Hanover Parish
Hanover, Jamaica's smallest parish, transitions from agricultural base toward tourism destination through spillover from adjacent Negril resort zone.
Hanover represents Jamaica's smallest parish by area, yet its position adjacent to Westmoreland's Negril tourism complex creates economic spillover that transforms the parish from agricultural backwater toward tourism destination. The parish's development trajectory demonstrates how proximity to established tourism infrastructure can catalyze rapid sectoral transformation without the anchor attractions that larger parishes possess.
Agriculture historically defined Hanover's economy—sugar, bananas, and provision crops supporting subsistence communities. This agricultural base persists but increasingly serves local consumption and tourism supply chains rather than export markets. The parish's elevation and rainfall patterns create microclimates suited to crops that coastal tourism zones cannot produce.
Resort and casino development projects have positioned Hanover among Jamaica's fastest-growing tourism parishes, despite lacking the iconic beaches and cruise ports of St. James or St. Ann. Whether this investment-driven growth creates sustainable employment—or whether Hanover functions primarily as overflow capacity for Negril's established tourism zone—shapes whether the parish develops independent economic identity or remains peripheral to Westmoreland's gravitational pull.