Domestic tourism has been booming but going forward the challenge will be to get locals to vacation at home even when there is no travel-hobbling pandemic.

There was an effort earlier this year by Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett to work with the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association and have its members agree on a fixed percentage discount for locals. That idea appears to have floundered but there are individual properties offering great deals.

As the country heads into another three-day lockdown, now might be a good time to check out some of these options.  Just be sure to get to your holiday spot before curfew begins… and observe the strict COVID-19-fighting safety protocols in place at all properties.

Half Moon, Montego Bay

Locals can get up to 30 per cent off rooms at this high-end property in Montego Bay, plus there’s complimentary breakfast. The special offer, which began in May, runs until November so there’s ample time to plan a long weekend getaway, assures Half Moon’s Assistant Director of Sales Arlien Dyer. So far, she says, the response has been “phenomenal’. Half Moon has offered special rates for locals in the past but this time around they’ve been more aggressive in promoting the deals on social media… and they’ve added more to the package.

Locals who pop by for a stay can also enjoy 30 per cent off spa services, 20 per cent off food and beverages at the resort, and golf enthusiasts will be happy to know there’s 10 per cent off tee fees.

“There are extra special amenities and extended discounts for Jamaican residents so they can experience the entire resort — and the best of the resort — while they’re with us,” says Dyer. “It’s an escape. It feels like home, it’s still very Jamaican in experience, but it is an amazing escape with an unmatched array of things to do on site, even with the COVID protocols, which we’re very mindful of. We observe them throughout the entire experience.”

And there’s some good news for locals who don’t want to check in but still want to immerse themselves in the Half Moon experience: they too can take advantage of the hefty discounts on amenities such as the 668,000-square-foot spa and award-winning restaurants.

Jamaica Inn, Ocho Rios

There’s a 50 per cent discount now available which means locals pay US$224.50 per night, double occupancy, including taxes and service fees. The special is supposed to end in August but if you ask you may get the offer extended into September. Checks with the reservation desk indicate that business has been brisk lately.

It’s an EP property so meals at the two restaurants on property are not included in the price of the room. But there’s always access to a champagne-coloured sand private beach, which, they say, is never crowded.

After a day spent lazily lounging in a swaying hammock, or enjoying complimentary beach activities such as kayaking, sunfish sailing, snorkelling and paddle boarding, guests retreat to ocean-front rooms that offer breath taking views. Little wonder that Jamaica Inn is one of the top nine best destination wedding venues in Jamaica.

Skylark Negril Beach Resort

At Skylark Negril and its sister property Rockhouse Hotel and Spa, locals also get 50 per cent off if they book at least 14 days before arriving for a minimum stay of two nights. With the discount, rooms at the EP boutique hotel range from US$76 to US$100. Meals are available for purchase at the on-property restaurant, Ms Lilly’s; guests have access to 220 feet of pristine beachfront and may either go for a swim in the sea or take the complimentary shuttle to enjoy Rockhouse’s pool. There’s also a spa, boutique and gift shop on property. Skylark has been on board from the launch of the Jamaica Tourist Board’s (JTB) initial efforts to drum up business locally, says General Manager Omar Tomlinson. The push fits in nicely with their long-time goal of catering to locals, he tells LetsTravelCaribbean.com. “We have seen a really, really good response from the local market,” he says.

To ensure the safety of guests — foreign and local — and staff there are rigorous safety protocols in place across the tourism industry. Tomlinson stressed that, at Skylark, they are “very, very strict in maintaining and adhering to the COVID-19 protocols”.

“Every single one of our team members and guests must be wearing a mask when moving around. If you’re on the beach and you’re in your own space, of course we can’t tell you to wear a mask and pretty much for the most part you’re outdoors anyway. But once you are moving around the property —  if you’re at the front desk, if you’re at the boutique, if you’re heading to the restaurant — then a mask must be worn,” he explains. “We have hand-wash stations around the property, we have our sanitiser available and we do sanitising after turning over tables and all of that. So we have ongoing, around the clock sanitising.”

This includes sanitising of the pens used at the front office area, along with welcome packages and rooms whose safety seals are only broken by guests when they enter. “It’s an ongoing sanitising,” says Tomlinson.

When booking online, use promo code ‘local’.