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# layout: default
# title: Sun, Sand, and Services
# permalink: /projects/jamaica_tourism/
# description: Exploring how tourism affects household welfare in Jamaica
# nav: true
# nav_order: 2


# 🌴 Sun, Sand, and Services: Tourism and Household Welfare in Jamaica

![Tourism Map of Jamaica](/assets/images/jamaica_tourism_map.png){: width="100%" style="margin-bottom: 1em;" }

## 🎯 Motivation
Tourism is a cornerstone of Jamaica’s development strategy. But how much does it actually improve the lives of local households? This project investigates whether increased tourist spending translates into better welfare outcomes for Jamaican families — especially those outside the capital.

## 📊 Key Findings
- A $10M increase in tourist accommodation spending leads to a ~1% rise in real per-capita household expenditures in urban areas outside Kingston.
- Gains are strongest for medium-skilled workers in non-tourism services and manufacturing.
- Households in the middle of the expenditure distribution benefit most.
- Surprisingly, tourism workers themselves see limited gains — pointing to stagnant productivity in the sector.

<div style="text-align: center;">
  <img src="/assets/images/expenditure_effects_chart.png" alt="Expenditure Effects Chart" width="80%" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;" />
  <small><i>Estimated effects of tourism spending on household expenditures</i></small>
</div>

## 📁 Related Materials
- 📄 [Full Paper (PDF)](/Research/paper1_final.pdf)
- 🎞️ [Presentation Slides](/Research/chapter1_official_presentation.pdf)

## 🧠 Why It Matters
This research helps policymakers understand how tourism can be a lever for inclusive growth — and where its limits lie. It also informs debates on labor market dynamics and regional development strategies.

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