THE EDITOR, Sir:
I WOULD like to bring to your attention the issue of the proposed hotel development at Pear Tree Bottom, Runaway Bay. As a recreational scuba-diver, marine scientist and at present marine policy graduate student, I would like to add my voice to those asking for meaningful dialogue on this issue. This particular spot of the Jamaican coastline is truly unique and beautiful. The coral reefs here have survived the ravages of several hurricanes and environmental stress from land-based pollution, and they are at present, making a slow but steady return to their former splendour.
The mega all-inclusive hotel that the Government and private developers plan to erect will probably require among other things, dredging of the seagrass beds in the nearshore, blasting rocks and spreading dredged sand on the beach. These activities do not even include the construction and engineering works necessary to erect the actual hotel structure. All these combined activities would increase the likelihood of increased stress on the seagrass beds and reefs nearby. I have two burning issues to bring to the public's attention.
We need to ask ourselves if it is wise to continue increasing the numbers of this type tourism development. Have we reached the limit? The obvious arguments for mega all-inclusives are that we are creating employment and contributing to the economy. The general belief is therefore that huge financial benefits will accrue to the island from this type of tourism. The public should be aware that there is a particular term called 'leakage' which describes what happens to the income derived from the industry.
ALL-INCLUSIVE PACKAGE TOUR
The fact is, in most all-inclusive package tours, about 80 per cent of traveler's' expenditures go to the airlines, hotels and other international companies (who often have their headquarters in the traveler's' home countries), and not to local businesses or workers. That's according to a UNEP study. So the large benefits the people of Jamaica supposedly are receiving, are at best arguable. My point here is, we must realise the reason we have this type tourism (sun, sea and sand) !
In the first place it is because of the coral reefs and seagrass beds etc. If we continue to inundate the coastline with these types of development, we may end up with a situation of having thousands of rooms but absolutely no more reefs or beaches and consequently no more tourists coming to visit.
The second issue I would like to bring to your attention is the increasing problem of access to the beach by the public. This Pear Tree Bottom development is a prime example of loss of public access. In this case the main road was conveniently moved further inland to facilitate 'development' of the property. The result being, ordinary Jamaicans can no longer gain access to the foreshore to swim in the waters and enjoy the nearby reef. This is one such case where the prescriptive rights of former users of this beach have been ignored.
Mr. Editor, the point of this letter is really to suggest that we, as a nation, should re-evaluate the current direction of our tourism model. Thousand-room all-inclusive hotels cannot be the only solution. We would do well to implement the recommendations found in the Sustainable Tourism Master Plan, which among other things aims to diversify the types of tourism products with the aim of increasing the benefits to the local population.
REDUCE THE WIDENING GAP
'Eco-sensible' tourism where the community is truly integrated into the product is the only way to ensure that we will continue to compete internationally. This type tourism could also help to reduce the widening gap between the poor and the rich as well as minimise the feeling of alienation and displacement among the wider community. Maybe this might help to reduce the need for eight-foot barbed wire fences, armed hotel security guards and warning signs on our beaches.
I am, etc.,
PETER E.T. EDWARDS
Graduate Student,
Marine Policy
University of Delaware
