Jamaica tops Caribbean world travel awards

Friday, November 21, 2003

LONDON, England: Jamaica ended a successful World Travel Market week in London by being named the 'Caribbean Island of the Year'.

The country also won six other awards at the Caribbean World Magazine's World Travel Awards 2003 last weekend, including the Lifetime Achievement Award that went to Hotelier and Air Jamaica Chairman, Gordon Butch Stewart. Air Jamaica won the Best International Airline to the Caribbean; Sandals Resorts won the Best Ultra All Inclusive Resort for Couples; the Half Moon Resort in Montego Bay received the Award for Best Golf Resort, while Grace Kennedy's Tropical Rhythm range of juices won the Caribbean Innovative Produce Award.

Director General in the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, Carole Guntley Brady, said that the awards to Jamaica reflected the diversity of the island's tourism product. She said the fact that the awards were voted for by Caribbean World readers made them even more significant.

"The awards show the choice of the readers, and that Jamaica is seen in a positive way because of our diverse product," Mrs. Guntley Brady said.

She pointed out that Jamaica was reaping the benefits of the renewed focus on the Caribbean that was now taking place, and that increased and consistent work in the European marketplace was also paying off with more arrivals from Europe, especially the United Kingdom, Holland and Italy. She added that the development of new hotels by European companies would also be a further boost to the number of visitors from the continent.

"Our performance in Europe has been good this year and this is a result of consistent efforts. In addition, the Caribbean is back in focus internationally and Jamaica is reaping the benefits of this," she said.

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