“…the residents of Jamaica, are lectured endlessly about the economic benefits of tourism. However, in my experience, the new economic truth of the all-inclusive mega-hotels is not so rosy… The tourism employment promised has turned out to be at the lowest skill level, lowest pay scale, and without recourse to a union the workers are simply used. Most have no opportunity to grow in the organisation. The money generated does not stay in Jamaica.” (from Jamaica for Sale blog)

Jamaica for Sale, a documentary about tourism & unsustainable development, takes a sharp look at the environmental, economic, and social impacts of tourism such as: degraded water quality and shoreline habitats, depleted marine species, poorly regulated large-scale development that relies on low-wage, unskilled local labor, and uncontrolled development of an industry that leads to inflation in land and housing prices, and consumes large amounts of local natural resources.

The film highlights various stakeholders’ experiences, presenting the views of workers who labor for low wages in the tourist industry; small hoteliers and providers of tourism services concerned about the future of the industry; fishermen affected by the increasing development of the coast; citizens alarmed at their exclusion from the beaches and decision making processes that allow for development in their communities; and environmentalists fighting to have the value of the Jamaica’s natural resources recognized.

How to Help:

Watch sample clips at Jamaica for Sale, and learn how to get involved. You can help by donating to Jamaica Environment Trust, organizing a showing and spreading the word to help raise awareness of the need for change in the tourism industry.