What kill Tourism in Portland???

[Mosiah]

...and the same time realise that it is not all about immediate money.

Tell me about it!

[Stonigut]

Hey talk about passion, taking almost taking what many see/saw as nothing and turning it into something. Billy Wilmot at Jamnesia, even the name brand is cool!

[Assasin]

yeah man that is passion. The Maroons in Charles Town was trying something. I don't know how it was going but the intial thing was looking good.

[TDowl]

Windjammer cruises, you are unto something here, I was thinking the same for Lucea, but the local knuckle heads(PNP/JLP) could not even get the Montego Bay Yacth Club to resume the Easter Reggata from Lucea to Mo Bay.

I also heard that the Fiesta Group have some big say about Lucea Harbor and fishing boats, also they are most likely the group that shot down Port Lucea as a cruise Liner call.

[MdmeX]

No Portland Tourism is killed because of lack of representation. By the the 2000 came around not even 1 ship was going to Port Antonio.

The forces that be stood by and let Ochi, Leo Windman and crew took away all the ship. Until Portlanders get serious no ship will go back to Portland. The mentality is "We are the best, people will come". The drain started under Anthony Abrahams who was MP and Minster of Tourism and didn't care much. From there on, show me any real effort by the MP for East Portland, Chamber of Commerce, Cruise shipping association, central government to bring it back?

Maybe craft vendors and JUTA drivers should have blocked road. Seems like that is the only language understood.

Falmouth never killed Ochi or Mobay as predicted by some.

IMO Portlanders helped to kill their own tourism also.

Can't remember if it was 2005 or 2006, a cruise ship came to Portie on New Year's Day, and the inbond store was closed, like all businesses in the area. As I hear it, not even craft vendors were visible; because everybody had to celebrate the holiday.

Now this is an area that was devoid of cruise ships for a long time. Go figure.

Even my big shot friend, Polly P, who was at the Tourist Board in Portie for decades, served no purpose.......

[Assasin]

She use to be one a my favorite teacher but then she left and went to tourist board and disappoint me bigtime. Her hobby or X had all the connections one person needed to have but.......

Yes I remember that day. Joka them.

[OJ]

not sure Cruise ship is the answer to Portland trourisim. Personally I think the kind of boutique hotels shuch as Trident and GeeJam is the answer. Portland should be seen as an aternative to Negrial and Mobay attracting a different visitor who will be outside of the inclusive walls. They need to get Navy Island back up and Dragon bay..... Fix the Market .. This is one of the jewels of Jamaica.

[Bricktop]

Cayman doesn't have a cruise ship pier...they are doing fine...

[Assasin]

While that is the kind of tourism I like best, the cruise liners use to come and it was fine. Tourist use to walk up and down Port Antonio for a day and visit Rafting on Rio Grande, Nonesuch caves, you could also move them to Blue Mountain and Coffee drinking for a day and other places. Both can survive. You see these Hotel you speak of are on the outskirt of Port Antonio and the cruise activity is central in the town. Just my opinion still.

I guess that was the thinking behind the habour in the 90s but like the conference center in Mobay if you don't market it in the right places it is going to be empty.

[OJ]

I hear you..I think Portland has a lot to offer, but I dont really know how much tourist spend from cruising. I see places like Cayman and St. Maaten do well in term of high end shopping.. jewelery and such but you can only buy so much Tshirts and trinkets. Now the tours does well and will be an attraction in Portland. Yes room for both..

[Bricktop]

The possibilities are endless...set up a "Williamsburg" in Portland http://www.history.org/history/ we have no vision

[Assasin]

When I was in school in Titchfield. The Habour was close to the town so many tourist went walking. This may not be measured but a lot of them went to eat local food, drink and took local taxis etc. plus buying from the craft market so locals get some money. Plus big for entertainment as local groups and artists sometimes go aboard or play on the wharf.

My two neighbours use to only drive for JUTA two days a week carrying tourists and farm or relax the other days.

[Mosiah]

Plus big for entertainment as local groups and artists sometimes go aboard or play on the wharf.

That may not happen so regularly in these post 9-11 days.