Jamaica Flashcards
What is Jamaica famous for?
- Reggae music
- Beautiful scenery
- Tourism, mainly in Montego Bay
Name and describe 4 key tourist attractions and areas.
NEGRIL - Large beach resort on the West coast. Previously, only access was through ferries, now there is a better road between Montego Bay and Negril, access increased. Small airport also built. There are also coral reefs and brilliant beaches. Reefs are protected.
BOB MARLEY MUSEUM - In Kingston, his former place of residence. Has a revenue of $3.9 million pre covid.
WATERFALLS - eg Dann’s River Falls and Park. Do tours, can explore, provides jobs and revenue.
DOLPHIN COVE OCHO RIOS - Visitors can swim with dolphins, snorkel with sting rays, feed sharks. Revenue of nearly $15 million pre covid.
How has tourism economically impacted Jamaica over time?
- ‘Jamaicanisation’ policies in 1970s to encourage foreign investment. Went straight to social, healthcare and education. Estimated that investment will be even stronger over the next 10 years.
- 32% of employment in Jamaica is due to tourism.
- Tourism accounts for over 30% of Jamaica’s GDP.
- Tourism drives 15% of construction.
How has tourism socially affected Jamaica socially?
- Tourism drives development of infrastructure for tourists, also generates money to develop education and healthcare.
- Now there are 3 international airports.
- Often culture is exaggerated to please tourists; unauthentic. But also celebrates culture and educated tourists.
- Employs 175,000 directly.
- Jamaicans can learn new skills from tourists as they interact closely.
How has tourism environmentally affected Jamaica over time?
- Government aiming to reduce environmental impacts, with nearly 300 protected areas and 6 new sites for future protection. Entry fees go to conservation.
- Over 2/3 travel by air; air pollution. Others mainly use cruise ships, which discharge sewage into sea. One single trip produces about 210,000 gallons of sewage.
- Over-fishing due to tourist demand. Jamaica is the most over-fished of all English-Speaking Caribbean.
- Snorkelling in coral reefs degrades them, lost 80% of reefs between 1980-1990. However this also due to natural disasters.
How did Covid affect tourism?
GDP fell by about 10%, largest decline in country’s history.
How is Jamaica sustainable/aiming to be sustainable?
- Looking to build off-shore wind farms to generate 50% of all power.
- Green accommodation eg Mockingbird Hill Hotel; solar panels, no plastic bottles, recycled resources.
- ‘Solar content’ in 2016, 20MW, 20,000 households.
