AS PART of her Golden Jubilee, the Queen will travel to four countries; New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Jamaica where she is still the ceremonial Head of State. While the visit will be positive for Jamaica, one cannot help but ask the question: Would the Queen have selected Jamaica if the country were the Republic of Jamaica? Using the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago as an example: one could hardly think so.
Although Jamaica remains the heart of the Commonwealth Caribbean in the eyes of the United Kingdom, chances are Barbados or the Bahamas would have been her choice. Thus, Jamaica would have lost well-needed good international exposure. The upcoming visit of the Queen will help reverse the tourism disaster of September 11 and hopefully throw Jamaica into accelerated tourism growth for the rest of the year. With media fanfare, the international spotlight will be on you, Jamaica.
As a nation that is dependent on tourism, Jamaica must develop strategies to "exploit" the royal family. How about annual visits and fanfare by direct or indirect members of the royal family? It is my conviction that the British Royalty wants to maintain traditional ties to countries like Jamaica and therefore, they are more willing to visit often.
