GCSE Revision

Closing the development gap

Strategies to reduce the gap

StrategyHow it helpsExample
InvestmentForeign companies build factories, roads and mines, bringing jobsChinese investment in Africa's railways
Factories make goods worth more than raw materialsNigeria's growing manufacturing
Brings foreign money and jobsJamaica
Money, goods or skills given to helpVaccinations, schools
Simple, cheap tools people can run and repair themselvesHand pumps for clean water
Farmers get a fair, steady priceCocoa growers' cooperatives in Ghana
Cancels debts, freeing money for servicesThe Heavily Indebted Poor Countries scheme
Small loans to start businessesThe Grameen Bank, Bangladesh

Key terms

Tourism in Jamaica

Jamaica is an island in the Caribbean. Its beaches, warm climate, coral reefs, mountains and music attract visitors from around the world.

In 2024, Jamaica had about 4.27 million visitors, who spent about US$4.35 billion, according to the Jamaica Tourist Board.

Benefits:

  • jobs in hotels, restaurants, transport and tours, and for farmers and craftspeople who supply them;
  • foreign money, which pays for imports and development;
  • taxes that pay for roads, airports and water supplies, which local people use too.

Key terms

The limits of tourism

Tourism has helped Jamaica develop, but it has limits:

  • many large hotels, especially all-inclusive resorts, are owned by foreign companies, so much of the money leaves the country, and visitors spend little outside the resort.
  • Many jobs are low-paid and seasonal.
  • Tourism can damage the environment, such as coral reefs and beaches.
  • Dependence: tourism collapses when something stops visitors coming. When hit Jamaica as a Category 5 storm on 28 October 2025, many hotels were damaged just before the peak season.

Exam tip

To judge "how far" tourism closes the gap, weigh who gains against who misses out.

Key terms

Exam practice

Plan your own answer first, then open the model answers to see what each level looks like.

9 marks · about 9 minutes

To what extent has tourism helped to reduce the development gap in an LIC or NEE?

To what extent means: Weigh up how far something is true, with evidence on both sides, then give a clear judgement.

Link it

Use the facts from:

Level 1 (Basic)· 3/9 marks (band 1–3)
Tourism in Jamaica brings jobs and money, so it helps. But the jobs are low-paid.

Why this level: Simple points on both sides with no figures and no judgement. To reach Level 2: use facts about Jamaica to explain how tourism helps.

Level 2 (Clear)· 5/9 marks (band 4–6)
In 2024, Jamaica had about 4.27 million visitors, who spent about US$4.35 billion. Tourism brings jobs in hotels, restaurants and tours, and for farmers and craftspeople who supply them. Tourist spending brings foreign currency, and taxes help pay for roads, airports and water supplies.

Why this level: Clear, accurate explanation of how tourism helps. But it doesn't consider the limits, so "to what extent" isn't answered. To reach Level 3: weigh leakage, low pay and risks, then judge.

Level 3 (Detailed)· 8/9 marks (band 7–9)
Tourism has helped Jamaica to reduce the development gap. In 2024, about 4.27 million visitors spent about US$4.35 billion. This creates jobs in hotels, restaurants, transport and tours, and for farmers and craftspeople who supply them, spreading income through the economy. Tourist spending brings foreign currency, and taxes help pay for roads, airports and water supplies, improving life for local people too. However, its effect is limited. Many all-inclusive resorts are foreign-owned, so much of the spending leaks out of Jamaica. Many tourism jobs are low-paid and seasonal, and tourism can damage the coral reefs and beaches that attract visitors. Depending on tourism is also risky: Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica as a Category 5 storm on 28 October 2025, damaging many hotels just before the peak season. Overall, tourism has helped narrow the gap, but only partly, because much of the money leaves the country and the industry is vulnerable to shocks.

Why this level: Detailed, accurate evidence on how tourism helps and its limits, weighed to reach a clear judgement. This is Level 3.

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