While Ocho Rios and Montego Bay are the must-see destinations for many visitors to Jamaica, the island is banking on St. Thomas to become the next big thing in the near future.
St. Thomas is a sleepy parish east of Kingston and is known for its nature, history, agriculture, fishing and surfing. But the weather-beaten roads that led to St. Thomas makes for some less-than-ideal travel. That could change soon, however, when Jamaica completes a portion of a highway that will run through the eastern community, known as the "forgotten parish."
Jamaica is spending more than $200 million on 51 projects over the next decade. There are plans to add more than 4,000 hotel rooms in St. Thomas by 2030; revitalize beaches, including Rocky Point Beach; and upgrade existing roads and water pipeline networks. Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica's tourism minister, told Loop Jamaica News last July that there are some $1 billion in investments so far and that investors from the Dominican Republic were eyeing unspecified projects in St. Thomas.
According to the St. Thomas Tourism Destination Development Plan, Jamaica envisions, by 2030, 230,000 stayover and 65,000 day visitors to the region per year, substantially more than the 5,775 overall visitors St. Thomas saw in 2018.
So far this year, Jamaica has brought more than 1 million tourists, one month earlier than last year.
Bartlett said that the close proximity of St. Thomas to Kingston and Norman Manley Airport could bring considerable tourism development to the region, once the four-lane highway makes the region more accessible.
=====================================================
American Cruise Lines has created a new itinerary for 2024 that
will visit the battlefields of the Civil War.
with five rivers and waterways, using three ships to visit the war’s significant battlefields and retrace historic events from Fort Sumter and Shiloh to Vicksburg and Antietam.
The itinerary will use the American Melody, American Eagle and American Symphony, and sailings will take place on the Mississippi, Tennessee and Potomac rivers, as well as the East Coast Intracoastal Waterway and the Chesapeake Bay.
The itinerary kicks off on May 3 in New Orleans and concludes on June 6 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Onboard, guests can expect appearances from Civil War experts who will discuss the motives, strategies and personalities that drove each side of the war.
The cruise will also be hosted by Civil War expert Bertram Hayes-Davis, the great-great grandson of Jefferson Davis, who was president of the Confederate States of America from 1861-1865.
Fares begin at $24,700 and require a $5,000 per person deposit upon reservation.
=====================================================
Hyatt's Inclusive Collection is bringing its Secrets brand to Mexico's Costa Mujeres.
The 509-room Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres, which will be located approximately 12 miles north of Cancun, is on track to open before the end of this year. It is a new property.
The adults-only all-inclusive will have a variety of room categories, including Preferred Club options that come with access to a Preferred Club Lounge, an oceanfront beach club and a dedicated pool.
The property will offer a total of seven bar and lounge concepts and nine dining venues, including six a la carte restaurants, a buffet, a café and a grill. As part of the resort's culinary programming, guests will be able to opt for experiences like kitchen tours, cooking classes and tequila and wine tastings.
Other amenities will include a Secrets Spa by Pevonia, 8,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and wedding ceremony and reception areas that can accommodate up to 400 guests.
====================================================================
====================================================================
For current travel restrictions for Europe:
