The Editor, Sir:

We refer to the remarks made by Edward Seaga as reported in the article 'Seaga predicts problems with Spanish Hotel Invasion' dated December 5.

We are small hotel owners from Negril. We saw Riu hotels being built and we look forward to seeing more investors from Spain 'invade' our country.

Hotel staff in Jamaica do not speak German, Dutch, Japanese or Italian, yet we have received visitors from these countries for many years. Most importantly, however, it is crucial to understand that the vast majority of clients staying at Riu and who will stay at the new 'invaders' hotels are not Spanish, but North American.

Therefore, perhaps language is not the real problem here. The competition to virtual monopolies sounds more like it. After all, there will be increased airlift to Jamaica (benefiting all hotels), more employment, a more robust economy and finally the level of tourism development that Jamaica needs to be recognised as a true player among vacation destinations.

While it is no secret that Jamaica's infrastructure needs to be improved to meet the needs of these new developments, it is also true that this may just be the 'kick in the behind' that we need to get it going. The influx of major hotel brands to Jamaica is long overdue.

We are, etc.,

Small Hotel Owners in Negril

Via Go-Jamaica