Tourism racism

[Seveen]

Re: Tourism racism

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Littleman</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Tourism racism

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Dear Editor

I am a student at Excelsior Community College where I major in hospitality management. I recently visited a prominent resort in the popular tourism town of Montego Bay.
It was clear that the front desk agent was not in favour of having local visitors. Although a local was at the front of the reception line, the worker beckoned to a Caucasian to bypass the local standing in front of her. It was then she realised that the humble local was the person paying for the rooms that several Caucasians would be taking.

After witnessing such an ordeal, the local's visitors asked to be taken to a more hospitable property where their business would be appreciated.

It is time we as a people let go of the stigma attached to tourism and learn to appreciate our own people whenever they decide to patronise the country's tourism sector. </div></div>

Ramgeet, T. (2008, March 15). Letters. The Jamaica Observer. Retrieved on March 15 2008, from http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lette...ISM_RACISM.asp </div></div>

and if you are african american - you can expect the same behavior

i had a stay at Breezes that was horrible

pure discrimination

we all slammed Issa

and he sent us 3 nights free at Grand Lido - either one

the advent of the the A/I was instituted to continue the promotion of the tourism after the higglers were so thick on the streets - no tourist were coming to jamaica

with that move - i saw the decline of independently owned restaurants and clubs

and the stepping fetcha that is prevelant at some of the major resorts

but if some of the folks on this board were running things
there would be no tourism

[bee_bop]

Re: Tourism racism

Seveen said:
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">but if some of the folks on this board were running things
there would be no tourism </div></div>

Littleman says:
<span style="color: #660000">I wonder how you arrive at this conclusion?</span>

<span style="color: #000099">Plus, the A/I was due to increasing harrassment of tourists, but at the advent of this problem, Jamaica was considered to be mild compared to other countries, except a few. Some overzealous tourism officials even went as far as putting soldiers on the streets... think overkill. I also remember some security guards in a resort town severely beating some youths for merely being seen around tourists. Of course, today the problem is worse, and you would be very brave to beat anyone for such a relatively minor issue.</span>

[Marielle]

Re: Tourism racism

this is an interesting post.

it has always [censored] me off about jamaica that the tourist industry is so "closed off" and "separate" from the country, gated tourist communities, so to speak. all these A.I. places that seem no go areas to the local people.
you wouldn't catch me in there!!

I have travelled to many countries and different continents and there is nothing better than finding a little pension run by a family by the beach where you can rent a room, get breakfast, and immerse yourself in the local culture. think
sri lanka
india
gambia
kenya
etc

What REALLY pisses me off is coming back to MoBay after 14 years and finding Cornwall Beach - which is still being advertised as being nearby - well, that's true... - by i.e. Toby Inn on their website!! - completely closed off to the public.
14 years ago it was a great place to hang out, cos it was a great mix of tourists and locals, a nice bar built around a tree, spinning reggae music, I spent many a wonderful day there with my then 2 year old, happily playing with his bucket and spade....

now, all you've got - apart from dead end beach - is the clinically set up Doctor's Cave beach which costs 5 US dollars to get on, a sure way of keeping locals out... (and me!! [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img])

why is it that rich foreign corporations can "own" stretches of beach and make them private. all the places going east of MoBay seem to be AI properties with private beaches.

In a place like brazil, you can catch a local bus out of town to any village up or down the coast and enjoy a day on the beach with all conveniences at hand - food, drink, watersports - and enjoy the day hanging out with locals and tourists alike. it's also an employment opportunity for the locals who sell tattoos, tarot reading, fruits, beachgear etc. (and makes for an interesting day, watchig the world go by.....)
I never saw a private beach in brazil that was no-go to certain people............

I would much rather support the local community by staying with them than paying money to be taken out of the country by big US/european/asian corporations!!!!!!!
the tourist industry in jamaica must be being controlled by a small group of powerful people with a big finger in the pie who want to keep it like that..........

such a pity when there is so much scope for i.e. eco-tourism, community-based (rasta) tourism, etc. (I know there are some places like that in Jamaica, pity they are few and far between).

[neutral]

Re: Tourism racism

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Seveen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">[quote=Littleman]

but if some of the folks on this board were running things
there would be no tourism </div></div>

I agree totally,..and will add that some of the more vocal ones wouldnt have chit to add to Jamaica` economy if there was no tourism.

[Seveen]

Re: Tourism racism

<span style='font-family: Fixedsys'>i loved mobay for many years

as soon as they took that empty lot - which used to be the short cut to Cornwalls and built that Breezes the beach as i knew it was gone

i was there the day they took the old bar and steps down at Dr Cave Beach - i was crying - i seemed to be the only one that cared that that bar had been there since the beginning of time - and is even on the money [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cry.gif[/img]

now you can hear a pin drop on that beach - all cruise shippers and Breezes occupants - and that's the nicest beach in town - remember the day Scarlet the lifeguard there - won the lottery - and never came to that beach again [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img]

and the chairs, umbrellas and food will set you back a bit [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70400-talktohand.gif[/img]

Aquasol - Walter Fletcher - is now the local beach along with Dead End beach - itty bitty beach

i remember independently owned restaurants and bars and the folks that worked in the tourist business had a chance to make their own money - be entrepreneurs

but alas at one point you couldn't walk the hip strip without someone asking to braid your hair, sell you drugs, sell you tours, sell themselves - it was horrible . . .

i managed to make it through - folks knew me - but some tourists and were terrified and then the lockdown - i mean A/I was conceived

yep i remember sitting around Cornwalls - listening to live music, water right now - afterwards hitting up Tony's pizza when he was had the cart - now he has a store [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70458-applaud.gif[/img] even Pork Pit was down that end

i stayed at Fantasy - the hotel - before it was named Fantasty - The Montegioan - i believe - and now it's been boarded up and vacant for years - at one point they tried going A/I

but there are still lovely places to go and sit and talk with folks that remind you of lost relatives

plenty of places to eat . . . all kinds of delicious food and fruits

and i'm going to be more and more quiet about where they are [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/desdentado.gif[/img] </span>

[neutral]

Re: Tourism racism

Except for Doctors cave, at one time all the beaches used to be free and used predominantly by locals.

And back in the old days there were quite a few more too,including the one behind the public library we called "giggy beach",that was the one I spent most of my time with my friends when we werent in school.
"giggy beach"and a couple others further up no longer exist since they pushed the sea back.

Then there was "sunset beach" ( the beach just before dead end)which was the most popular beach for locals,on a bank holiday or sunday you could barely find a square yard that was empty.

"cornwall beach" used to be free at one time too,but I guess the more tourism encroached on the infrastructure,the more businesses saw more profits in catering for tourists.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Tourism racism

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Newtral</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Except for Doctors cave, at one time all the beaches used to be free and used predominantly by locals.

And back in the old days there were quite a few more too,including the one behind the public library we called "giggy beach",that was the one I spent most of my time with my friends when we werent in school.
"giggy beach"and a couple others further up no longer exist since they pushed the sea back.

Then there was "sunset beach" ( the beach just before dead end)which was the most popular beach for locals,on a bank holiday or sunday you could barely find a square yard that was empty.

"cornwall beach" used to be free at one time too,but I guess the more tourism encroached on the infrastructure,the more businesses saw more profits in catering for tourists. </div></div> A stipulation of the condition that Doctors Cave was given to the city was that no local could use it, but Jamaicans from other parts of the country could. I found that so distasteful,as a teen, that I wouldn't and have'nt used that beach one.

[Seveen]

Re: Tourism racism

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Newtral</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Except for Doctors cave, at one time all the beaches used to be free and used predominantly by locals.

And back in the old days there were quite a few more too,including the one behind the public library we called "giggy beach",that was the one I spent most of my time with my friends when we werent in school.
"giggy beach"and a couple others further up no longer exist since they pushed the sea back.

Then there was "sunset beach" ( the beach just before dead end)which was the most popular beach for locals,on a bank holiday or sunday you could barely find a square yard that was empty.

"cornwall beach" used to be free at one time too,but I guess the more tourism encroached on the infrastructure,the more businesses saw more profits in catering for tourists. </div></div>

cornwall beach is the watersport center for Breezes now [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cry.gif[/img]

and half of Doctor's Cave is "private" to them

don't cross the line 'cause the drinks and food are included [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[Seveen]

Re: Tourism racism

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Newtral</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Except for Doctors cave, at one time all the beaches used to be free and used predominantly by locals.

And back in the old days there were quite a few more too,including the one behind the public library we called "giggy beach",that was the one I spent most of my time with my friends when we werent in school.
"giggy beach"and a couple others further up no longer exist since they pushed the sea back.

Then there was "sunset beach" ( the beach just before dead end)which was the most popular beach for locals,on a bank holiday or sunday you could barely find a square yard that was empty.

"cornwall beach" used to be free at one time too,but I guess the more tourism encroached on the infrastructure,the more businesses saw more profits in catering for tourists. </div></div> A stipulation of the condition that Doctors Cave was given to the city was that no local could use it, but Jamaicans from other parts of the country could. I found that so distasteful,as a teen, that I wouldn't and have'nt used that beach one. </div></div>

<span style='font-family: Fixedsys'>there were plenty of locals on that beach until they built that Breezes - then the shutdown really started - about 10 years ago - pure tourists on that beach now

and the beach at the old Seawinds - now Sunset Beach has always been somewhat restricted

gosh i had some good New Year's Eve in The Cave

that club would rock

now it's the lobby of Sunset Beach [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cry.gif[/img]</span>

[Marielle]

Re: Tourism racism

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Seveen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">[font:Fixedsys]
even Pork Pit was down that end
</div></div>

I remember it!! Was great there, lovely garden where you could sit at the tables, eating your jerk chicken, meeting other people.

When I returned - 3 years ago - Pork Pit had moved up the road and there was a funky local open air bar there..........quite a few evenings spent in there, having good times.

back there last month, even the little bar had been closed down and fenced off on the roadside with corrugated iron.
thinking of cornwall beach it will probably stay like that for the next x years...........

[Marielle]

Re: Tourism racism

[/quote] A stipulation of the condition that Doctors Cave was given to the city was that no local could use it, but Jamaicans from other parts of the country could. [/quote]

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek2.gif[/img]

[bee_bop]

Re: Tourism racism

<span style="color: #660000">Montego Bay was my favourite City, and Doctor's Cave Beach was the best. I remember when I was much younger, visiting the beach every morning, in the summer time. Back then the beach didn't have much of what it has now. Today, there is a nice Beach area with some eatery right by the beach. Of course, I haven't been swimming for a while, so I didn't take to the water... [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif[/img] I mean sea water, so readily.</span>

[Seveen]

Re: Tourism racism

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Marielle</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Seveen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
even Pork Pit was down that end
</div></div>

I remember it!! Was great there, lovely garden where you could sit at the tables, eating your jerk chicken, meeting other people.

When I returned - 3 years ago - Pork Pit had moved up the road and there was a funky local open air bar there..........quite a few evenings spent in there, having good times.

back there last month, even the little bar had been closed down and fenced off on the roadside with corrugated iron.
thinking of cornwall beach it will probably stay like that for the next x years...........
</div></div>

<span style='font-family: Fixedsys'>there was quite a bit of prostitution connections happening in that bar . . .and of course Sir Winston's was right across the street

i remember when that place used to be "normal"
[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/crybaby.gif[/img]</span>

[bee_bop]

Re: Tourism racism

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> there was quite a bit of prostitution connections happening in that bar</div></div>

I remember when MoBay generally was known for homosexuality...

Now the only evidence of that notorious past would be the members of the '<span style='font-size: 11pt'><span style="color: #660000">tight pants</span></span>' crew...

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70456-eyebrows.gif[/img]

[Marielle]

Re: Tourism racism

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Littleman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

I remember when MoBay generally was known for homosexuality...
</div></div>

hmmm, interesting, especially in the light of jamaica's reputation on the subject........