THE EDITOR, Madam:
DURING THE second half of January and the first week of February I was a first-time tourist to Jamaica. During this time I was additionally a reader to your newspaper, as I am a daily newspaper reader and found The Gleaner to be the most extensive and professional newspaper that I had come across in Jamaica.
To say that I did not enjoy my stay in Jamaica would clearly be a lie, but I must say that in a sense, Jamaica was not prepared for me. That is to say, Jamaica was not prepared for the type of tourist that I am: the student tourist.
Who is the student tourist? The student tourist is the college and university student that knows that education by no means ends when the school year ends. The student tourist has worked hard, has what for his youthfulness is sufficient money, but still he must save. To sleep, he needs but a bed.
To move from city to city, he needs no tour bus, only the transportation that the same people of the country he visits use. He is a tourist, but he takes no tours. He needs none of such luxuries. After all, the student tourist travels not to escape a 9 to 5 job and sip daiquiris on a beach. He travels to meet new friends, to experience a new way of living, and most importantly, to witness a new culture.
And, I must point out, hotel-sponsored reggae bands that play the latest Shaggy hits are not Jamaican culture. T-shirts that say Jamaica nice are not Jamaican culture.
Most of all, Negril is not Jamaican culture. Jamaican culture is probably the best recognised of the Caribbean islands in terms of the vibrancy and richness of is culture, but who would know if they never left the tourist centres? The student traveller visits the places that do not have Hedonism resorts. I do not know to what extent the phenomenon of student tourism is a new one, but I am certain that never before has it grown to such a level as that of today. There are a number of travel agency corporations that serve only college and university students. Hostelling International offers housing for the student tourist in literally thousands of cities globally. Major airlines set aside seating for students carrying the international student card.
For so many services to exist for the student tourist, student tourism must be lucrative for someone. How so in Jamaica? I could not but help notice a letter to the editor in The Gleaner by another tourist, who criticised Parliament Opposition Leader Edward Seaga for his proposal to attract more all-inclusive travel deals to Jamaica. Though the tourist industry, and Jamaica's economy, might grow as this type of tourism becomes increasingly popular in Jamaica, the small businessman, from small hotel operators to street vendors, shares none of the benefits.
Success in the tourism sector cannot be determined in simple total dollars earned terms; the sector is only truly successful for the country if the profits reach the hands of the Jamaican people. This would best occur if there is a wider and more dynamic participation by the Jamaican people in that sector. This is where the student tourist comes in. The student tourist, like myself, hits the streets to find a better bargain than the typical Jamaica resort can offer him. He seeks out the meal that will not cost the terribly expensive price offered in the Jamaican tourist centre. Best of all, the student tourist seeks out the place where the businessman on vacation or senior citizen spending his retirement does not. He goes not to Ocho Rios and Negril but Black River, Lucea, Port Maria, and Port Antonio. He goes to the places where he can actually see the Jamaican lifestyle instead of the tourist industry, unwittingly bringing more tourist dollars to where before there were less.
Attracting such tourism is as simple as setting aside a number of student rate fares on Air Jamaica flights, perhaps some promotion of those flights with student travel agencies Once there are student rate flights, there will be interest due to Jamaica's reputation for rich culture and natural beauty. Second, hostels that offer not even a private room but simply a bed. This is not simply an economic gain but also a cultural gain. To invite student travel is to invite tourists with eyes open to learn, with arms open to share.
I am etc.,
ERIC IPPY MARTIN
Recent graduate from
University of California
PO Box 11942 Berkeley, CA
