CHUKKA Caribbean Adventures has undertaken a multimillion-dollar expansion at its newest and biggest attraction located at the Good Hope Estate in Trelawny in anticipation of the demand for more family-type activities when the Disney Cruise Line begins calling at the historic Falmouth Port this October.

The 1,754-passenger Disney Magic will visit the island’s newest port in Falmouth as part of the ship’s latest seven-night Western Caribbean itinerary, which will launch from Galveston, Texas.

Daniel Melville, director of marketing at Chukka, said the company is into phase two of its expansion programme for the Good Hope property, which began operating some 18 months ago.

According to Melville, the expansion work will be completed in time for October when the Disney Cruise Line begins calling in Jamaica.

The expansion, he told

Caribbean Business Report,

will entail a partnership with three other major brands — Appleton Rum, Jablum Coffee and Walkerswood Jerk Season.

In addition to the numerous adventure tours, visitors to the attraction will now be able to enjoy the process of rum production in what is being dubbed as a miniature version of the Appleton Rum Tour. It will be a similar set-up for Jablum and Walkerswood as visitors will not only be able to see the production, but sample these authentic Jamaican flavours.

Renovation work is now underway on the centuries-old buildings which will house these new offerings.

“We want to maintain the rustic feel,” he said of the historic buildings with the original stoneworks.

He explained further that the only new building on the property is the gift shop, hence the importance of the strategically located storyboards.

While Chukka currently offers several nature adventure events, such as canopy, river tubing, horseback rides, and horse-driven carriage tours among others, Melville said the expansion will now cater to a different demographic, which will consist of families and children which are the major clients of Disney cruises.

As such, work has already begun for the construction of a kiddie’s pool, a swim-up pool and ramps for strollers, among other amenities.

“We will be doing a complete kiddie area to include challenge course, playground, gem mining, etc for children,” he said.

Melville said the feedback received through its marketing effort has been very positive, given the thrust to target families in the offerings.

“We needed to have a one stop shop,” he said, adding “we will be offering different experience, and if they don’t want to do it all, there is something for everyone.”

Tourists and locals alike can expect to be left in awe at hearing the history of the Good Hope Great House which was built in the 1700s and later restored to its original state on this 2,000 acre land which was once a plantation.

Last week, members of the media fraternity, who were hosted at the property during a Ministry of Tourism Media Appreciation event, were treated to a first-hand experience of the amazing offerings of the property.

From the spine-tingling rush of a zip line to a journey back in time at a great house, a river tube ride down the famous Martha Brae River, and horseriding through the acreage of orange farm, members of the press were wowed by the sensational experiences.

Melville said the attraction is also appealing to locals through its specially discounted prices for Jamaicans.

“They can come in and spend the day relaxing at the Great House, then having lunch or high tea while taking in the beauty of the Cockpit Country,” Melville said, adding that the great house is the only one of its kind that does not have development encroaching on it.

Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Dr Wykeham McNeill said the Chukka expansion is “definitely a positive one”.

“It is not just more tours for the same market but expanding to attract larger markets,” McNeill told the newspaper.

McNeill, who had high praises for the offerings at the property, also lauded the professionalism and knowledge of the staff.

The Good Hope Chukka attraction provides employment to approximately 100 persons while a total of some 420 Jamaicans are employed throughout the other properties.

In the meantime, contrary to the belief in some quarters, the minister said a lot of investors are investing in the tourism sector at this time, with a number of expansions either underway or set to begin soon.

“A lot is happening, and it is because there is a confidence in the future of tourism,” he said, adding that a lot of the investors are Jamaicans.

The Chukka business began in 1983 when an idea for a tour was born after visitors were invited to exercise the polo ponies from Chukka Cove Farm in the warm Caribbean Sea. The combination of the scenic ride along a spectacular coast and a thrilling swim on horseback proved to be a launching pad for the company which today operates more than 60 tours in Jamaica, Belize and Turks and Caicos.