Falmouth Pier Ready For January 2011 Cruise Ship Arrivals

Despite the recent reports that cruise ships had cancelled calls at the unfinished new terminal at Falmouth, Jamaica’s tourism minister Edmund Bartlett is confident that the Falmouth pier will be ready on time to receive the several cruise ships that are scheduled to arrive in January.

The ships were originally scheduled to arrive this year. However, there were construction delays partly due to the heavy rains during the fall. But as of now, Bartlett is confident that Falmouth will be ready in time for several ships now scheduled to arrive in January and a Grand Opening scheduled for March.

The minister has also promised that the mega-port will be world class with state-of-the-art facilities. In his words: "The port facility is state of the art, and the shore excursion experience that will be provided to visitors will be second to none."

The port is expected to provide stiff competition to Ocho Rios, the cruise capital of Jamaica. Falmouth was founded as a trading hub in the 1700s and for sometime the busiest ports in the Caribbean. It is noted as one of the best preserved Georgian-era towns in Jamaica and draws a fair amount of visitors each year.

The opening of the pier is expected to give a huge boost to the tourism in the town, a fact that is driving further investment there. At the official level, a lot of work is being done to restore and create the sense of the Georgian period. Also all major roadways in and around the town have been refurbished and repaved.

Falmouth is also witnessing investment from the private sector. Chukka Caribbean Adventures, the award-winning tour operators in Jamaica have taken over the Good Hope property in Trelawny with a view to develop it as an historical attraction.

Jamaica is the preferred destination in the Caribbean, something that was confirmed when it was conferred the leading destination in the Caribbean award and the World's Leading Cruise Destination in the recently concluded World Travel Awards ceremony held in London on 7 November. The development of the new port is going to add to the appeal of the island.

The development of Falmouth as a major tourist hub will also give a huge boost to the Jamaican rentals such as Silver Sands villas located within a few minutes drive from the town.