VISITORS to the world-famous Bath Fountain mineral spring in St Thomas are having to fend off aggressive touts who track them long before they get to the attraction, offering to guide them to the hot pools and provide massages then later charge exorbitant fees for services rendered.

A Jamaica Observer team visited the location last Wednesday and witnessed, first-hand, the touts or informal guides in action. Before reaching the destination, the team was flagged down by men in a motor vehicle who offered to lead them to the mineral spring.

After politely declining the offer, the team continued to Bath Mineral Spring. Upon arrival, the same motor vehicle drove up behind the Observer team, this time accompanied by a motorcyclist.

More than six informal tour operators were already at the location, offering to escort the team. One individual also offered to sell the team sulphur clay for $1,000, claiming it is beneficial for skin health.

An employee of Bath Fountain Hotel told the Sunday Observer that it is common practice for locals on motorcycles to intercept visitors kilometres away from the attraction, offering to lead them to the mineral spring.

“All of them weh you see out there, them a hustlers; a that them hustle from. As them see a vehicle drive in, them goodly all follow that vehicle from Port Morant,” said the employee who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“Them just stop you out there so [outside the hotel’s gate] and say, ‘Well, a up so a do it.’ Them claim say them do massage and whatever, and when you come back down them tell you the big money because them nah make them [visitors] know like say a something weh you affi pay for when you go. No care how you ask, them still nah tell you the money until yuh done,” the employee explained.

She recounted an incident a few weeks ago in which a visitor was reportedly charged $72,000 for massage services rendered to four people.

“A couple weeks a back a man come here come tell me say him come up here the day before with him friends and a $72,000 him affi pay them for four a them — $18,000 for one. Say them massage. I said to him we [at the hotel are] not responsible for anything over there so, you should go and make a report to the police,” she said.

The employee warned that situation can become tense, noting that the visitor reportedly drew a gun in frustration.

When questioned about the legitimacy of their operations at Bath Mineral Spring, one of the informal tour guides told the Sunday Observer that the touts operate on land passed down from family members.

“Down there [Bath Fountain Hotel] belong to the Government, around here is a cistern. It’s a family heritage, so they give us proper training; not everyone you see [are trained], but some of us get our proper training to do this down by the school in the Bath community,” he said.

The informal guide stated that he typically charges $3,500 for massages and facials, but noted that other guides may charge up to $7,000.

For tourists, he said massage costs may range between US$70 and US$100.

“That cover your massage, facial, a no like down there so [Bath Fountain Hotel] where you a stay for 15 to 20 minutes. Up here so you can observe God beauty, look around, and have more experience,” he insisted.

He added that visitors come to the mineral spring with various ailments.

“People come here so with strokes, arthritis, can’t walk, and when we done with them inna the water deh man,” he said.

Another informal tour guide told the Sunday Observer that he charges locals $6,000 for massage services, noting that the treatment includes the use of hot mineral water mixed with sulphur clay.

In an e-mailed response, the management of Bath Fountain Hotel (BFH) said it is aware of informal tour operators conducting activities in the area, with both employees and patrons indicating that the operators aggressively market their services just outside the gates of the establishment.

“Employees of BFH and patrons have indicated that the informal operators aggressively market their services just outside the gates of the establishment. The informal operators have also been reported for blocking the gates to the property and misinforming BFH patrons that the hotel is closed or providing them with exorbitant prices for services and facilities at the hotel,” the hotel’s management said.

BFH said it has, over the years, sought support from government entities, the police, and the parish council to address the issue, but noted that the problem persists.

“BFH is aware that the Ministry of Tourism has recently concluded a series of consultations on the issue, with special focus on its impact on the economic viability of the property, reputational damage to the BFH, as well as the economic and social impact on the community at large,” it said.

The hotel noted that the scale of informal operations has evolved over time, with historical accounts from older staff indicating that the activities began as tours offered by a few individuals before expanding into massage services.

It added that the number of operators at the location is fluid, with some operating only on holidays and weekends.

BFH also sought to assure the public that it is operated by the Ministry of Tourism and has no formal relationship with the informal operators.

“BFH is cognisant of the fact that the Bath Fountain environment provides an economic base for many members of the wider community. However, BFH does not have the capacity to absorb all the informal operators. We await the outcome of the study to make a final determination on the way forward,” the hotel said.

A sign requesting that visitors donate towards the upkeep of the area.

An employee of Bath Fountain Hotel told the Jamaica Observer team last Wednesday that bikers track visitors from as far as Port Morant in an effort to offer their service to them at the mineral spring.

A visitor receives a massage from an informal tour operator at the Bath Fountain mineral spring in St Thomas.