Planning to make a tour to Jamaica? The island has beautiful natural attributes and thus has proved to be the invaluable asset for the economic potential of the colony. This contains the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles. The island has been a favorite spot for the attraction of the tourists for several decades. The facts that people should know about Jamaica and its tourism are as follows:
- This island came under Spanish rule after the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1494. The land was inhabited by the Taino and the Arawak people.
- The island lies ninety miles off the Cuban shore and within close distance to Miami Florida. Many people died of diseases and the Spanish imported the African slaves as laborers. It remained under the possession of the Spanish people until the English people conquered it and renamed it as Jamaica.
- The island got independent from the UK on august 6, 1962. There are almost 2.8 million people. It has got the third largest population among the Anglophone countries. The capital of the island is Kingston.
- Tourism is the strongest economy of the country now. But before 1890 the tourism industry did not flourish so much. So, the services were also not available nor they were up to date. In the early times, there were barely any inns or lodges. A survey found that there was a total of 1400 approximately in 1830.
- In 1890 the Hotel law was enacted and thus the government was motivated to build accommodation facilities for the Great Show of 1891. Consequently, hotels were opened in Montague, Port Antonio, Mandeville, Kingston and Spanish Town. Different organizations were also formed which included the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association and the Tourist Trade Development Board. The island was also marketed as a health and pleasure retreat during this period.
- Now tourism being the greatest source of economy in the country almost three million visitors is welcomed to the island every year. From the tourism, they earn a lot of foreign exchange. So, this country has got everything that people might want when they are on their holidays, from high-quality lodging, food, attractions and other services.
This is the Caribbean most coveted island. Though there are several challenges in the industry still the growth has been stable.
