Jamaica Tourist Board Details Development Plans

Jamaica said its tourist industry continues on a path towards diversifying its product. As part of the island’s strategy to reach the projected increase in arrivals, tremendous investment has been made in airports, hotels and attractions sectors.

At the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, NMIA Airports Limited and its parent company, Airports Authority of Jamaica, have undertaken the expansion which is expected to be completed in three phases –phase 1A, 1B and 2. Phases 1A and 1B are currently underway with Phase 2 scheduled to begin in 2013.

The arrivals forecourt and Ground Transportation Hall which are now in progress are expected to be completed and operational by year end. In the resort capital of Montego Bay, MBJ Airports, operators of the Sangster International Airport, has been completing a multi-phased expansion.

Phases 1A and 1B have already been completed. Phase 2 is now in progress and includes mechanical/electrical work on a section of the departures check-in lounge and work on the domestic area in addition to site work and landscaping. Phase 2 is expected to be completed by December 2008.

The Port Authority of Jamaica is now engaged in the completion of the preliminary plans and arrangements prior to the commencement of construction to develop a new cruise pier at Falmouth.

The new pier is expected to welcome the first of Royal Caribbean Cruises new Genesis-class of Cruise Liners, the Oasis of the Seas, in May 2010. The new Genesis-class liners will accommodate some 5,400 passengers and the Falmouth pier is being configured to host two vessels simultaneously. The cruise terminal and shops will be themed on the Georgian architecture for which the town of Falmouth is noted.

Improvements have been made to both the Montego Bay and Ocho Rios piers. Montego Bay’s Berth 2 Terminal has been converted to a comfortable air-conditioned area for cruise passengers.

In Ocho Rios, more spacious accommodations have been provided at the terminal building and the facility enhanced for the general comfort of passengers. Customs facilities and ground transportation have also been significantly improved. Additional improvements are planned for both ports by the Port Authority of Jamaica, and preliminary plans are on the drawing board for the development of new piers at the East Harbor in Port Antonio and at Port Royal, just outside Kingston.

This summer the Spanish company Fiesta Hotel Group opened two luxury five-star resorts on Jamaica’s north coast: the Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa and the Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Resort & Spa. Situated near the town of Lucea in Hanover, the hotels are halfway between the resort capital of Montego Bay and the laidback town of Negril –a 30-minute drive from the Sangster International Airport.

The complex features 1.056 rooms, all of them Suites or Junior Suites. The Jamaica Resort & Spa has a total of 540 rooms while the Lady Hamilton Resort & Spa has 516 rooms. Both resorts offer seven a la carte restaurants, thirteen bars and three buffet restaurants.

In Kingston, work is underway to convert Spanish Court from a themed shopping complex into a business hotel. This property, located in the heart of the New Kingston business district, is expected to open by the end of 2008. On completion, the property will boast 110 rooms, including eight to 10 suites. The property will also include a pool bar, a restaurant, and a business center with dedicated concierge.

One of the island’s newest attractions Rainforest Bobsled Jamaica at Mystic Mountain, was officially opened this summer. This attraction has over 100 acres of land stretching from the coast road entrance near Dunn’s River Falls to over 700 feet above sea level at the peak of Mystic Mountain.

Sea Lion Tours Limited will begin operating a new tour this winter. It includes a cruise on a custom French-built 57-foot catamaran to Dunn’s River and culminates with a unique beach party at Crystal Ripple Beach, two miles from the Ocho Rios Pier.