Tourism brings many jobs and money (£200 million); however this does not stay in Jamaica. Tourism is both labour extensive and is economically good for the country. Many hotel jobs are created, around 6,000 jobs, and if new hotels are built or expanded this creates over 2,000 jobs, this allows local people to get jobs.
The income for tourism is greater than the exportation of raw materials, so more people are attracted to work in the tertiary industry of providing a service via tourism. It creates domestic employment, e.g. in hotels, entertainment, guides, etc.
- Who benefits from tourism?
Businesses/Foreign Hotels.
Businesses are important in tourism, because it is a factor which brings in a healthy profit. This money helps to expand a business or invest in a new business. My personal opinion is that I feel that the disadvantages of the tourist industry are far greater to the advantages.
The businesses only employ skilled workers, whom are from foreign countries like USA, since they have had a great deal of education and higher learning. This is good for the businesses because they benefit a lot more because they need fewer workers to do professional jobs. The locals who are employed are given low paid jobs, which are labour intensive jobs, e.g. waiters, cleaners, bar staff. They are they are laid off when there are low tourist numbers.
Locals/Local Businesses & Suppliers.
The locals and their businesses may get a small profit from selling souvenirs or having a small café or shop. They get some notice from the tourists because they will sell very cheaply unlike the hotels and restaurants, so the tourists may buy gifts from the stalls.
Small things may be purchased from the locals, and this will not make a difference to the tourist, but to the locals it is a small but vital profit. Tourism encourages the production of the souvenirs so it is a start for the local people. It improves and raises the standard of living for the local people, and reduces the number of migration.
- What are the disadvantages? What can be done to increase tourism in Jamaica and resolve problems?
The locals can gain from the tourism industry, and should benefit a great deal. Many tourists visit each year, and they spend a lot of money so the income is high. The disadvantages obviously prevail over the benefits of tourism for Jamaica. If more Jamaican owned hotels were opened, and there was compromise from the foreign businesses this would ensure that money is made for Jamaica.
The disadvantages for local people are that most of the hotels and the businesses are owned by foreign people. The income is sent back to the headquarters usually in the USA, so very little capital goes to the Jamaican government and benefits the country. Another disadvantage is that tourism is a seasonal industry, so the businesses do not get much commerce during periods of time in the colder and wetter months.
CONCLUSION.
From doing this research work on Jamaica, I found that Jamaica relies on tourism, however there are benefits and problems caused by tourism. Even though tourism has many jobs, the local people in Jamaica do not make a profit because the money goes back to the headquarters of the business, and I feel that the people of the country are not being considered.
The tourists do not have any problems with Jamaica, however the crime rates need to be cut down which can sometimes affect tourists. They are getting the most out of tourism, and I feel they should interact more with the locals. The main people not gaining enough from tourism are the locals and this is what needs to be thought about by the government. They need to be given better education, and maybe courses, so that they can get managerial jobs.
The main things that I think that need to be done is to redevelop slum areas, because for Jamaica to be a MEDC it needs to be a wealthy looking area. Also the buildings built need to blend in with the environment in a cottage style, and not soaring buildings. If there are tourist accommodations built they should be on new sites, and not on sites that used to have local homes. Also things like national parks will attract the tourists to see the exotic animals of Jamaica, and in a sanctuary they can be preserved.
The Jamaican government needs to stop the sale of their land to foreign companies, so that these foreign companies can develop.
The Jamaicans could build their own hotels so that the profit remains in the country and benefits Jamaica. The government could also tax the foreign companies higher taxes for having businesses in Jamaica. This money could then be used to improve education, health care, housing, environment and train local Jamaicans.
