Dear Editor,
I was looking at a link showing the top 10 cheapest destinations in the world for holidays and the top 10 most expensive. To my astonishment, Jamaica was in the top 10 of the most expensive.
I spent 18 months between 2002 and 2010 working as a British cop in Jamaica and fell in love with both Jamaica and its people.
Yet, despite my best efforts, I have failed to persuade any of my friends in London to holiday in Jamaica due to its negative image. When I point out that the satisfaction rate from those returning from vacations in Jamaica whom I met whilst working at both UK and Jamaican airports was around 99 per cent, it gets me nowhere.
The tragic death of Imani Green, which was a major story in the UK, and now these misleading figures as to vacation costs, only contribute to this negative image.
I have to ask exactly what the Jamaica Tourist Board is doing to promote Jamaica’s true image. A great opportunity was missed after Prince Harry’s visit and the efforts of Usain Bolt and the other Jamaican athletes at the London Olympics.
I am just completing a book which tells of my experiences in Jamaica. It is light-hearted and whilst it doesn’t ignore the problems faced by Jamaica, I believe it promotes a justifiably positive image of your country which, hopefully, will encourage tourism from the UK.
Let’s see a greater effort from both the Jamaican Government and tourist board to get those British tourists on the planes and into the hotels, not just on the north coast but Kingston as well.
Chris Hobbs
Hanwell, London
obbsie@virginmedia.com
I was looking at a link showing the top 10 cheapest destinations in the world for holidays and the top 10 most expensive. To my astonishment, Jamaica was in the top 10 of the most expensive.
I spent 18 months between 2002 and 2010 working as a British cop in Jamaica and fell in love with both Jamaica and its people.
Yet, despite my best efforts, I have failed to persuade any of my friends in London to holiday in Jamaica due to its negative image. When I point out that the satisfaction rate from those returning from vacations in Jamaica whom I met whilst working at both UK and Jamaican airports was around 99 per cent, it gets me nowhere.
The tragic death of Imani Green, which was a major story in the UK, and now these misleading figures as to vacation costs, only contribute to this negative image.
I have to ask exactly what the Jamaica Tourist Board is doing to promote Jamaica’s true image. A great opportunity was missed after Prince Harry’s visit and the efforts of Usain Bolt and the other Jamaican athletes at the London Olympics.
I am just completing a book which tells of my experiences in Jamaica. It is light-hearted and whilst it doesn’t ignore the problems faced by Jamaica, I believe it promotes a justifiably positive image of your country which, hopefully, will encourage tourism from the UK.
Let’s see a greater effort from both the Jamaican Government and tourist board to get those British tourists on the planes and into the hotels, not just on the north coast but Kingston as well.
Chris Hobbs
Hanwell, London
obbsie@virginmedia.com