More hotels for Jamaica

[George]

Tourism officials in Jamaica 10,000 hotel rooms will be added to the existing 25,000 by 2010.

Projects include:

-the 850-room Riu Ocho Rios, due to open this month.

-Three hotels from Iberostar with 950 rooms total -at Rose Hall/Montego Bay. The first, with 350 rooms, is due to open in November 2006.

-Grupo Pinero has started building a resort complex to be known as Hotel

Bahia Principe Jamaica, with 1918 rooms in three beachfront hotels. The first is due in November 2006.

-AM Resorts is building 1700 rooms in four hotels at Oyster Bay in Trelawny. These are due to open over 2008-10.

-Fiesta Hotels expects to start work on a Palladium resort outside the town of Lucea this December, due to open in 2007.

Other developments:

-Road improvements. The new North Coast Highway will reduce travelling time between some of the major tourist destinations. The first section from Negril to Montego Bay is already open. The second section from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios is 75% finished, with the last part due in late 2006. Dates to start work on the third and final segment from Ocho Rios to Port Antonio have not been finalised. www.jamaica-gleaner.com