Welcome ONCE YOU GO, YOU KNOW. 38 • Once you go, you know. T Third largest of all Caribbean Islands, Jamaica was discovered by Christopher Columbus during his sec- ond voyage in 1494. In his log, he described the island as “the fairest land that eyes have beheld; mountains and the land seem to touch the sky… all full of valleys and field and plains.” The Spanish mariners found Jamaica occupied by a gentle American Indian people, the Tainos, a
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Welcome O N C E Y O U G O , Y O U K N O W .
38 • Once you go, you know.
TThird largest of all Caribbean Islands, Jamaica was
discovered by Christopher Columbus during his sec-
ond voyage in 1494. In his log, he described the island
as “the fairest land that eyes have beheld; mountains
and the land seem to touch the sky… all full of valleys
and field and plains.”
The Spanish mariners found Jamaica occupied
by a gentle American Indian people, the Tainos, a
peaceful people who had never experi-
enced war. Sadly, under the Spanish
settlement, the entire Indian popula-
tion, perhaps 100,000, died from a
combination of forced labor and
European infections like the common
cold to which they had no immunity.
Although Columbus himself spent
nearly a year on the island in 1503,
the Spaniards never fully colonized
Jamaica. The Tainos named the island
“Xaymaca,” meaning the “land of
wood and water.” The words “hurri-
cane,” “tobacco” and “barbecue”
were also derived from their language.
In 1509, the Spaniards estab-
lished a capital, New Seville, near the
town of Ocho Rios. The Spaniards
actually called the area Las Chorreras,
meaning “rapid rivers.” The English
misunderstood, interpreting Las
Chorreras to man “eight rivers,” hence
the name Ocho Rios. Today, the foun-
dations of New Seville are under
the name Ocho Rios. Today, the foun-
dations of New Seville are under
excavation, and the search continues
for the two ships that Columbus
W E L C O M E
Opening spread: Share the warmth and romance that will bring you back again and again…There’s something special about Jamaica and its
colorful history and people. Jamaica can be peaceful and inviting or playful and exciting. This page, clockwise from top: Relaxing on Negril’s
famous beach, chillin’ out at open air restaurant, splashing around at Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios. Photos by Robert Ulrich and courtesy
Montego Bay: City Centre Mall, 876.952-6982 / Half Moon Shopping Village 876.953.2290Ocho Rios: Island Village, 876.675.8774 / Taj Mahal Shopping Centre, 876.974.2928 • Negril: Times Square Shopping Mall, 876.957.9530
JJamaica means business and is increas-ingly becoming an irresistible lure toworldwide investors. The World Bankhas named Jamaica among the 10 bestcountries to do business, bolsteringJamaica’s competitive edge in the glob-al environment.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)globally has recently declined. ButJamaica has reflected the global trendsfor developing countries — streamliningits administrative procedures to facilitateinvestors. Jamaica’s renewed focus onexport-led FDI has been responsible for a44 per cent increase in foreign directinvestment in the Latin American andCaribbean region.
In 2004 the island recorded overUS$1 billion in investments; due largelyto prior economic reforms and strategicsteps taken by the trade and investmentagency, Jamaica Promotions Corpora-tion (JAMPRO).
Government efforts to promote exportsand facilitate investment opportunities havegained investor confidence. The island main-tains a stable democratic government, a largepool of qualified, English-speaking employ-ees, low labor costs and proximity to bothNorth and South America.
JAMAICA’S COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE AT A GLANCE:Global telecommunications links; multi-
ment of capital, profits and dividends; subsi-dized training for IT employees; Free Zonesand Quick Start facilities, and access to inter-national markets.
The country’s prospects for suitable economic development have increased inseveral sectors including tourism, telecom-munications and infrastructure, agricultureand bauxite.
NEW HOTEL DEVELOPMENTS
Since December 2004 two large hotelsopened, the Sandals Whitehouse EuropeanVillage & Spa opened on the South Coastand RIU in Ocho Rios. There other Spanish
hotel developments have brokenground including Iberostar, GrupoPinero and Palmyra Resort Develop-ment with 571 condos, 26 villas and 10penthouse apartments.
Other developments entering theJamaican tourism market
are Fiesta Resort,Goldeneye and
AM Resorts. TheSpanish hotels bring to
Jamaica new target markets. Thesedevelopments are already well estab-lished in other markets.
Island wide, property upgrades,new attractions and a new highway(which improves travel time) offer afresh Jamaican experience.
TECHNOLOGICAL HUB
The technology sector has realizedsome US$700 million invested in recentyears. Due to the liberalized environ-
ment and advent of other companies provid-ing broadband services, rates are expected tofall by about 70 percent, making Jamaicamore cost competitive.
PORT DEVELOPMENT
Jamaica’s two international airports con-tinue to make contributions to the nationaleconomy, under girding primarily tourism andtrade sectors. With the movement of over 4.8million passengers and approximately 23.2million kilograms of freight in 2004, airportsare economic engines.
Stopover tourists spend approximatelyUS$1.3 billion per year; making a contributionof more than 90 percent to earnings gener-ated by island tourists.
ABOUT JAMPRO The Jamaica Promotions Corporation
(JAMPRO) promotes and encourages invest-ment and export production through deliveryof business advisory services to privateinvestors.
Special thanks to Carole Beckford ofJamaica Promotions Corporation for contri-buting this feature.