Jamaica

 

Jamaica is one of the most famous island countries in the Caribbean thanks to its history, nature, rum and lifestyle but also to popular Jamaicans such as Bob Marley and Usain Bolt.

The Island is located 145 km south of Cuba and 191 Km west of Hispaniola and after them, it is the third largest one of the Caribbean

Under Spanish domain till 1655 when the island was conquered by British who renamed it Jamaica. During the English period, Jamaica was leading the sugar export with its plantations. 

Independent since 1962, today Jamaica has a population of almost 3 million people, a stable democratic government with a constitutional monarchy headed by Elizabeth II as Queen of Jamaica.

In the last decade, the island saw an important economic growth and a general improvement of life quality.

Mining, agriculture and tourism are the main pillars of the Jamaican economy.

With an average of 4,3 millions visitors a year, in 2019 tourism accounted for 20% of the Country GDP with a positive trend and the sector is very well supported by effective Government polices; in particular, there is a lot of attention and interest in assisting small entrepreneurs to develop their business.

Rental houses is a quite well developed tourism business model in addition to the mainstream of hotels and resorts.

Real estate prices are not on the lower side, when compared with smaller and less notorious destination but as well not as high as other popular Caribbean destination. Having a bit of time to wait for the right opportunity, it would be indeed possible to find accommodations matching our project budget.

As matter of fact, Jamaica is not recognized as a scuba diving destination and that is mainly because in the past there was very little concern about pollution and its effect on marine life.

The result was that the clear and warm waters of Jamaica was lacking of like with only 8% of coral reef healthy and alive.

In the last years fortunately, a new environmental awareness and recognition of the importance of an healthy marine environment for the tourism have drastically improved the situation.

The Government has adopted new and effective polices to protect and preserve the environment, in particular above and below the sea.

The environmental polices and initiatives are recent and still under development but its seems that the marine life started already to return and the diving activities are becoming more popular and attractive.

A promising new begin which may become a main drive for the tourism economy of Jamaica.

Overall, today Jamaica probably would not be one of the potential destination for us but there are still quite some years in front of us and maybe by the time we will be ready to move, the environmental improvement of Jamaica would be more compatible with our project.

So we are not excluding Jamaica as our destination, we will look at the island once we will be closer to the project realization time.