Jamaica is making a comeback to the tourist trial. Latest figures from the Jamaica Tourist Board show visitors up by over 10% June 2004 against June 2003 and over 13% in the year to date. Against 2001 the increase is 30%. What these figures do not reflect is the increase at the top of the market. Jamaica is gaining more and more popularity with the very rich as it did in the days of British rule with Noel Coward and the James Bond author Ian Fleming as residents. A different audience is attracted by the birthplace of Bob Marely and reggae music.
Christopher Columbus discovered Jamaica during his second voyage in May 1494. The island had the distinction of being his home for the longest period on any of his voyages. He spent a year on the island in 1503, in truth needing that time to repair his ravaged ships. The island was captured by the British from the Spaniards in 1655 and was to remain a crown colony until 1962 when it became an independent nation, a member of the Commonwealth and The Queen as titular head of state. Jamaica is 114 miles long and 52 miles wide with a population of 2.5m.
Today its main earnings come from the fruit trade and an expanding leisure industry. 90% of the population are of African descent. Slavery was abolished in1838. After a period that can best be described as ”difficult” Jamaica is re-establishing itself in the tourist market. It is very much in the cruise ship schedule, the capital ( Kingston seen at dusk above) on the south side of the island, second city Montego Bay facing the north-west and the fast developing resort of Ocho Rios all popular ports of call. Jamaica is a hilly island with much vegetation. Blue Mountain Peak, the highest point, rising to nearly 7,000 feet above sea level. Kingston to Montego Bay is only 120 miles but reckon on getting on for three hours. You drive on the left, the roads are not that good, and perhaps due to the weather, most people take a fairly leisurely attitude to getting about. You can also fly between the main towns using the Air Jamaica Express Dash 8-100.
Getting to Jamaica is easy. Air Jamaica goes non-stop to Heathrow and Manchester from both Kingston and Montego Bay, whilst British Airways serves Kingston from Gatwick. Flight time from London is 10 hours+. There are many alternatives via such US gateways as New York and Miami.
One thing for sure, there is plenty to do on the island if you don”t like sitting on glorious beaches and saving your time for the nightlife. Naturally with the ocean close by fishing and all forms of water sport are big attractions. In certain areas of the island there is very high annual rainfall and this has created some fast running rivers (and some spectacular waterfalls) very suitable for white water rafting, great fun providing you are with an expert. The Martha Brae, Cabarita River and the Great River all provide an excuse for an entertaining ride. You will probably get wet, but not cold. If however you choose to take a Blue Mountain tour do dress up warmly. Even in the height of summer the temperature never rises above 60 degrees Fahrenheit although it might well be above 80 on the sea shore.
The plantations of the slave years attracted the English upper class both as an investment and wintertime home. They built massive homes, some of which survive, and lived in great style. At opposite ends of the spectrum are the Rose Hall Great House (left) and Greenwood Great House, one linked to murder and the other to magic words. Rose Hall was the home of Annie Palmer, the ”white witch”, who originally came from Haiti, an island with an unsavoury reputation for witchcraft and the occult. Annie Palmer was a cruel and vindictive woman who ruled with a rod of iron. She met a violent death at the hands of husband number four, having herself reputably disposed of the first three. The house and grounds do have a spooky feel about them having been restored by an American philanthropist but do give a true representation of how the very rich lived in Jamaica 150 years ago. Greenwood Great House was another plantation homestead owned by the Barrett family, whose most famous offspring was the Victorian poet Elizabeth, later the wife of another distinguished person of letters Robert Browning.
Within the grounds of what was once the Rose Hall estate is the White Witch at the Ritz Carlton Golf & Spa Resort, which speaks for itself. The nearby Tryall Club”s 6221 yard, par 72 course attracts the game”s leading players and has hosted the Johnnie Walker World Championship and the Mazda Champions event is nearby. Jamaica is a golfing island with variety and true quality.
There are some very large smart holiday hotels on the island including a new development under way by Iberostar in the Montego Bay area comprising of three five star hotels. Close by is the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort, which offers all-inclusive holidays, and further along the coast in Ocho Rios is the massive 720-room Renaissance Jamaica Grand. Kingston has a Hilton and there are many many smaller properties often offering excellent facilities at attractive prices. Typically the Richmond Hill, on the outskirts of Montego Bay has tremendous views, a swimming pool, fine cuisine at a daily rate of ”60 a couple. The island has a total room stock of 23,000 which is expected to grow to 35,000 over the next ten years.
http://www.visitjamaica.com