Montego Bay, or Mo Bay, as it is popularly known is deservedly one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world. Over the years, it has attracted the rich and the famous and has been the vacation spot for royalty. It is also an important seaport and commercial centre and the capital of St. James Parish. In 1981, Montego Bay was given the legal status of city, thereby joining Kingston as the country’s second community to receive this distinction. It lies on the north-western coast and is the gateway for tourist travel on the north and west sides of the island.

The commercial area of Montego Bay’s free port lay dormant for almost two decades but now is growing rapidly as the home of garment factories and electronic information companies. Port facilities continue to be underutilized, mostly serving cruise ships.