Did you know that Tourism in Jamaica began in St. Mary?

Tourism, is said to have started in St. Mary in the 1920's and 1930's during the period when most of the rich and famous settlers were drawn to its coast to enjoy various attractions, mainly marine sport.

During this time a local pioneer by the name of "T Dixon", built a six room hotel called Tower Hill Hotel, which later attracted numerous North Americans and Europeans for the purchasing of land in St. Mary and neighborung parish of St. Ann.

This real estate that was purchased by Mr. T. Dixon was later used by a bussiness man name Abe Issa, who built the famous and extravagant Tower Isle hotel, which was opened on January 15, 1949. The hotel was luxurious and spacious with about 80 rooms with beach front and is credited as the first high-rise hotel.

In the 1970's, Sir Abe Issa Tower Isle hotel was renamed Couples Hotel, which was an all-inclusive hotel for couples only. This concept of "all-inclusive" was rapidly adapted by other parishes, which began builting numerous hotels mainly in the