subject: Holness Announces Plans For New Jamaica Hotels [print this page] Jamaica will see nearly 16,000 new guest rooms added to its collection of hotels over the next few years as the President of the island Nation, Andrew Holness announces plans for major expansions.
With more visitors expected to take Jamaica holidays in the near future, the hotel rooms will be used by both business and leisure travellers.
Last week the President said: "Despite several periods of global, economic and political turbulence, this institution [Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association], established in November, 1961, has continued to be critical for growth and development of the tourist industry in Jamaica. I feel proud to have such talent and commitment serving Jamaica."
Holness explained that five years ago when the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association was first established, approximately 224,000 travellers took holidays to Jamaica and 69,000 cruise passengers visited the island, bringing $37 million to the local economy.
The 16,000 new hotel rooms will also create 20,000 tourism jobs across Jamaica hotels and approximately $60 billion is being invested into the islands tourism industry.
The period between January and September this year recorded 763,000 crew ship visitors and 1.5 million travellers from all over the world stopping over at the island for brief Jamaica holidays. Projections for the growth in the number of visitor arrivals in 2011 are expected to increase by six per cent.
Jamaica celebrated its success as a leading tourist destination at the World Travel Awards Caribbean & the Americas Gala Ceremony last month. The island country was awarded the titles of Caribbeans Leading Tourist Destination, the Caribbeans Leading Cruise Destination (following the opening of the new cruise terminal in Falmouth) and the Caribbeans Leading Tourist Board after the island recorded a 5.7 per cent increase in visitor number last year.
The island offers plenty of accommodation options for travellers on all budgets, from luxury all inclusive beachfront resorts, to charming B&Bs and boutique hotels.
Holidaymakers can enjoy stunning landscapes including white sand beaches, turquoise ocean waters, lush green rolling hills, the majestic Blue Mountains, cascading waterfalls, and dense tropical forests.
Popular tourist attractions in Jamaica include the Bob Marley Museum, Dunns River Falls in Ocho Rios, the Green Grotto Caves, the historic Rosehall Great House, botanical gardens, and plantations.
