Tourist Information about Jamaica

Dubbed as the "Biggest Little Island in the World", Jamaica is an island and country in the Greater Antilles lying in the Caribbean Sea about 90 miles south of Cuba and about 120 miles west of Haiti. Being only the third largest island in the region, its "bigness" can be attributed more to its seemingly infinite list of places to see, rather than its geographical size. The name Jamaica is derived from "Xaymaca", meaning the Land of Springs.

When Christopher Columbus discovered the island of Jamaica in 1494, it was occupied by the Arawak Indians. Columbus used the island as his family's private estate, evidently taken by its beauty, as he was known to have described Jamaica as the fairest isle his eyes ever beheld. Many of the Arawaks were wiped out by disease or harsh treatment of their Spanish masters. Negro slaves were then imported to take their place.

The English was able to seize the island from the Spanish in 1655. Under British rule, Jamaica became the world's largest sugar exporting nation. This was achieved primarily through the massive use of slave labor. Sadly, Jamaica has also become one of the largest slave markets in the world. When slavery was abolished, East Indians were imported as contracted laborers. Many of them chose to stay, thereby adding to the vast racial diversity of the people of Jamaica. The combined ancestry from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East produced the truly unique Jamaican people, thus the motto: Out of Many One People.

Though presently independent, Jamaica preferred to be part of the British Commonwealth. It retained the Queen of United Kingdom as the titular head of the country, who is represented by the Governor General.

It also patterned its government after the Westminster model.

Jamaica is known for its own brand of music. It is the acknowledged birthplace of many popular forms of music such as the reggae, raggamuffin, ska and the dub. Reggae's popularity may be credited to Bob Marley who is an internationally known reggae musician born in Jamaica. The roots of the Rastafarian religion can also be traced to Jamaica.

Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Negril, Mandeville and Kingston are places in Jamaica continuously attracting tourists from all over the world. These breathtakingly beautiful destinations far outweigh the country's reputation as a place with widespread crime. Some locals would even swear that such reputation is but a product of exaggeration. Nevertheless, as in other foreign places, it would be best for a tourist to exercise a certain amount of caution and common sense.

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