By Noel Thompson, Staff Reporter
Scottish visitors Brian Sawers, wife Elaine and friends Val and Peter McQueenie are all smiles, as they spend their holidays at the Sandals Negril Resort recently. - Noel Thompson Photo
WESTERN BUREAU:
DESPITE NUMEROUS negative reports in the international media about Jamaica, some Scottish tourists say this has not deterred them visiting Jamaica.
In fact, Jamaica is a prime Caribbean destination, they say.
Peter McQueenie, his wife - Val and friends Brian and Elaine Sawers, all from Edinburgh, Scotland, recently vacationed at the Sandals Negril Resort. Peter, who spoke mainly on behalf of the group said they chose to let the New Year found them in Jamaica.
"Scotland is very cold now. We wanted to spend our New Year in a warm climate, a nice country and with good people. I have travelled to Barbados and St. Lucia a couple of times, but I have known about Jamaica for a long time. We also chose to stay at Sandals because we realise that it offers a better standard of holiday," Mr. McQueenie, a builder said.
He said most of the news they received about Jamaica in Scotland was very negative, but primarily surrounded the drug trade and the violence.
"But talking to friends who have been here before, they told me to go to a good resort and you get the security you need. Despite the negative belief we have of Jamaica, we believe that every country in the world has its own problems. We believe that this country (Jamaica) is going to prosper, because hopefully, it will get on top of the problems it has," Mr. McQueenie said.
He suggested, however, that it was necessary for the relevant players in the industry to endeavour to keep tourism alive in Jamaica.
Brian Sawers fully supported his colleague's comments about Jamaica.
"We thought about Florida, Mexico, South Africa and the Caribbean and we chose Jamaica," he said.
"We have heard about the violence here, in Kingston and the crime and the 'Yardie' gang, but it is no different from London, Glasgow and Edinburgh, where there are job problems. Every country has that problem."
Referring to the drug problem, Mr. Sawers said, "Edinburgh had experienced a significant rise in HIV/AIDS cases in recent years and that was as a result of people becoming involved with drugs," he said adding that the problem had moved to Glasgow. He noted however that the authorities were currently on top of the situation.
