the government’s commitment to the development of Jamaica tourism. There was a Jamaica Exhibition that took place in Kingston in 1891 to showcase natural and manufactured products of Jamaica.
After the Great Exhibition, the government and private sector started new initiatives resulting in the forming of organizations including the Jamaica Tourist Board and the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association. Jamaica tourism also started marketing in major market as a pleasure and heath retreat. By which time Jamaica tourism had extended to other parishes in Jamaica and was now in Kingston, Portland, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril. There is also Mandeville and South Coast, which offers a different kind of Jamaica tourism than the other resort areas.
There is a Ministry of Tourism that was developed in 1980, which is responsible for the development of the Jamaica tourism industry. In the year 1981, Jamaica tourism became the main foreign exchange earner. Presently, Jamaica tourism is the leading industry, welcoming over three million visitors to the shores every year.
The main components of Jamaica tourism is transportation, accommodation, activities/entertainment, food and beverage, shopping, supporting services and the tourism organizations.
Transportations: The means of getting from one place to the next, to the destination or at the destination by air, ground or water. For example, airline, cruise ship, boat, tour bus, rental car and bikes.
Accommodation: A place to sleep or rest, for example, the hotel, villa, apartment, guest house, bed and breakfast or campsite.
Activities/Entertainment: Events designed for recreation, for example, festival, concerts and sporting activities
Food and Beverage: A wide variety of services and establishments offering meals and snacks and drinks (a variety of culinary experiences).
Shopping: Organizations involved in providing a variety of goods for visitors, mainly souvenirs, gift shops, in-bond shops and craft markets.
Supporting services: Supplies to the services, for example, construction, power, water, communication links, food produce, trained personnel services and insurance.
Jamaica tourism organizations: Some of these associations and agencies are-
Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), Tourism Product Development Company Ltd (TPDCO), Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Jamaica Association of Villas and Apartments (JAVA) and Jamaica Union of Travelers Association (JUTA).
In Jamaica tourism all of these components work together to produce, a positive experience with good times and “no problem”.
Jamaica tourism is all encircling; it has an effect on every Jamaican and out of every four persons, one is working in the tourist industry. The Jamaica people are the base of the tourism product.
The “Jamaica tourism product” is the experience and the memories resulting from taking part in the tourism activity which begins the moment the tourist chooses his or her vacation destination and ends, when he or she returns to their normal place of residence.