JAMAICA FAST FACTS
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OUR WEATHER: Jamaica’s average annual temperature is 28°C. A tropical climate prevails inland, but temperatures can drop to 10°C on the highest mountains. Northeast trade winds and mountain breezes keep the temperature pleasant along the coast. The average annual rainfall is 74.61 inches (1940 millimetres).
TALKING OUR LANGUAGE: English and local patois.
CURRENCY: US dollars are widely accepted, although it is a good idea to carry Jamaican dollars for smaller purchases. Foreign currency may be exchanged for Jamaican dollars at any bank during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Fridays) or at licensed exchange bureaus island-wide. The official rate of exchange fluctuates daily depending on the foreign exchange markets. Currently (May 2021), the rates stand at approximately GBP€1 = JA$ 212.71.
STAYING WITH US: Jamaica boasts more than 30,000 guest rooms, including five-star resorts and hotels; all-inclusive resorts; boutique hotels; private villas; small inns and guesthouses; condominiums; spa resorts; golf and tennis resorts; and convention hotels.
GETTING TO JAMAICA: Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) is just 14 miles (22.5 kilometres) from Kingston’s commercial and resort centre. Sangster International Airport (MBJ) is ideally positioned for visitors travelling to the city of Montego Bay (3 miles/4.8 kilometres), and the towns of Negril (52 miles/84 kilometres) and Ocho Rios (67 miles/108 kilometres). Boscobel Airport, aptly named Ian Fleming’s International Airport, on Jamaica’s north coast welcomed a new terminal building and expanded runway in 2012, designed to accommodate ‘high end’ air travellers.
AIR SERVICE TO JAMAICA: British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and TUI offer regular service to Jamaica. British Airways offers flights from London Gatwick to Montego Bay and Kingston and Virgin Atlantic offers flights from London Heathrow to Montego Bay. TUI offers flights from London Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham to Montego Bay.
PORTS & HARBOURS: Ports and harbours are located at Discovery Bay, Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Port Esquivel (Longswharf), Port Kaiser and Bowden. Cruise ship ports are Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Kingston and Falmouth. Cruise ship lines calling at Jamaica include: Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, P&O Cruises, Pullmantur Cruises, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.
EXPERIENCE THE ISLAND: Scheduled air service is available between Kingston and Montego Bay. All taxicabs have red license plates. Rates between locations are pre-determined. Limousines and air-conditioned coaches are available, and local bus service operates between villages, towns and cities. Several reputable car rental companies operate in Jamaica. Drivers should note that driving is on the left side of the road; the speed limit is 30 MPH (50 km) in the towns, 50 MPH (80 km) on highways and 70 MPH (110 km) on toll roadways; service stations are open every day – cash payments, debit cards and major credit cards are accepted. Rental-car drivers must be at least 25 years old and present a valid licence; drivers are required to leave a deposit.
MEET THE PEOPLE:
- Jamaica boasts a plethora of world-class athletes. They include sprinter Usain Bolt who set a new world record of 9.58 seconds for the 100m at the London 2012 Olympics. His Jamaican teammates also gave outstanding performances, with Yohan Blake taking second place and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce marking history as the first Caribbean woman to win 100m gold at the Olympics.
- Jamaica is the birthplace of reggae and the legendary Bob Marley.
- The Maroons are a self-governing people who descend from slaves who were freed by the Spanish when the British captured the island.
- The true story of the first Jamaican bobsleigh team was told in the popular film Cool Runnings. Jamaica now has a dogsledding team too.
- Jamaica has been a popular holiday destination for Hollywood’s elite and UK royals since the 1950s. Famous former residents include Johnny Cash, Noel Coward, Errol Flynn and Ian Fleming. Fleming wrote the classic James Bond novels in Jamaica at his home, Goldeneye, now a world-class resort.
POPULATION: Estimated at 2.9 million people (May 2021), Jamaica’s population is a multi-racial mix including African, European, East Indian, Chinese and Middle-Eastern.
RELIGIONS: Protestant 62.5%; Roman Catholic 2.6%; other religions 14.2%; no religion 20.9% (2001 census).
GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION: Independent since August 6, 1962, Jamaica is governed by a constitutional parliamentary democracy. The Jamaica Labour Party currently holds the seat of government, Andrew Holness ON MP, in office as Prime Minister since 3 March 2016.
The island is made up of 14 administrative divisions known as parishes: Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, St. Andrew, St. Ann, St. Catherine, St. Elizabeth, St. James, St. Mary, St. Thomas, Trelawny and Westmoreland. Kingston is the capital city.
GEOGRAPHY: Jamaica is the third largest Caribbean island at 4,411 square miles (11,244 square kilometres) and the largest English speaking island; the island is 146 miles (235 kilometres) long, with widths varying between 22 miles (35 kilometres) and 51 miles (82 kilometres). Almost one half of this mountainous island is over 1,000 feet (305 metres) above sea level. Blue Mountain Peak is the highest point at 7,402 feet (2,256 metres). Jamaica has a lush terrain and a dramatic coastline, with valleys, cliffs, caves, bays, coves, reefs, mineral springs, waterfalls and some 120 natural rivers.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS: Sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus fruits, vegetables, ginger and cocoa.
DID YOU KNOW? Over 252 species of bird can be found in Jamaica. Of these, 27 are found nowhere else, including the national bird – the streamer-tailed hummingbird or doctor bird. The Dictionary of Jamaican English lists 36 other names for rundown – a Jamaican coconut sauce – including dip and fall back, duck and shake back, dip and shake off, assistant and remedy. The notorious pirate Blackbeard was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica. February is Reggae Month in Jamaica.
For more information on Jamaica, see www.visitjamaica.com. For further information, statistics and images of Jamaica visit Jamaica’s Tourism Information Publishing Site (TIPS) at www.jtbonline.org.
-ENDS-
About Jamaica Tourist Board
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica’s national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. The JTB was declared the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board by the World Travel Awards from 2006 to 2014. Also in 2014, Jamaica earned the World Travel Award’s vote for the Caribbean’s Leading Destination and Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination for the eighth consecutive year. Additionally, the Historic Falmouth Cruise Port was recognised as the Caribbean’s Leading Heritage Tour while Ocho Rios was named the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Port and Sangster International Airport was voted the Caribbean’s Leading Airport.
JTB offices are located in Kingston, Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are located in Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Mumbai and Tokyo.
For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Jamaica go to the JTB’s web site at www.visitjamaica.com or call the Jamaica Tourist Board at +44 (0)20 7225 9090.
Follow the JTB on Facebook at www.facebook.com/visitjamaica, on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/visitjamaicanow, on Instagram at www.instagram.com/visitjamaica or on YouTube at www.youtube.com/myjamaicajtb.