Known as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean region, Jamaica is now creating a new area for high-end tourism stretching from Oracabesa to Port Antonio along the island’s north coast. Announced by the country’s government in mid-July, the new “Revere Zone” will feature low-density developments.
“Jamaica is one of the most sought- after destinations in the world for international travel,” said the Minister of Tourism, Jamaica Edmund Bartlett. “As we work to diversify our tourism sector, we could not be more pleased to create an area that offers a different type of experience for a high-end traveler. This will be supported by air service that flies directly into Ocho Rios, providing easier and more direct access to this beautiful area of our island,” he added.
According to Bartlett, the Jamaica Revere Zone would include the northern coastal cities of Orcabesa, Port Maria, St. Ann’s Bay, Runaway Bay, Discovery Bay, and Ocho Rios, a very famous tourist spot in Jamaica and home to Dunn’s River Falls. He said, in a ceremony for the first scheduled commercial flight to the Ian Fleming International Airport in St. Mary from Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, the new zone will bring a “new awakening” to the country’s north coast and will follow a village-type tourism model with sophisticated facilities as opposed to an all-inclusive enclave setting.
In order to attract visitors to its new tourist area, Jamaica is working on new highway construction. Visitors will enter the island via Ian Fleming International Airport in Ocho Rios. They would have easy access to the region as well as any part of Jamaica in about an hour. Redevelopment projects are also underway in Port Antonio to increase the area’s appeal to high-end travelers.
The strategy of the Jamaican government in creating this area would be to encourage more travelers to explore areas beyond the primary tourist cities of Montego Bay and Negril. The Ministry of Tourism believes it can result in more tourism influx and investments across the country.
Also, this new tourism area, which is part of Jamaica’s Blue Ocean strategy, aims to support small to medium-sized businesses and individual entrepreneurs operating within the region.
