Kingston Tours Take Center Stage with
Island Flavour Adventures
By Mark Rogers

Kingston-based Island Flavour Adventures is a good example of taking the “Road Less Traveled.” Kingston is a fascinating destination within Jamaica, but only a relative few leisure tourists venture down from the island’s north shore beach resorts to explore the capital. John R. Myers Jr. and his company Island Flavour Adventures is poised to change the status quo and introduce a greater number of vacationers to the charms of Jamaica’s vibrant capital.

Myers launched his company only seven months ago, with the intent of offering customer driven, personalized service and to reposition Kingston as a preferred resort area for business, entertainment and relaxation. With this in mind Island Flavour Adventures has crafted a number of tours which seek to highlight Kingston's historical, cultural, artistic, culinary and entertainment appeal. Tours include such sites as Historic Devon House - a National Heritage Site, Bob Marley Museum, Bank of Jamaica Money Museum, National Art Gallery, Port Royal and the Blue Mountains.

“Kingston is the Cinderella of Jamaica, very little is done to promote Kingston,” said Myers. “I started Island Flavour Adventures precisely for that reason, thinking that I could change the situation. Kingston has a lot to offer. I want people to see the positive side of our capital, not just the crime and violence that the international media focuses on.”

Island Flavour Adventures will be marketing its tours to the leisure traveler who is looking for more than sun, sand, sea and fun during their Jamaica vacation.

“We hope to appeal to the visitor who has enjoyed the Jamaica resorts and meeting Jamaicans on the north shore,” said Myers. “We want to show them where the famous Jamaican smile comes from.”

Myers created Island Flavour Adventures after having a long career in Jamaica media as well as a brief stint in tourism at the government level. “Through the years I’ve been exposed to lots of tourism products,” he explained.  “Our initial challenges for the company include getting people excited about taking a Kingston tour, and in conquering the fear some of them might have about the capital.”

Island Flavour Adventures is currently concentrating on facilitating tours between Kingston and Ocho Rios, although in the months to come they’ll also offer Montego Bay/Kingston itineraries. “Ocho Rios is more practical at this point,” said Myers. “It’s a two hour drive from Ocho Rios to Kingston so it means less time travelling and more time to enjoy the capital city compared with a four hour drive from Montego Bay. To make the tour feasible, guests would have to depart Mobay around 7:30 am.”

The company transports small groups in minivans and larger groups in 29-seat coaches. The minimum tour from Ocho Rios is 10 persons. A tour guide is present throughout the tour and at no time are tour participants left on their own. Lunch is included in the tour, which is taken at restaurants serving authentic Jamaican cuisine, such as mouthwatering jerk chicken, jerk pork, island-style fried/steamed fish and bammy or festival and curried goat. “This gives our guests a taste of the island and a real feel for Jamaican cooking,” said Myers.

In the months to come, Myers plans to add a Reggae Tour to Island Flavour Adventures’ selection of tour programs to give visitors insights and therefore a better appreciation of the island’s indigenous music - Reggae.

“We can move in as little as six hours in arranging a tour,” explained Myers. “We’re very flexible. We’re all about facilitating the experience. Also, with notice ahead of time, we can fully customize our tours.”

The company will also be marketing their tours to business travelers, since Kingston is a major business hub for the Caribbean. “Many business travelers coming into Kingston for a conference often have a half-day free,” noted Myers. “We’d like to encourage them to go out and see the city through one of our tours.”

Island Flavours Adventures pays 10 percent commission to travel agents. Agents and tour operators also receive an automatic 20 percent discount when they participate in a tour.

“I call Kingston the heart and soul of Jamaica,” said Myers. “It is the bedrock of our rich heritage and vibrant culture.”

ISLAND FLAVOUR ADVENTURES TOUR PACKAGES

Kingston City Tour

This package unveils the artistic, creative and historical expressions of Kingston:

• Bank of Jamaica Money Museum
• National Art Gallery
• Liberty Hall
• Historic Devon House - a national heritage site
• Sample local desserts and pastries (Ice Cream, Patties, and Cakes etc.)
• Souvenir Shopping

Port Royal Tour

This tour offers the experience of visiting the former playground of Captain Morgan, one of the world’s most infamous pirates in the historic Port Royal - once dubbed the “wickedest city on earth.”

• Tour the St Peters Church, one of the oldest churches on the island
• See Fort Charles and the centuries-old artifact in the Museum
• Experience the Giddy House
• Tour the town of Port Royal, mix and mingle with community folks
• Have lunch the way the pirates did on an old pier with the world’s 7th natural harbor in the background

Blue Mountain Tour

Traverse the mountainous terrain where one of the world’s finest coffees is grown.

• Take a picturesque view of Kingston and see other interesting sites.
• See coffee trees in bloom, cherry-red seeds being harvested, processed and roasted for packaging.
• Breathe fresh tropical mountain air and be at one with nature with a trek on one of the many trails etched in the mountain peak.
• Then have lunch in a quaint Jamaican setting.

Island Flavour Adventures
www.islandflavouradventuresja.com

Email: info@islandflavouradventuresja.com
Phone: (876)322-7412