JAMAICA | Montego Bay: A Pearl Stuck in a Clamshell Argues Dr. André Haughton

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, June 29, 2025 - More than a century ago, when Sir Herbert Barker, a famous British osteopath, declared that Doctor's Cave Beach's crystal-clear waters had curative powers, he unknowingly launched Jamaica's tourism revolution.

Wealthy British and European royalty, along with American movie stars, flocked to Montego Bay to experience the healing properties of these legendary waters.

What began with Dr. Alexander James McCatty's generous donation of his beach property in 1906 became the foundation of Jamaica's first tourism resort -Doctor’s Cave Beach -a legacy that transformed Montego Bay into the Caribbean's tourism capital.

Today, this storied city resembles a pearl stuck in a clamshell: precious, luminous, but enclosed by layers of neglect, poor planning, political inertia, mismanagement and small thinking.

For the city to reclaim its pioneering status and flourish once again, it must first overcome these constraints.

The Outer Shell: Stagnation and Lost Competitive Edge

Montego Bay faces fierce competition not just from its illustrious past, but from dynamic destinations across the Caribbean and beyond.

While the city once set the standard for luxury tourism, places like Cartagena, Medellín, and Punta Cana now attract higher-income tourists with modern amenities, vibrant nightlife, cultural integration, and pristine public spaces.

If Montego Bay fails to evolve, it risks becoming a relic of its former glory.

The numbers tell a sobering story. In 2024, Jamaica welcomed approximately 4.3 million visitors—a 4.9% increase from 2023's 4.1 million. Yet tourism earnings remained flat at US$4.3 billion, revealing that while more people are visiting, they're spending less per capita.

Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic attracted 7.65 million tourists, and Colombia surged to a record 6.7 million visitors, driven by diversified attractions and creative marketing campaigns like "Colombia, the country of beauty."

We cannot afford to settle for high visitor numbers alone; we must aim to attract wealthier tourists who spend more per visit. This means investing in premium experiences, safety, cleanliness, and world-class services that justify higher spending. The goal is not only more tourists—but better tourism.

The Inner Pearl: Untapped Potential

Projects like Harmony Beach Park, Harbor City Mall, and the new perimeter road represent progress but fall short of the transformational thinking required.

The perimeter road, for instance, should do more than improve traffic flow—it should unlock economic zones in the interior, integrating BPO offices, health tourism centers, and innovation hubs that spread economic activity beyond the overcrowded downtown core.

Yet Montego Bay's true strength lies not just in its pristine beaches, but in the rich history and culture of its people—the very foundation upon which Jamaica's tourism industry was built.

Local residents, recognizing the economic potential of their warm hospitality, have transformed their homes into bed and breakfast facilities, offering visitors authentic Jamaican experiences in welcoming family environments.

This grassroots tourism development represents the entrepreneurial spirit that has always defined Montego Bay's appeal.

However, critical areas still demand attention. Sam Sharpe Square, the Hip Strip, the people's arcades, and the Charles Gordon market cry out for revitalization that honors their historical significance while meeting modern standards.

Harmony Beach Park, once known as Dump-Up Beach where inner-city youth played football on Sundays, has been redeveloped but lacks essential amenities like a futsal court, swimming pool, and outdoor gym.

Public beaches including One-Man Beach, Sunset Beach and Dead End need clean, accessible restrooms—basic infrastructure that respects both residents and visitors.

Breaking the Shell: What Must Change

One encouraging trend is the decline in crime, thanks to persistent police efforts. This progress must be acknowledged and supported with continued investment in community safety. However, several areas remain poorly lit, especially at night.

The main corridor from Harmony Beach Park to Margaritaville exemplifies this problem, where tourists fear to walk and residents face real danger crossing roads in darkness. A serious city management team would have observed and solved this fundamental safety issue.

The current leadership's focus on optics over outcomes compounds these problems. Recent controversies, including the removal of campaign posters and subsequent legal defeats, underscore a broader issue: criticism meets defensiveness rather than constructive reflection.

When the mayor claims Montego Bay is "the cleanest city in the country," it reveals limited ambitions for both himself and the city he leads.

Learning from Global Success

Montego Bay must embrace solutions that other cities have already proven effective. In Brazil, citizens earn cash by recycling glass, paper, and tin cans—a model that promotes both cleanliness and economic inclusion. Such programs could deliver immediate impact while engaging residents as stakeholders in their city's transformation.

Moreover, the mayor's unfamiliarity with how tourism taxes, fees and programs have revolutionized cities worldwide reflects a concerning knowledge gap. When technology makes services more efficient and public infrastructure improves, the tourism product inevitably improves, creating a positive cycle that benefits everyone.

A Constituency Left Behind

No discussion of Montego Bay's stagnation is complete without acknowledging the ongoing neglect faced by residents of St. James West Central. For nine years, the current Member of Parliament has presided over a constituency where progress has been painfully slow.

Communities still lack proper roads, homes lack reliable water access, and families wait endlessly for land titles requiring nothing more than a signature of authorization.

Young people have been particularly abandoned, lacking not just jobs but direction and opportunity. This stagnation stems not from lack of potential, but from lack of political will. The same indifference that has prevented the wider city from modernizing has denied St. James West Central residents the tools they need to participate in Jamaica's future.

A City Ready to Shine

The pearl is already there, shaped by more than a century of tourism excellence that began when the healing waters of Doctor's Cave Beach first captured the world's imagination. The question is: do we have the courage to crack the clamshell wide open?

Montego Bay doesn't need pity or platitudes—it needs leadership, investment, and a clear roadmap. It's time to move beyond excuses and politics. It's time to make Montego Bay the city it was always meant to be: a Caribbean jewel that sets standards rather than chases them.

Dr Andre Haughton is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Economics at the University of the West Indies, Mona. He is also the People's National Party Shadow Cabinet Minister to Commerce, Innovation and Technology. He is the Member of Parliament caretaker for the St James West Central Constituency. He is the Author of Developing Sustainable Balance of Payments in Small Countries and Overcoming Productivity Challenges in Small Countries. You can contact him via social media at @drandrehaughton on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Linked-In.