Big plans for Negril

by Sep 12, 2022Pulse

Major plans, including an additional 5,000 hotel rooms, are on the drawing board for the development of Negril over the next five years. At the same time, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett has hinted at Negril being given a status that will remove it from the dual management it now has between Hanover and Westmoreland.

Top-level discussions have started between multiple government ministries and stakeholders in Negril on aspects of the development to be rolled out over time. In the meantime, with tourism being a critical component, Bartlett on September 9 spoke of some things to come as he gave the keynote address at the unveiling of a picturesque, multi-coloured Negril welcome sign at the eastern end of the resort town dubbed the Capital of Casual.

The unveiling of a picturesque, multi-coloured Negril welcome sign at the eastern end of the resort town dubbed the Capital of Casual.

The $12-million sign features a layby and walkway, retaining wall, landscaping, and the fabrication of letters in red, green, and gold, reflecting the vibe of Negril. It comes with solar lighting, which helps with visibility at nights and sustainability.

Tourism Product Development Company Ltd (TPDCo) Executive Director Wade Mars termed it the JAM-ICONIC Photo experience and, like him, Bartlett anticipates that in addition to adding to the aesthetic of the resort, the sign will act as a catalyst to attract greater foot traffic to the area.

The tourism executives said research has shown that accessible photo experiences within destinations provide visitors with an additional incentive to travel longer and further to capture these scenic shots as part of their vacation experience. It is therefore intended that the existence of these sites will also provide the home destination with user-generated content for marketing, which has a multiplier effect in attracting audiences.

TPDCo, for which the mandate is ‘Transforming and Enhancing the Tourism Product’, has mapped out a programme to boost tourism within rural communities and add aesthetic appeal to resort areas using the JAM-ICONIC photo experiences to highlight protected areas such as natural skylines; national parks and gardens such as the Cockpit Country and the Blue Mountains; destination areas like Negril; panoramic views of Jamaica’s historic plains; as well as waterways and towns.

Negril has long enjoyed a special place in the hearts of visitors, and with Jamaica making rapid strides in its recovery from the fallout triggered by the novel coronavirus pandemic Bartlett said the resort has been making a spectacular contribution, pulling in about one-third of the more than US$3 billion earned by the industry so far this year. He further shared that Jamaica had its strongest and best-ever summer tourism season with the one just ended.

On the cards for further development are close to 5,000 new rooms to include a 1,000-room hotel at Rhodes Hall, a new property at Ocean Point, and expansion of the Princess, Palladium, Sandals, and Beaches properties.

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