[oldtimer]

Age certainly is one factor as you said. Gun fire is not a tourist event . Not in the last few years but when I stayed " downtown " my day would be 1 pack a bag for the day 2 leave up through Redground and Whitehall . 3 down to the beach and saunter around for the day usually buying a meal before I returned and probably buying a 1/2 dozen drinks along the way at 1/2 dozen places . Not now . It's been 5 years since I have been to MiYard as an example . My $100/day budget for my daily outing is now about $40 taxi included. Maybe it's only me....I sometimes wonder. When was the last time you saw a tour bus from RIU or Beaches , doesn't happen . Maybe an odd couple here and there but not much . My friend's daughter works at Samsara and she makes $30 US /day to clean 8 rooms . You get very few tips she says . Her sister works at Merrill's and she makes about the same BUT !!!!! they provide a meal and a bus home .

[Aquavit]

"His take is these boards are a small minority of people talking talking and that people will still keep coming to Negril. The all inclusives are full and nuff white people were walking and chilling in the west end on our recent trip."

Full agreement with your husband....I noticed this season a sharp increase in "white people walking and chilling on the west end"

[oldtimer]

Does that make me wrong ? Maybe I don't get around enough .

[JonTom]

This article says that even with a S.O.E., leading business lobbies are worried about the impact of crime on tourism (obviously MoBay is different from Negril, but I thought it related to this discussion).

On one hand, they seem to be asking that gains from the S.O.E. (ESM) remain after the ESM ends. And then on the other say even WITH the ESM, the crime is out of control. I don't see anything that says tourism has actually been impacted, only that they express concern that it will be.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20190311/murder-mayhem-mobay-courier-guard-slain-multimillion-dollar-heist-five

Murder Mayhem In Mobay - Courier, Guard Slain In Multimillion-Dollar Heist As Five Killed In St James Capital

 A daylight murder/robbery of a courier with armed escorts is pretty darn brazen (IMO).

[Bruce]

I stay at the Riu Palace Tropical Bay and rarely is there a day that I do not go out and contribute to the local economy at least a little.

[oldtimer]

I think that you guys are a bit more comfortable than most visitors . I don't feel unsafe when I go to MiYard . I've known Dellie for years and years . It's the bother of being bothered on the road . For those with guns it business as usual.You can't be timid. Come out fishing with me on a stormy day and you would think that was dangerous as well . You would probably get very sick , crap you pants when a big sea hit you sideways BUT !!!! I would have to go back out the next day .It's all in the eyes of who is there . I'm not much for " I told you so " I'm more into " be careful ".

[Tim]

I don't think you are wrong. You gave 2 pretty good examples of Jamaica "regulars" who have had enough.
I have a good buddy, the guy that influenced my to come to Jamaica for the first time 20 years ago, this was his regular spot - used to come for 1-2 months every year. He moved away so I haven't talked to him for a few years but the last time we talked I found out he had quit coming to Negril, started travelling to Cuba. More or less is words to me were "Negril is nothing but hookers and thieves". And this from a guy that had traveled there and spent more time than I ever will.
Now I don't exactly agree with his assessment, but even as a "occasional" visitor I can see the changes, and not for the better.
I always love the "there's crime everwhere" crowd. Yes there is crime where I live, we even have a few native street gangs. But if somebody gets shot (1-2 a year in a city of 40K people), it's huge news.
It's been a couple years now since we have been to Jamaica, and although we will most likely return, it's not huge on our radar like it used to be. A couple trips to Belize has turned us on to that beautiful place, and Costa Rica has been calling too.

[West end lover]

I think a lot more of those fancy, serious looking officers I see at round about would help somewhat,up an down beach road and along west end. Something needs to be done. Although if Negri was totally safe and pretty I don’t think most of us could afford it.
Just like Times Square in NYC is so fake.
PS, buy those fancy officers a cold drink.

[Sharleen]

I now will only stay in places I consider "really REALLY safe" -- I imagine this is because of my age, coming to Jamaica since 1972....  etc...  because of where I live in upstate NY the weather is pretty much unacceptable so I need some SUNSHINE and warmth and need to get out of town.  The easiest place in the entire world for me to get away to is in Jamaica, just because I know and love it so...  I do love staying at the Treehouse initially and then moving to Catcha Falling Star after a week.  "After Dark" -- or at least after 8 or 9 p.m. seems different to me in these times.  Wow ! all the walls on the seaside of the westend..  so I guess I will be one of those people behind those walls now...  I felt exceptionally safe at Catcha -- even when I left one night to go to a 'stage show' the security guard didn't want us to leave without a lecture & his insistence of him finding us a (really) inexpensive ride to the event.  The grocery store across the street closed at 8 p.m. with a little 12" x 12" window if you needed anything after 8 p.m.  I think it's just easier to not go out after dark (????) After 9 p.m. I only felt safe (running) from Catcha Falling Star to either LTU or Ten Sing Pen.  Just stayed at Treehouse and only went next door...