GeographySchool Based Assessment (SBA)

(Tourism)

Candidate Name: Shemar Cunningham

School: Old Harbour High School

Teacher:

Center#: 100088

Candidate#:100088

Territory: Jamaica

Table of ContentIntroduction ………………………………………………….……………………………… i

Aim of study …………………………………………………………………………….…… 4

Location of study area ……………………………………………………………………….. 5

Methodology ……………………………………………………………………………........ 6

Presentation of data ……………………………………………………………………….. 7-15

Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………………….. 16-17

Bibliography …………………………………………………………………………….….. 18

Appendix …………………………………………………………………………………….19

Introduction

Tourism is travel for recreation, leisure, religious, family or business purposes, usually for a

limited duration. Tourism is commonly associated with international travel, but may also refer to

another place within the same country. Tourism has become a popular global leisure activity, it

as both incoming and outgoing implications on a countries balance of payments. Today Tourism

is a major source of income (foreign exchange) for many countries mainly in the Caribbean.

St Ann is one of the largest parishes in Jamaica. It is situated on the north coast of the island, in

the county of middleSex, St Ann is also known to be the Garden Parish of Jamaica, on a count of

its natural beauty. The major economic activity in the parish is tourism. St. Ann is also one of

the major tourist destinations given that it as popular beaches, numerous hotel and resorts

(including Sandals), cruise ship dock (maritime) on the west shore of the Ocho Rios. Therefore

in this research a survey was carried out so to collect statistical data that will state the necessary

information on the major factors affecting the development of tourism in Ocho Rios St Ann.

Aim of study

What are the major factors that help to contribute to the development of tourism in Ochi Rios, St

Ann?

``

Location of study areaThe parish is located at latitude 18°12'N, longitude 77°28'W. It is bordered on the south by

Clarendon and St Catherine in the east by Saint Mary, and Trelawney, in the west. Its north coast

is washed by the Caribbean Sea. St. Ann covers an area of 1,212.6 km², making it the largest

parish, before Saint Elizabeth's 1,212.4 km².

Methodology

This research was carried out using quantitative research which is research carried out by means

issuing questionnaires to collect primary data.

The location chosen to conduct the research was Ochi Rios which is located in the parish of St

Ann. We were placed in groups of four (4) and diverted into different locations within the area,

the questionnaires were issued to people randomly in order to achieve the different views and

suggestions from tourists, store owners, vendors and locals.

|Secondary information was retrieved from the internet and textbooks to support the primary data

collected.

Representation of data

A total of 25 persons were questioned and only 22 were willing to answer. Therefore after data

was collected, tallied and recorded it was presented and analyzed.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Factors

Location Physical Features Cultural Heritage Hospitality

Question 1: What are some of the factors that led to Ochi Rios becoming a tourist resort area?

Figure 1 shows the factors that help to contribute to Ochi Rios being a tourist resort. Fifty

percent (50%) said that the location or accessibility contributed to them coming to Ocho Rios as

Sangster’s International airport is relatively near. Also Sandals all inclusive hotels pull tourists

there due to affordable packages. 20% say Physical features because of the exotic white sandy

beaches, luxurious hotels and magnificent views as the parish is also known as the garden parish.

15% say cultural heritage so to learn more about the area’s history, food and tradition. Finally

15% say hospitality which is offered by hotels and other attractions.

Figure #2

Question # 4: There is a high level of tourist harassment in the area.

Figure #2

In the bar graph shown above, tourist harassment has been prevalent, however 45% of tourists

including residents strongly agree and 21% agree to this matter because residents in and around

the area who are jobless try to make a living by forcefully selling food, clothes, their bodies

even drugs, to tourists. There are reports from the largest cruise ship company in the world

Strongly Agree

Strongly Disagree

Agree

Disagree

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

45%

14%

21%

20%

PIE CHARTPIE CHART

(Carnival cruise) that tourists has been harassed, however to avoid losing their customers they

will be relocating the business from Ochi Rios to Falmouth.

The tourism minister Dr. Wykehm McNeil states in parliament that while the country

aggressively competes for tourists to help grow the economy and create jobs, harassment is

threatening to drive them away. “If our visitors don’ t enjoy the Jamaica harass free as they want

then very soon there will be a decline in business and arrivals at our ports, however all evidence

indicate that control of harassment will lead to an increase in arrivals and businesses.”

Question #8: Does the physical environment contribute to the growth of tourism in the area?

Figure #3

Figure #3 shows the responses on question 8 does the physical environment contribute to the growth of tourism.

In the pie chart above it shows that 64% of the respondent that say that the physical environment

contribute to the growth of tourism in the the area because the physical environment (beaches,

rives, Mountains) is considered to be the pull factors (features that drives people to a location).

No36%

Yes64%

Does Physical Environment contribute to the growth of torism?

While 36% of the people said NO due to the poor maintenance of roads, and water which is the

most critical natural resource. The tourism industry generally overuses water resources for

hotels, swimming pools, golf courses and personal use of water by tourists. This can result in

water shortages and degradation of water supplies generating a greater volume of waste water.

Question 11.Does the local population contributes to the development of tourism in the area?

Figure #4

39%

61%

Does the population contribute to tourism de-velopment?

Figure #4 shows whether or not does the population in Ocho Rios contribute to tourism

development in the area. 61% of the persons who were questioned agreed mainly because not all

people in and around the area is qualified, due to a poor family background, where academics is

concerned, so in order to make a living they organize their own businesses big or small and sell

items that will attract people especially tourists. While 39% said no, because people like those

try to persuade or force tourist to buy their goods causing majority of them to refrain from

touring the area and stay in there hotels within the vicinity or on cruise ship. If this act becomes

prevalent it will eventually cause a decrease in in economic growth and also fewer tourists would

want to visit the area due to fear.

Conclusion

What are the major factors that help to contribute to the development of tourism in Ochi Rios, St

Ann? Ocho Rios back in the days was once a fishing village, it was also known to be a small

town before it became a resort area, now Ochi Rios is known as a developing area due to the fact

that its location is made accessible to tourists because the airport (Sir Donald Sangster

International Airport) is in close proximity to the town, which is approximately 30 minutes’

drive, While on the way to the town of Ochi you first have to go through Fern Gully where a

number of wildlife features (Eco-system) such as: animals, insects, birds are indigenous to

Jamaica.

The physical environment has a lot to do with the development and growth of the area because of

the wonderful hotels, the major cruise ship dock located in the area (which most tourists use as a

means of traveling to the island e.g.: Carnival Cruise) its coast line which is made attractive due

to its beautiful corals, Beaches (formed by constructive waves that build up features) due to Long

Shore Drift, Head Lands and Bays, mountains which consists of dense Mangrove Forests and

also majestic Sand Spits.

The population also contributes to the development of tourism in the area because not all of the

residents is academically qualified, so in order to make a living they organize and develop their

own businesses namely: shopping malls (this provides shoppers with various different kinds of

out fits based on our Jamaican culture), art galleries (which show cases Jamaican historical

Features), and food (Restaurants which provide luscious Jamaican dishes).

The island reached an historic milestone when it welcomed its 2 million stopover visitors in

December, surpassing the 1.986 million arrivals recorded in 2012. This represents more than a

0.7 per cent increase in arrivals for the year. Figures on the industry’s overall performance

during 2013, indicate that Jamaica is recorded close to US $2 billion in earnings that year.

Jamaica’s tourism industry recorded several landmark achievements during 2013, in terms of

earnings, visitor arrivals, new markets tapped, and linkages and partnerships forged with new

cruise and airlines, making the year one of the most successful in recent times.

Bibliography

Books:

Bleasdell S. et al.: CSEC New Integrated Geography. Caribbean educational, published, 2008

Guinness, P.et al.: Geography for CSEC Nelson Thornes Ltb, 2008.

Websites:

https://www.google.com.jm/search?q=development+of+tourism+in+ocho+rios&spell=1&sa

Date: 1/03/2015

http://google.www.pollution.com

Date: 14/02/2015

http://google.www.jamaica-observer-tourism.com

Date: 17/02/2015