Geography IGCSE - Jamaica Tourism Stats

Jamica location

A tropical maritime island in the Caribbean sea

Percentage of workforce employed by tourism

25% of working pop.

Amount of tourist visiting Jamaica

4.5 million in 2019 including 2 million cruise ship passenger

BP1 (human + physical factors of attraction)

Negril Beach → one of the Caribbean’s best beaches → attracts over 500,000 tourists annually → due to white sand, clear water + calm waves → ideal for swimming, snorkelling + jet-skiing → features nearby cliffs + nature reserves → combines scenic beauty with outdoor adventure → perfect for both thrill seekers + beachgoers

BP2 (human + physical factors of attraction)

Tropical climate → avg. temp 30 - 32°C year round + low rainfall → consistent sun → winter escape for HIC tourists → allows for uninterrupted outdoor activities → e.g. hiking, beach visits + water sports → encourages all season bookings → boosts hotel/resort income outside summer peak

BP3 (human + physical factors of attraction)

Falmouth → historic Georgian town with restored architecture → welcomes major cruise ships weekly → e.g. Royal Caribbean → offers heritage trails + art/craft markets → tourists engage with Jamaica’s colonial history + local culture → creates cultural depth beyond ‘sun + sea’ holidays → supports sustainable, interest driven tourism

BP1 (benefits + problems)

Tourism earned $3.3 billion USD in 2019 → makes up 30% of Jamaica’s GDP → income from international tourists spreads across hotels, local businesses + informal sector → e.g. crafts, guides → generates tax revenue that government can reinvest in infrastructure + education → creates a multiplier effect → fuels broader economic development

BP2 (benefits + problems)

In Montego bay → the majority of home are second homes → locals face rising property prices → priced out of own communities → causes displacement, housing insecurity + social inequality → especially since local wages are 20% below national average → tourism deepens gap between locals + wealthy outsiders → eroding community cohesion

BP3 (benefits + problems)

In Negril, one-third of the coral reef has died → due to untreated sewage from tourist resorts → resorts also cleared up to 15% of mangrove swamps → act as natural flood barriers → increases vulnerability to erosion, storm surges + long term biodiversity loss → direct environmental cost of unsustainable tourism growth

BP1 (Managed sustainability)

Blue Mountains → focus for eco lodge development → tourists drawn in for hiking + nature experiences → lodges use local materials + limit electricity/water use → helps protect mountain forests + bird habitats
→ creates tourism that works with environment instead of degrading it → ensures long term biodiversity + keeps area attractive for future tourists

BP2 (Managed sustainability)

Negril → 1/3 of coral reef died due to untreated sewage → led to introduction of stricter sewage controls + reef protection rules → shows how visible environmental damage triggered direct sustainable management → reduces water pollution, protects marine ecosystems → ensures water based tourism → e.g. snorkelling + diving → can continue without harming reef

BP3 (Managed sustainability)

Port Antonio → community run eco lodges promoted by government → tourists stay with locals instead of foreign owned resorts → keeps profits within Jamaica → avoids economic leakage seen in places like Montego Bay → where only 7% of profits stay in Jamaica → creates jobs with better pay + stability → supports supports sustainable livelihoods for locals