Is Negril Jamaica’s next big destination?

No, it won’t be the kind of large resort hub that Montego Bay has become, but the plan seems to be to develop the area into a different kind of destination, according to Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett.

The Minister, who recently made a visit to the area, said he was “satisfied” with the level of support in the town to “allow for its development.”

“I am very pleased with the level of institutional support in the area. I am equally pleased with the enthusiasm and the energy that I feel in Negril – the desire for us to really transform this into a very alluring destination that will rival any of its kind across the globe,” Bartlett said.

The Minister said a “serious and focused look” would be taken on a number of issues, including food, and Negril’s potential as a “center for gastronomy.”

The hope is also to turn the island into a year-round destination, rather than a seasonal one, he said.