Jamaica is an island in glorious Technicolor. Turquoise waters, sparkling white sands, lush green rainforest and the hot hues of tropical flowers are all set to a soundtrack of reggae, dancehall and the gentle percussion of the falling dominos. Taken with the Jamaicans themselves - multicultural, enthusiastic and supremely laid back, it is no wonder that this exuberant island is the Caribbean's most visited tourist destination and currently experiencing a tourist boom

Lying 90 miles south of Cuba and forming part of the Greater-Antilles, Jamaica is the largest English-speaking island on the Caribbean. The island has been a tourist destination since Errol Flynn and the Hollywood set became frequent visitors here in the 1930s and yet it still remains largely undeveloped.

Despite the sophisticated resorts that line the beaches of Ocho Rios, Negril and Montego Bay, much of the island is still made up of tropical rainforest, mountain peaks and the savannah flatlands that are home to a wealth of sugar cane and banana plantations.






Jamaica's national motto, 'Out of many, one people', is a telling summary of the country's story. This diverse population and its dynamic culture are the result of an island history full of incident and change.

Christopher Columbus was the first European to set foot on Jamaica in 1494, describing it as 'the fairest isle that eyes ever beheld'. Subjugating the Taino people who had led a peaceful life of farming and fishing here for over 500 years, Columbus claimed the island for Spain. The island's riches soon attracted other attention, and the British repeatedly sacked the Spanish settlement, finally claiming the island as their own in 1660..

Under British rule, 18th century Jamaica became a busy and prosperous colony. Lucrative sugar plantations brought great wealth and standing to their owners, but at a great cost to the imported African slave workforce. With anti-slavery sentiments growing in Europe, the Jamaican slaves finally received their liberty in 1838, and left the plantations to settle across the island. Indian and Chinese workers were then indentured by the plantation owners, adding to the island's already multi-cultural population.

The decline of the sugar trade brought agricultural diversification and the island still produces the bananas, cocoa, tobacco and the fine coffee stops that were introduced in the 19th century. Bauxite mining and a growing tourist trade throughout the 20th century have contributed to the island's economic stability.

More recently, the introduction of universal adult suffrage in 1944 and independence from Britain in 1962 have set the scene for a robust democracy, which has already seen prime ministers both, black and white, male and female. Today Jamaica operates as a constitutional monarchy with a democratic parliament. Queen Elizabeth II is Head of State and is represented in Jamaica by the Governor General.