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GOOD HOPE, Trelawny: WHILE MANY argue about the readiness of Falmouth to accept cruise passengers, a little-known fact is that Chukka Caribbean has created an incomparable attraction at Good Hope, in the proverbial backyard of the town, just 20 minutes away. Among the attraction's first patrons is homeboy Usain Bolt, the world's fastest human.

The approximate quarter-billion Jamaican-dollar project has 10 attractions employing 120 persons directly, with most coming from the parish. Approximately 84 of the employees are new to the hospitality industry.

Member of Parliament Dr Patrick Harris has welcomed the development, noting that it provides relatively well-paying jobs. He said that when one person is employed, five persons benefit, therefore, those employed can be multiplied by five to show the effect.

Co-managing director Marc Melville, who is also the president of the Association of Jamaica Attractions Limited, said that to develop such a variety of attractions in one location is a dream come true. He added that the area is rich in diversity, making the visitor's experience unique.

Among the most popular of the attractions is the zip line, which soars over what can be described as a miniature rainforest at the tip of the Cockpit Country, including part of the historic Martha Brae River, the source of the famous Falmouth piped-water system said to be the first in this hemisphere.

While dune buggies may be a dime a dozen at attractions, caressing this 1,000-acre property - the hub of sugar activity when sugar was king - sugar-production relics, with an orange grove now added, have made the ride attention-grabbing.

With many water attractions depending on the pumping of this commodity, the tubing and kayaking done in the natural flow of the Martha Brae River meandering through areas of natural rustic beauty and sounds makes the experience serene.

gourmet restaurant

Oftentimes, people get hungry after activities and, therefore, need to be fed. At Chukka Good Hope, however, the offering is at gourmet restaurant standard, and dining at the great house perched on the hill overlooking thousands of acres of mountain ridges is divine.

Human resources are sometimes the last to be recognised, but this is also part of the excellence as the workers are highly trained. The walking and talking geography book, Anthony Jenkins, could sell a snowball to Eskimos.

However, nothing less is expected from this Time World Travel Award winner that prides itself on being very environmentally friendly. Location manager Gillian Lewis said the attraction is not a concrete jungle theme park. She said that nothing had been altered. She added that with the natural ambience, combined with Chukka's world-recognised standards, the attraction is incomparable.