Dear Madam:

I read with interest the Jamaica Observer's editorial "Beyond visitor arrivals", in particular the concerns on the attraction sub-sector. As President of the Attractions Association of Jamaica (AJAL) I would like to enlighten the writer on our industry.

There are presently 74 attractions, which are members of AJAL. This makes us possibly the destination with the largest number of attractions in the Caribbean. Dunn's River Falls is considered one of the best attractions in the region. Dolphin Cove, with its Treasure Reef expansion, is the largest marine attraction in the Caribbean and possibly the western hemisphere. River rafting and tubing, plantation tours, Appleton Rum Tours, canopy and YS falls are but a few of the many excellent eco friendly tours that are offered.

government incentives

The recent government incentives to this sub-sector have encouraged expansion. New attractions are being developed and existing ones expanded. The attraction owners and operators feel that more credit and recognition should be given as it is this sub-sector that has enhanced the destination resulting in the need for additional hotel rooms to be built and that Ocho Rios has become the most desirable port for cruise ships in the Caribbean. If the capacity of the Ocho Rios cruise ship terminal was expanded, the cruise ship arrivals would double. This would immediately eliminate most of the craft vendors problems, now due to insufficient buyers for the number of vendors.

The existing attractions and those being developed are all environmentally friendly and the members of our association are possibly the most concerned citizens about our environment.

Yours in Attractions,
Marilyn Burrowes
President