As a tourist destination, Jamaica offers a unique blend of vibrant culture, natural beauty and a wide offering of facilities spanning hotels, attractions and shopping.

Over the past decade, Jamaica has built its capacity to expansion of its accommodation and attractions sector. This has contributed to dramatic growth in both stop-over and visitor arrivals to the island.

Jamaica has attracted a wide range of foreign direct investment comprised most recently of Spanish hotels. The island currently has over 24,000 rooms with an additional 10,000 rooms scheduled to come on stream by 2012. These investments include well known international resort chains such as RIU, with properties in Negril, Ocho Rios, and Montego Bay - Fiesta, Iberostar, Bahia Principe (Groupo Pinero) and AM Resorts, Secrets Montego Bay.

In addition, high-end multi-use developments such as Palmyra Condominiums and Harmony Cove are underway. Jamaica hopes to expand its "boutique hotel" stock as well as have an increased presence of "high end" exclusive brands.

Emerging Alternative Forms of Tourism

In recent years, alternative forms of tourism is offering travelers the opportunity to enrich their activities by attending specialized programs such as Health-Wellness-Spa tourism, Rastafarian tourism, Environmental tourism, Reggae tourism, Cultural Tourism etc, have been developing more and more. Jamaica has become a popular tourist destination not only for vacation holidays of the "classical type" but also for people interested in alternative forms of tourism who, apart from relaxing and sightseeing, wish to enjoy the unique experiences offered through the tourism sector.

Attraction Development

It is critically important for Jamaica to provide a complete tourism package. Already, unique attractions such as Dolphin Cove and Mystic Mountain have been developed. Other tourism package opportunities stem from the limited sports and recreation facilities available in resort towns. Hotel developments have concentrated on golf packages and water sports, particularly boat hire and jet skis and, to a lesser extent, diving.

With the expansion of hotel room stock, particularly in resort towns, there is capacity for the creation of entertainment and recreation facilities as well as additional sports facilities. Include the prevailing synergy of Jamaica's booming creative arts and Reggae music industry, and you will find that specific attraction development has not kept pace with other forms of tourism development. The imbalance of attraction and entertainment development vs. hotel room stock has opened a door of opportunity.