St. Ann Parish

St. Ann anchors Jamaica's north coast tourism industry, Ocho Rios serving as cruise ship destination and resort hub that generates employment the agricultural interior cannot match. The parish's designation as Jamaica's 'garden parish' reflects natural beauty that tourism monetizes—Dunn's River Falls providing the iconic attraction that defines Jamaica's tourism imagery globally.

Cruise ship arrivals create concentrated economic activity when vessels dock, craft vendors and tour operators competing for passenger spending during limited port hours. This boom-and-bust daily rhythm differs from hotel tourism's steadier employment patterns. The parish hosts both mass-market resorts and boutique properties, creating hospitality employment across skill levels.

Beyond Ocho Rios, the parish interior produces agricultural goods—the 'garden parish' designation reflecting genuine cultivation rather than mere marketing. Ian Fleming International Airport in neighboring St. Mary enhances north coast accessibility, benefiting St. Ann's tourism sector with direct international arrivals. Whether the parish can balance cruise tourism's environmental impacts with the economic benefits passengers provide tests sustainable development capacity.