Nobody wants to visit Jamaica because of the crime and the violence occuring out there, that is why the likkle youths them must behave and just humble them selves with the gun thing and the killing man ,just avoid people and war. Youths must start embrace peace and education fultime them learn and have common sense.Jamaica needs the tourists to survive financially.

belle.,.,there's no way the crime will stop wen the youths don't av a job.,.,so with the decrese in the spring break not only should b blamed on the youths but also on the government.,.,

Well that's what happens when Jamaica tries to act like they are so economically powerful and independent that they can entertain a crazy person like Hugo Chavez and no one can tell them they can't do it.

See, now the US is retaliating by imposing passport requirements. People here in the States can't be bothered with this foolishness as most persons just travel by showing their driver's license or State ID card.

It's not the crime that has caused the drop off. Crime was always a problem in Jamaica and people still came. It's as a direct result of the recent passport requirements. Tourists on a whole will just go to Cancun, or Daytona or whatever.

All I am saying is ''when yu have yu han in dawg mouth, tek time tek it out.''

I believe that the government don’t have the political will to deal effectively with the problem they don’t equip the police properly, there are r too many corrupt police and citizens do not trust them hence no one is willing to give information on criminal activities, they don’t have an independent investigation team to investigate police killing.
The government need to stop garrison polities because it is in the garrison that the criminals r being manufactured due to lack of opportunities and evil DONS.
It nuh ave nutten fi do with Chavez because BUSH a d biggest demon!!!! n wi ave d right to associate with whichever country we choose.

Anthony ... U r not serious r u ?

USA is not imposing passport requirements for that reason. Check wid Homeland Security again, yuh get bad info. All Canada & Bermuda tuh. Basically if yuh ah re-enter de USA by plane, yuh need a passport. Ah dem "Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative", recommended by de National Commission on Terrorist Attacks on the United States, better known as the "9/11 Commission".

De drop off have fi duh wid ah whol heap ah tingz ... some ah dem dat de JA govt caan manipulate. De competition strong (especially since Cancun is back up & running), not to mention de war chess weh de adda countries dem have in terms of dallaz fi support dem advertizing campaign, and de fact dat through Global Warming, nuff cold places are now OK to stay in/at. As a result, de govt haffi be more creative in luring (ooops ... da word deh have certain connotations to it) ... "in enticing" .. visitors to de Island.

HOPEFULLY IT PICK UP .... cause de rippling effects may be VERY damaging when yuh look pon de lower levels weh man & man "haffi eat ah food".

JEALOUS ONES STILL HATE. THE ULTIMATE DESIRE OF MANY NON JAMAICANS AND AND JAMAICANS WHO HAVE TO BE IN EXILE BECAUSE OF THE LIFESTYLE THEY'VE CHOSEN WILL ALWAYS TAKE PLEASURE IN SEEING JAMAICA SHED TEARS ECONOMICALLY. THIS I DIRECT AT ALL THE WHO ARE QUICK TO TALK ABOUT JAMAICA LINKING WITH CHAVEZ ETC. CHAVEZ IS GIVING US OIL CHEAPER AND WITH BENEFITS OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. NOT SUCH THING CAN BE SAID ABOUT THE ARAB WORLD WHO IS ONLY FOCUS ON SUPPLY THE SO CALLED DEVELOP NATIONS WITH MANY INCENTIVES TO OFFER: MILITARY SECURITY RINGS ANY BELL FOLK? SAUDIA ARABIA PROBLY DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT A COUNTRY CALLED JAMAICA EXIST, LIKE WISE ALL THE OTHER OIL RICH COUNTRIES. WHAT IS WRONG WITH A GOVERNMENT WORKING TO HELP THE POOR? BECAUSE JAMAICA IS BEING CRIPPLED BY GLOBALIZATION, WHERE DEVELOP NATIONS ONLY CARE ABOUT SELLING TO US BUT WONT BUY ANY OF OUR PRODUCTS IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASON JAMAICA SUFFERS ECONOMICALLY AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH STILL REMAINS WITH THE FORMER SLAVE MASTERS DESCENDANTS OR THE RED SKING PEOPLE AS THEY ARE CALLED IN JA. AL0NG WITH A FEW KISS A*S SELFISH BLACK SKIN AND RED HEART JAMICANS WHO ONLY THINK FOR SELF AND NOT NATION. ALL WHO IS TALKING ABOUT JA'S. CRIME, HAVE ANY OF YOU EVER SEND ONE PENCIL OR A BOOK TO A BASIC SCHOOL TO HELP THAT CHILD WHO MAY HAVE TO SKIP SCHOOL CAUSE HE/SHE DON'T HAVE THE BASIC TOOLS? HAVE ANY OF YOU IN YOUR SELF RIGHTEOUS SELF EVER THINK TO MAKE ON CHILD OR PARENT HAPPY BY PAYING ONE TERM O HIGH SCHOOL TUITION? WHAT HAVE ANY OF YOU COMMENTATORS EVER DONE TO HELP ANY SINGLE INNOCENT AMBITUOS SOUL FROM JAMAICA OR ANY PART OF THE WORLD? MANY OF YOU JUST LOVE TO COMMENT BUT YOU ARE ALL EMPTY BARRELS THAT IS WHY YOU ALL ARE SO LOUD WHEN ROLLING. DO SOMETHING AND STOP CHAT, YOU DON'T NEED A CREW TO DO, YOU CAN DO YOURSELF, CAUSE MANY OF YOU JAMAICANS WENT TO SCHOOL IN JAMAICA, GO BACK USE THE NET IF YOU CANT GO BACK;JUST LIKE YOU USE IT TO BEAR FALSE WITHNESS TO THE REAL CRISIS IN JAMAICA. USE IT TO FIND INFO ON YOUR OLD SCHOOL AND DONATE EVEN A 50U$ IT WOULD BE BETTER THAN JUST CHATTING SH*T. MANY OF YOU NEED A TO STUDY THE HISTORY, ECONOMICS AND CURRENT EVENTS AND STOP RELYING ON WHAT JOURNALIST TELL YOU ALL THE TIME. BUT I KNOW MOST OF YOU JUST LOVE THOSE JOURNALIST, I MEAN, YOU TURN ON YOUR TV, READ YOUR NEWS PAPER NOT TO ANALYSE FROM A OBJECTIVE POINT BUT A SUBJECTIVE ONE; WHICH MAKES YOU ALL SLAVE. YOU ALL NEED TO BE INSPIRED CAUSE MANY OF YOU ARE JUST EDUCATED FOOLS AND AGENTS OF A SYSTEM THAT BARLEY SPEAKS TRUTH. MANY OF YOU COULDN'T NOT WAIT TO READ AN ARTICLE LIKE THE ONE YOU'ALL READ TO START HAMMERING JAMAICA BUT LEARN THIS UNCLE TOMS,FASSISES,FALSE WITNESS AND CAPITALISTIC TYRANTS: JAMAICA WILL ALWAYS PROSPER. JAMAICA WILL ALWAYS STRUGGLE AS LONG AS THERE ARE COVETIOUS EVIL DOERS ON EARTH,JAMAICANS ARE THE THE POINT OF EVERY FREEDOM MOVEMENT IN THE BLACK HISTORY. WHEN BLACK AMERICANS AND OTHER BLACK TERRITORIES WERE STILL SAY, "YES MASSA" WE WERE ON THE BATTLEFIELD FIGHTING FOR EQUAL RIGHTS AND JUSTICE, WE (JAMAICANS) ARE THE ONES WHO ALL YOU ENSLAVE ONES IN THE CARICOM AND NORTH AMERICA OWES YOUR FREEDOM TO THROUGH THE INSPIRATION OF COURSE FROM THE ALMIGHTY GOD WHO SI NEITHER WOOD NOR STONE NEITHER FLESH NOR BONE, CONTRARY TO WHAT MANY OF YOU SLAVES ON THIS COMMENT MY BELIEVE. FINALLY, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM ISAAC AND ISRAEL BLESS JAMAICAN EVERLASTING AND BLESS THE LAND OF ETHIOPIA AND JERUSALEM WHO WILL CONTINUE TO CHANT DOWN BADMIND AND BABYLON AND THEIR SUPPORTERS. BLESSED IS ALL RIGHTOUTS PEOPLE ON THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH WHO DESIRE TO SEE ALL HUMANITY IN STRENGTH AND PURSUIT OF EQUAL RIGHTS AND JUSTICE. FOR IN HIS IMAGE CREATED HE, MALE AND FEMALE. DOWN WITH ALL EVIL CONSPIRATORS, WISHERS,DREAMERS AND AND EXPECTANTS THEREOF. TYPOS I DON'T CARE TO CORRECT BEING THIS IS MY UNCOMPROMISING THOUGHTS ABOUT ALL WHO COMMENTED ON THE BLOG

I really think alot of the blame goes to the jamaican goverment.The people in Jamaica are starving and the crime rate has spiraled in recent years so of course your going to see a decline. Nobody wants to visit a crime invested place. As much as I love my home and everything the comes with it you really have to put things in perpective it's going to get alot worse if the goverment don't realize what's going on around them.

I couldnt say it any better. Check out theses words I copied from another yard flex article. Things are really bad.

Kingston State Of Mind (Cherine Anderson)
from: www.myspace.com/cherineanderson

Another man lose him life tonight
Baby mother she a bawl Jesus Christ
Another lickle youth nuh have nuh fada fi life
Tell me who ago teach the children what's right

VS1.
Jacques Rd, Park Rd, Flankers, Bucksfield
What's are we really fighting for?
Death Rate Climbing uneducated Rising
How can dis be living at all

Mi neva see a gun weh talk
mi neva si one walk
An bullet nuh get up and vote
Some bredda seh dem a keep di order
Fi some man weh nuh live on yah
Yuh system is a joke

Chorus:
Another ghetto youth loose him life tonight
Baby mother she a bawl Jesus Christ
Another lickle youth nuh have nuh fada fi life
Tell me who ago teach the children what's right

VS2.
Zinc Fence, and one bed
10 pickney, it sticky
minimun wage it can't stretch nuh more
Politician (hm)
31 Million deception
do you think half the story's been told

But true wi hungry belly
sell wi soul fi chicken money
Gas wi up wid false hope
we nuh read between the shit dem sell we
think di red and green goin save wi
di system is a joke

reason why it's declineing is cause of the crime and violence in jamaica. which needs to stop and if it don't they ain't gonna have any tourist visting jamaica.

yow a stupid dem stupid yah

for further clarification...
it looks like Mr. Kuzbari may have been referring to people who drive to Mexico from the US not needing a passport...
In Canada, as Major T mentioned, people travelling to the US by air must carry valid passports, but those driving across the US border need not carry passports as identification. I am sure anyone flying to Mexico need passports too.

i know!!!
How about special medical marijuana tours!!!
Hosting special tours for Canadians who have the option to use medical marijuana legally could be accomodated through some controlled marijuana sharing expedetion!!
seriously!!
we may as well live up to we name...did you know there is an encyclopeida that claims Ganja as one of Jamaica's main economic sources!!!believe it or not...
anyway...the scientist of the world need to step up to the plate and get it right about ganja...that would help...
me no too keen on de heep a people people who eventually wan come buy out de whole place...

As a an American college student, I went to Negril 3 times for spring break. After college, I worked in Negril for 4 years. I will tell you from a qualified position that spring break has deteriorated due to greed, complacency, and lack of creativity on the part of the major players (US-based tour operators, local venue owners, and potential advertisers). From 2001-2006, the party schedule has been the EXACT same. Risky Business, The Jungle, Margaritaville - NOTHING has changed in years. What makes Jamaica so great? The culture, the party vibes, the music, the atmosphere. What is shoved down the throats of the US college students? Cheesy, all-inclusive, American-style parties like the Mardi Gras party every Wednesday night, the foam party every Friday night. In effect, spring break Jamaica is the US projected onto Jamaican soil, as opposed to Jamaica being projected onto the visiting American students.

Before the students even land in Jamaica, their party schedule is set. The all-inclusive party passes enable tour operators to shepherd the students to the "1 big party each night." Those parties have not changed a spec in years. Back in the day the entire beach of Negril was open for spring breakers to stroll up and down the beach, no cover charges, just partying happening all over. Now, you walk down the beach at night during spring break and what is there? Silence for much of your walk, then a fenced in party happening at one of the venues. To get behind that fence, expect to pay a minimum of $25 for an all-you-can drink party, where the all-you-can drink consists of 8 oz. cups of rum punch, pina colada, or warm Red Stripe. That is not what the students deserve, and it is not how Negril deserves to be portrayed.

The greatest music in the world was invented, and has since been developed in Jamaica. Expect to hear 50 Cent more than Bob Marley during spring break. Expect to hear techno and not dancehall. It is pathetic, it is an injustice to the community of Negril, and it is embarassing to think that the complacency of spring break Negril has been maintained for so long.

All decisons made about spring break Negril are made by a select few, who will hold their personal benefit higher than the benefit of creating a well-run, successful operation, that will trickle down success throughout all of Jamaica.

All-inclusive parties, meal plans, and the channeling of business by the tour operators is what has killed spring break in Jamaica. Greed by the venue owners to not allow separate venues to get involved with spring break has killed spring break Jamaica.

Passport requirements, and Jamaican politics has not affected spring break. Those are easy cop outs, and are made easy because blaming an easy scape goat is a lot easier than stepping up to the plate and solving the problem.

I send massive blessings to all business owners that get left out because their business is not promoted to the students.

To fix spring break in Jamaica, US-based tour operators, the Jamaica Tourist Board, Jamaican corporations, American corporations who do business in Jamaica, and the best of Jamaican entertainment need to combine forces to end the greed and complacency that has led to the unecessary demise of Jamaica spring break.

Great post DonGorgon! I agree with every word. But the problem you did spot out is not only about Spring Break, but about all year round turism in Negril. If you've been there more then 2-3 times you see it's the same party schedule on the beach every week for years people doing the same thing without change. No new party places to open, no new music to be played, only few of the tourists who explore the off-the-beach party scene can experience true vibes and real music, not "tourist reggae"... I love Negril, but it NEEDS some change, it needs to get funky and grooving again. Just a little example. Remember the Crazy Stoochas dancing team who were performing in Alfred's? The were the highlight of the parties, making the most crazy and funny performances i've seen. On the last visit there were no Crazy Stoochas in Alfred's no more, doesn't really matter why they got fired, but i never went to Alfred's again because it was truly boring...

Dongorgon, it look like u ave d situation "LOCK", u need to submit this post to the Jamaica Gleaner, apparently what we need are some good promoters with vision who r not just looking to "cash in" but to ensure d spring breakers "fulljoy" themselves n to benefit d country as a whole. Maybe we can bring a clean version of "PASSA" "PASSA" to Negril at night N give dem a "Ganja tour" a day. We can have a "Meet d people tour" n bring dem into the hills of Jamaica n mek dem meet some nice loving "COUNTRY PEOPLE", it might change nuff a dem a new perspective on life LOL.

Rasta live !!!!!

DonGorgon Nuff Respec (yuh see de situation well) .... I PRAY DAT DE POWERS DAT BE COULDA SEE YUH POST. YUH SPEAK WID FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE AS YOU"VE BEEN DERE.

WHY YUH NUH APPLY FI AH JOB ? DEM COULDA USE SOME FRESH IDEAS, AND BEING A PARTICIPANT & SEEING FIRST HAND DE SUCCESSES & FAILURES COULD ENABLE YUH TO BRING SUPPEN DAT COULD HELP DE SITUATION !!!

YES MAN, DEM NEED FI BE MORE CREATIVE !!

Yo - I am a Trini - an las time I went to Jamaica. Mobay - people everywhere asking me for money - I got robbed once - but that wasn't even the worst of it, the people who I was stayin wit always demanded money for any little thing they did for me - they smiled to my face and were friendly, but in the end all they wanted was money. I love reggae music, have grown up on it - but after visiting Jamaica - I can really see what Capleton was talking about:

"Your head mus look out,
cau wicked man dem inna east west north an south!"

Jamaica is full of a buncha thieves, bandits, an people who a try hustle you! AN I love Jamaica, at least I thought I did - my advice to anyone visiting Jamaica, with no family there - stay in an American Hotel, an try not to talk to much to the people, because you will owe them money for something after the conversation. Nuff, nuff hypocrite an parasite in Jamaica.

thank god, now we will realize that we cant depnd simply on tourism. what we need to do is put some heavy tariffs on us goods, and start building up our farmers and educate the young.

@ Jahyout ....

STOP IT ..... Doan dweet again !!!!!!

I am in agreement with most of the comments posted. My only concern is our tendancy to place blame squarely at the feet of the Government. I think us Jamaicans give the government too much power. We out number the government not just in number but in mind power. If every Jamaican commit to the idea that their fellow Jamaican citizen is an extension of their family. The crime rate we are talking about would not be such a hot topic. We can do more for ourselves as a people and for our country than any politician can or will do for us. We need to really take back our power and confidence that we place so blindly in the hands of politicians who historically has never had our best interest at heart. Forget the damn tourist for a minute what about the permanent tourists of Jamaica--- Jamaican citizens until Jamaica restore hope, peace and security to the average Jamaican citizen then tourists will never be safe in Jamaica. And honestly Jamaica is a blessed country with a very beautiful and resourceful people our main problem is our lack of unity and brotherly love. If we treat each other the way we want to be treated then Jamaica's crime rate would not be so out of control. Jamaica's government and citizens needs to collectively work on improving Jamaica to enhance the lives of our citizens then the tourist will come. But we can't continue with these bandaid fixes. We need to collectively get to the root cause of why crime is so high and do whatever we can to prevent and/ or control crime. Gambino, you made some valid points. It is so easy to sit back and put Jamaica under a microscope and make a diagnosis as to what the problem is, but very few have the courage or willingness to do anything about it. Everyone has the ability to give of themselves it doesn't always have to be money it could just be your time. There are programs in the United States where high school school and college students or other willing persons to go to developing countries around the world and help build homes,install pipes so clean drinking water is available. Very small things that can enhance the lives of many people in the developing world. Sadly most of those who are volunteering are White people going to predominantly Black impoverished countries. Why aren't more Black people doing these type of things, we are not impacted by the misfortune of others even if they look just like us, as long as it is not me or anyone in my family then too bad. We need to change our perception of ourselves and each other.
If you are not willing to be a part of the solution then you are a part of the problem. We Jamaicans need to stop relying on politicians to save us -- check our history since the beginning of time politics has destroyed, demoralized and divided Jamaican society and we really expect them to be our saviour now, gimme a damn break IT is UP to US to Save Ourselves. one love , petagaye

Jamaica needs to be prepared for a two year drop in tourism due primarily to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. However the youths in America will eventually realize that they need a passport to have fun abroad. Jamaica is always going to be a favored travel destination by tourists abroad because it is such a beautiful country with so many fun things to experience.

This is really sad. Being born and raised in St. Andrews,Jamaica for 4 years, you would think that things would change for the better. I've always wanted to go back and visit my home because its been 18 years now. DonGorgon I agree with you 100% and Jahyout, that happen to alot of people I know who visited down there. Dem have to get it together!

In truth and in fact the JTB could not promote JA for Spring break this year with all the Cricket World Cup going on. Where would the hotel spaces go to host an Int'l event like the CWC and Spring Break at the same time. I am sure the JTB will go back to pushing JA for 2008 Spring Break season, but logistically it wouldn't work this year.

I studied Toursm management at university and now work in the tourism Industry and to tell you the truth, most of what is happening in terms of the decline ,has nothing to do with the government. The major players in the industry are to be blamed for some of what has been happening. If you go back and check it, in terms of variety, Mexico and Acapulco has a wide range of variety to offer the spring breakers compared to what Jamaica has to offer. Remember the government roll in Tourism is to market the destination or brand "Jamaica" and that only. The industry players are there to offer the entertainment as well as the tour packages that can attract spring breakers. The last time we checked, the government wasn't the ones operating chukka adventure tours and the margaritavilles. People like you and me need to come up with ways and means to attract the spring breakers and other potential visitors by trying to diversify our product offering. Last year, Jamaica had a record 3 million plus visitors (both land and cruise) and most of that was due to the marketing efforts by the Jamaica Tourist Board and its staff.

Good point Incognito .... very good point.

Wait... it look like wi ave some government spin doctor round here

LOL @ ISPY !!

Wi need fi laugh sometimes !!!

The positive respond that DonGorgon got
from allot of poster here for his/her outstanding post shows that there is hope.
for Jamaica.

Because yuh got some people a invite people to come to Jamaica
and a feed them American culture.

Some a dem apt to talk like American, dress like American
play American music over Jamaican.

And wen it backfire dem blame politician

Yeh man a Fyah