THE EDITOR, Sir:
WHY IS the development of Heritage Tourism for Falmouth being totally ignored by government and its agencies? The two-volume OAS report in the form of a feasibility study gives the green light to all the original Georgian Society's proposals for Falmouth Restoration and adds many new ones, but this was in 1998.
Since then there has been a major drop in tourism but absolutely no action on the lines recommended in that OAS report stating how Falmouth could be built up into a major tourist attraction. Furthermore, the whole parish of Trelawny would benefit by being tied into the Falmouth Restoration Project. The economic revival of the parish is long overdue and herein lies practical development. Cultural Tourism worldwide is preserving National Heritage while providing interesting attractions for visitors.
The new MP for Trelawny is a noted environmentalist and his support is going to be important to this project as the new by-pass road, now begun, is going to greatly affect the economy of the town. Four years have already been lost. We need attractions to bring people into the town. We will not be catering to visitors alone but their support is going to be important to our viability.
There has been talk of Heritage Tourism for many years but surely no place is more suitable to this major tourism break-through than Falmouth situated, as it is, in the very heart of the North Coast tourist Area? But this was confirmed in 1998! The prospects for Spanish Town or Port Royal are tremendous but to get the volume of people you need to make Heritage Tourism viable we need to begin to provide attractions in the heart of the tourism area which is just where Falmouth lies.
Each year we console ourselves with how little needs to be done to get the ball rolling. However nothing is done! There are four NGOs working together in Falmouth to start things off but government input is vital. In 1998 UDC took over the project from the office of the Prime Minister (Tourism) but there is nothing to show for that. The Tourist Board apparently has nothing to say in spite of a Tourism Master Plan.
Falmouth should be playing a major role in reviving our Tourism Industry. The product is right, the locations is right, the timing is right, the boost for tourism is badly needed and the people of Trelawny urgently need this input to their economy.
How much longer do we have to wait?
I am, etc.,
GEOFFREY DE SOLA PINTO
Montego Bay
