When I think about the future of tourism in Jamaica, I think beyond the next booking, the next hotel opening or the next busy season. I think about the country we are building through the decisions we make today. Will our communities become stronger? Will our natural surroundings remain beautiful? Will young Jamaicans have a meaningful opportunity to own, lead and prosper within the industry?
For me, these questions belong at the centre of sustainable tourism.
As a Jamaican travel professional, I appreciate the importance of attracting visitors and running a profitable business. Businesses must earn enough to pay their employees, improve their services and survive difficult periods. However, I believe commercial success carries a responsibility to protect the people, places and relationships that make that success possible.
Jamaica’s appeal reaches far beyond a hotel room. It lives in our landscapes, our food, our music, our history and the way our people welcome others. These are resources we must care for, rather than assume will always be available.
Environmental protection must therefore influence how tourism develops. I believe every major development should be judged partly by its demands on water, its management of waste and its effect on surrounding ecosystems. Beautiful landscaping cannot compensate for damaged natural habitats. A convincing sustainability policy must be reflected in everyday operations and measurable results.
Existing businesses also have a part to play. Conserving water, reducing food waste, improving energy efficiency and limiting unnecessary packaging are practical decisions. Smaller operators may need to make changes gradually, but progress should still have clear goals. Responsibility becomes more credible when a business can explain what it has improved and what remains to be done.
I am equally concerned about how tourism’s benefits reach Jamaican households. The Ministry of Tourism’s Tourism Linkages Network recognises the importance of connecting tourism with agriculture, manufacturing, entertainment and other local industries. That connection is essential to the kind of tourism economy I want to see. mot.gov.jm
When a hotel buys from a Jamaican farmer, or a visitor books a local guide, more people have an opportunity to earn from the visitor economy. But encouraging local purchasing is only part of the work. Suppliers need clear requirements, dependable communication and fair payment arrangements. Small businesses cannot grow confidently if they carry the cost of supplying larger companies while waiting too long to be paid.
Our employees deserve the same seriousness. We celebrate Jamaican hospitality, and we must recognise the people whose work gives that phrase meaning. Fair treatment, training, safe working conditions and opportunities for advancement should be part of our understanding of sustainability. I would like more young people to see tourism as a field in which they can build expertise, exercise judgment and eventually become owners and leaders.
Communities must also have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect them. Residents should be able to raise concerns about traffic, noise, water supplies, coastal access and changes to their neighbourhoods. Consultation is most useful before decisions become difficult to change. Tourism will have a stronger future when the people living beside it can see how it improves their lives.
Travel agencies have a responsibility here as well. Through GO! Jamaica Travel, the role I want us to play is to help customers make informed choices and bring worthwhile Jamaican experiences to their attention. That means looking beyond price alone and considering reliability, service, local value and responsible business practices. It also means being honest: we should never describe an experience as sustainable simply because the word helps sell it.
I believe we should measure tourism’s progress more broadly. Visitor arrivals and revenue matter, but so do local purchasing, employee development, environmental performance and community satisfaction. These measures would help us understand the quality of the growth we are pursuing.
Ultimately, my hope is for an industry that Jamaicans can feel proud to support because they can see its value in their own lives. I want visitors to enjoy our island, businesses to remain commercially strong, and communities to share in the opportunities tourism creates.
The most meaningful success would be to pass on a Jamaica whose beauty, character and possibilities remain intact—and whose people are better equipped to shape what comes next.
By Dr Dave Chin Tung
