Where the people of Jamaica's interact with environment?

Answer 1

The current model of tourism has a negative impact on the environment of Jamaica. This model is based on the construction of mega super inclusive resorts, which require engineering solutions such as dredging, groyne construction and limestone blasting in order to create swimming beaches, and construct buildings a few meters away from the high water mark.

Super inclusive hotels do not encourage guests to venture outside the walls of the hotel and so most of the tourist's experience is limited to the entertainment and sun sea and sand activities available at that location. Jamaica really is not the destination, it is the "resort" that is the destination.

The massive increase in construction in the coast providing relatively short term and low skilled employment is seen as sustainable economic activity. However when the construction has ended the majority of the workers cannot be employed and so they continue to live in the unplanned settlements and shanty towns that are created close by to the resort areas. These settlements are typically located in the hills and mountains above the coast. The creation of these communities is accompanied by destruction of the watershed along with poor sewage treatment and solid waste management. All of which contribute to reduced water quality from the impact of increased nutrients and turbidity in the coastal waters.

In economic terms the underlying market failure of the approach to tourism in Jamaica is the fact that the economic "rent" associated with the natural environment is not captured by the people of Jamaica. A "rent" is an excess return to an asset, a profit above normal market rates of return. Rents usually arise from assets that are scarce and fixed in supply. Beach front property is a very good example of the type of asset that will yield economic rent. Or another example is why you often have to pay more for a hotel room with a beach view than one facing the other side. There is an inherent value over an and above similar goods (such as a tropical vacation).

Economic rents such as the beauty and natural environment of Jamaica should accrue to the people of Jamaica and not to foreign tourists or tourism operators. Rents are essentially a type of payment for the use of the resource. Because there is no real capture of economic rents "market failure" occurs because those gaining all of the rents are not factoring in the negative externalities into their decisions. For example hotel owners do not have to pay the true cost for the pollution and negative impacts associated with the use and operation of their facilities (ie hotels). Or tourist come and gain all of the benefits associated with the clear waters and white sandy beaches and return home with all of those benefits.

In Jamaica and several other Caribbean countries, what actually occurs is the development of the tourism industry is subsidized by the government. These entities are given tax holidays for example no taxes for 10, 15 or 20 years, duty waivers on importing construction materials among other things.

In Economics, taxes are typically implemented to correct a market failure. In the case of tourism and the environment this means that appropriate taxes would cause tourism investors to internalize the costs of negative environmental impacts thus leading to better environmental management. However giving more money to investors in the form of a subsidy simply exacerbates the problem of market failure. So the welfare of the society i.e. the Jamaican people is even more reduced.

So to summarize the answer the answer to the question, Jamaica's current tourism model has a negative impact on the island. It is inherently unsustainable because the negative externalities associated with the industry are not internalized by the main actors (market failure). Market failure is exacerbated by the massive subsidies that tourism entities receive for investing in the island. All of which result in negative impacts on the natural environment as well as a reduction in the social welfare of Jamaicans.

Jamaica is indeed one of the best sun sand and sea destinations. The point is it is being exploited and soon will decline in quality unless the true costs of "development" are passed on to the tourism developer.

Answer 2

Two types of climate are found on Jamaica. An upland tropical climate prevails on the windward side of the mountains, whereas a semiarid climate predominates on the leeward side. Warm trade winds from the east and northeast bring rainfall throughout the year. The rainfall is heaviest from May to October, with peaks in those two months.

Answer 3

Jamaica depends on its environment for its large tourism industry. As a result, it is important for Jamaica to protect its environment and keep the island clean and attractive.

Answer 4

Jamaica human Environment interaction

Answer 5

use Google.com, because I have no clue

Answer 6

Because they do

Answer 7

nana