NO IMPACT FROM CRUISE SHIPPING
WHILE FALMOUTH has welcomed the most cruise ships and is responsible for 55 per cent of the cruise visitors to the island, indications are that despite the impressive arrival numbers, local businesses are not getting the expected spin-off benefits. "The tourists are coming, but they are not stopping in Falmouth, they just move on to other parishes for tours," said Fitz Campbell, a 72-year-old senior resident of the historic Georgian town.
"We have pedestrianised the town square to create a space for the tourist to come and shop in comfort, but local supermarkets and wholesales dominate the area, there is nothing to cater to the need of our visitors," added Campbell.
According to the Port Authority of Jamaica, 287,958 cruise passengers visited Jamaica in the month of January and February on-board 94 vessels. The New Falmouth Pier, the exclusive port of entry for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines welcomed 38 of the cruise ships and 147,564 of the passengers.
Ocho Rios, which seems to get more spin-off benefits than Falmouth, welcomed 34 vessels and got 94,834 visitors over the period specified. Montego Bay had a mere 45,483 passengers from 21 cruise ships. Port Antonio had only one vessel with 77 passengers.
MORE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE
Falmouth's mayor, Garth Wilkinson, who is chairman of the Trelawny Parish Council, said on reflection more could have been done to prepare business operators for the opportunities that came along with the new development. "We must admit that apart from our craft vendors and a few other location, none of our businesses have changed to cater for our visitors," Wilkinson said. "We have wasted a lot of time, energy and money in the past, but it has got us nowhere; it is more than time that we change the way we do business."