Time to look elsewere

[Marko]

Jamaica and Negril has had a strong repeat of visitors/tourist....
however mi personally can see that repeating visitors/tourist is dwindling pretty fast...…
this is from mi sightings and what other repeat fans of Jamaica are saying to mi these days...…
yeah the crime is the biggest factor though the raising cost in Jamaica hurts your wallet a lot too...

Jamaica's current infrastructure and law enforcement isn't close to being sufficient....thus the current problems
there are a lot of crimes, guns, poor judicial system, no current, no wata, bad roads, etc that most of us don't even hear about...…

mi afraid that the 2020's aren't looking good for Jamaica...….makes mi sad....

Jamaica and Negril desperately need new blood/visitors ....repeat visitors can only do so much

Cool Runnings, Marko

[jeff brown]

Caribbean Islands all seem to tend to be poor and somewhat dangerous. My experience is pretty limited: Curacao (1), Puerto Rico (2), St. Thomas (2), St. Croix (2), Bahama (1) and Jamaica (6). All of which will allow you to find yourself in dangerous situations pretty quickly and easily; especially if you are making poor decisions. That being said of all those spots I have visited Negril does feel the most dangerous. I am always very cognizant of where I am going, with whom I am going and at what time I am going. I am not super adventurous but I like to enjoy live music, meet people and have fun. I really don't venture out at night. I don't really venture out much at night at home either. This will be our first trip staying anywhere other than the Tree House and I am very nervous about that. We are staying a couple of days on the West End at Home Sweet Home and a handful of days at the Tree House. Each reach I am excited to go but always nervous that something could happen.

[rtitle]

I agree about lack of resources to fight crime, and I agree poverty is a stressor. But I don't think Jamaica needs more tourism. What it needs is sustainable development. Jamaica needs to be able to feed/house and otherwise meet the needs of its people in an independent way. The country has resources - fertile land, abundant water, plenty of sunshine (for growing things, and for solar power!), a vibrant culture, and is full of intelligent capable people.

Tourism is the wrong way to develop the country. The jobs are inherently servile, and the whole industry can and will disappear in the blink of an eye when there is a global downturn. Actually there are a lot of wrong ways to develop. Here's another book recommendation "The Uses of Haiti" by Paul Farmer https://www.amazon.com/Uses-Haiti-Pa...5642108&sr=8-1 . It's about how the developed world exploits nations like Haiti (and Jamaica) for the benefit of the developed world, not for the benefit of the exploited nation.

In my own small way I am trying to do a bit of good in Jamaica. I bought a no-longer-functioning farm and am in the process of developing it into a working business that can employ a few people and feed myself and others. Looking into installing solar power. The plan is to eventually farm and live in a totally sustainable carbon-free fashion, in rural Jamaica.

Initially I was getting harassed by a neighbor who is a criminal of sorts. His day "job" is he goes into Negril and hassles tourists for money. When I moved to the neighborhood, he must have thought "great, I don't have to go into Negril, my next victim is coming to me". I was getting harassed, threatened, stolen from. I almost decided "time to go elsewhere", like the title of this thread says. But I managed to get rid of him, and I managed to hire a really great honest young guy who is working for me developing my land with great energy and enthusiasm. At this point I am cautiously optimistic that I can be successful in Jamaica. However it's still possible that the high level of crime and corruption will drive me away.

[fargoman]

I am a little confused when when people keep bringing up the cost and how expensive it has got in Negril..my last reach in October I payed the least amount for a room I have payed in 15 years..at a very nice place...with the exchange rate at near 140 to 1..beers are around 250-300J give or take at many places..many meals for 700-1000J ..where in the Caribbean can I go for these prices? To each their own on the security comfort level they have I guess..but I look at the other options..security and cost of the other islands..and I keep coming back to Negril..

[Accompong]

Jamaica and Negril has had a strong repeat of visitors/tourist....
however mi personally can see that repeating visitors/tourist is dwindling pretty fast...…
this is from mi sightings and what other repeat fans of Jamaica are saying to mi these days...…
yeah the crime is the biggest factor though the raising cost in Jamaica hurts your wallet a lot too...

Jamaica's current infrastructure and law enforcement isn't close to being sufficient....thus the current problems
there are a lot of crimes, guns, poor judicial system, no current, no wata, bad roads, etc that most of us don't even hear about...…

mi afraid that the 2020's aren't looking good for Jamaica...….makes mi sad....

Jamaica and Negril desperately need new blood/visitors ....repeat visitors can only do so much

Cool Runnings, Marko

Marco. I respect your opinion but don't agree with all of it. Your observations, sightings and opinions from some other repeat visitors is a small sampling to make such a statement that "repeating visitors/tourist is dwindling pretty fast". Statistics show otherwise with visitors hitting a record 4.3 million in 2017 which is larger than the total population of the island. They may not be those whom you are referring to in that statement though.
https://jis.gov.jm/record-4-3-millio...arrivals-2017/ I think it is reasonable to assume that a high percentage are either returning visitors or will be visiting again very soon.

I agree that crime is a major factor in people deciding not to travel to Jamaica for the first time or even repeating visitors but I don't think that number is more than the increasing number of those deciding to visit Jamaica for the first time or visiting again as the total visitor count keeps rising year after year. I fully appreciate that the rising cost in Jamaica for staples like food and transportation etc. hurts everyone but not at the same extent. It is devastating to Jamaicans living on a fixed income, unemployed or underemployed but not that significant to tourists. Whether a meal cost $10 US one time and then $15 US later as prices rise just get adsorbed into the vacation budget and route taxi fares going up $100 Jamaican or more hurts the everyday Jamaican much more than a tourist.

I don't think that either you nor I can prognosticate Jamaica's future going forward as we simply don't have enough insight on what measures will be taken to make things better for the country as a whole. I see a country whose government is willing to act regardless of politics to solve problems. It is true that they may have different opinions on just what a problem entails but some action will be undertaken. I was just staying in rural areas and, yes, the water was often off and the electricity was going on and off and the roads were in deplorable condition but a backup generator was being installed to solve the water pump current problem and JPS is upgrading its power grid all over the island.

I too am saddened by the random act of violence that might cause a visitor not to want to visit Jamaica again but, I don't visit a lot of places for the same reason and, sometimes, for even less of a reason. Everyone has to make up their own mind as we all have different tolerances for safety concerns.

Visitor numbers are accelerating and one could argue that long time, repeat visitors like you and I who might be referred to as "cheap" may help the local economy more by putting our money directly in the hands of everyday Jamaicans but we do, after all, spend less money per day than those who stay at All Inclusives and premium properties. I think if our numbers decrease, the void we leave will be readily filled by others so there will always be someone to do more if we are not there to do it.

Respect Marko.

[rtitle]

Cost of living depends on what you're buying. Property is cheap to buy unless you are buying prime beachfront property. My house + 10 acres good farmland was about 130K US. (I read recently about someone who bought what is basically a big *rock* in Manhattan i.e. a tiny plot of land consisting of a big rock. They paid something like 10 million for it. Now *that's* expensive.). Rent is cheap, again except at prime beachfront tourist areas. Food is cheap. Outside of tourist areas, a restaurant meal is generally under 1000J. Sex is cheap (but I won't admit to buying it! ). . On the other hand, anything imported is expensive because then you're paying world-market prices plus Jamaica's import tax which is something like 100%. So for instance, cars cost at least 2x what they'd cost in the US. Same with computers, TVs, cellphones, etc. Gas costs at least 2x US prices. If you go into the local equivalent of Walmart, you'll find Walmart-quality merchandise (i.e. junky) at about 2x - 4x Walmart prices. While Jamaicans typically earn 10% of what an American would earn at the same job. When my wife married me and moved to Boston and found a similar job as she had in Kingston (administrator at a university) her income went up more than 10x, no exaggeration. No wonder Jamaicans feel so squeezed financially. I think it's that financial squeeze that causes the "life is expensive here" complaints.

[Highlander]

My wife and I are long timers at Negril, over 30 years.
With the senseless murder of Ozzy and his wife maybe its time to look for a new destination.
Belize or maybe Costa Rica look good.
We have made a lot of friends over the years but it's time to move on.

Yes !! Hard to believe but this subject has come up lately in my household too.. Saddened to say We Love Ja !! Our April Trip had some issues with Rude Boy's !! And a New type of Higgler...

It goes without saying that Negril and surrounding area's are more violent these Day's....
We will be Following Replies...

[T&A]

Would you care to elaborate on your issues and the "new" type of higgler Highlander? With all that's been going on it might be helpful information. Thanks.

[Highlander]

Hi. T & A .. It seems to me .. In my opinion of course.. The New... type is not there as a Peddler of Good's as in the past.
They Very Aggressively approach you in a (Threatening manner). Demand you buy something (Usually Dope !!) They are on something ??? And even after saying a Polite No Thanks. They then want to berate you and anyone who is walking with you. ( My Wife )
Also my experience this year involved the lack of respect by people in the Hospitality Industry.. Had a couple Bad experiences I did not like .. To point of (Thug Life !! ) I want to add I have gone to Ja. for many a year now. And love my times there .. But for the 1st time in all those years.. I felt uncomfortable. And I do not that easily ... This last trip was not as Good !!! Bad JUJU !!

[alix]

I'm traveling to Negril in Dec with my husband and 2 adult daughters and I must say that reading these comments make me very uncomfortable. What I find most disconcerting is the lack of specific information that might help us to be more aware and how to avoid trouble. What EXACTLY is going on in Negril? Stabbings? Rape? Getting jumped as tourists walk to a restaurant and robbed and beaten? Taxi drivers taking you to unknown places and stealing your money? or worse? I've read all the comments and haven't found specific examples or situations that I might avoid to ensure our safety. Also, the same people comment in this thread about feeling unsafe, are the same ones who assured me in my own previous thread that I had nothing to worry about.

We're not naive travellers but I get that even the most astute can become victims. I currently live in what is considered the "most violent city in Canada" where a**h*** kids or young adults are randomly macheting people, swarming stores to rob them blindly, meth is fueling rage and violence beyond anyone imagination. It's totally out of control but I also know that by avoiding certain areas and groups of people I'm safer then if I'm hanging outside the bar at 2:00 am lipping off to an angry gang ready to curb stomp any one who looks at them the wrong way. I also know a lot of the violence is a result of addictions and they're turning on each other so the numbers are skewed and the general public isn't as threatened as it may seem.

So again, my question is, what exactly is happening? And how do we stay safe? What and who do we avoid?