Dunn's River Falls, a tourist trap indeed

THE EDITOR, Sir:

A Gleaner story of September 16 dealt with CNN's characterisation of Dunn's River Falls as one of the world's 12 worst tourist traps, according to an August 22 article. The online comments feature numerous objections to the article, with many disagreeing both with the places included and those omitted.

What, really, is a tourist trap? A place that attracts tourists, certainly, so there are inevitably crowds. There's generally a perception that the visitor does not get value for money. A tourist trap is inauthentic - often a genuinely magical place ruined by ugly buildings, noise, litter and tackiness.

Sometimes tourist traps are purpose-built - like Disney World. Sometimes they are gorgeous natural places that have been spoiled - like Dunn's River. Or Niagara Falls. Yet, tourists come in their multitudes to such places and few complain.

If you are over a certain age, you may remember a Dunn's River where no shoes were needed to climb the falls because there was no algae on the rocks, where there were few structures south of the road, where there was no need for an ugly breakwater in the sea, where no one was induced to scream 'Hot, hot, hot' as a vital part of the experience, and where humanity did not overwhelm every inch of the site.

Dunn's River today is without doubt a highly successful tourist trap. Isn't that what we want, though, when we talk about tourist attractions?

DIANA MCCAULAY

CEO, Jamaica

Environment Trust