For Immediate Release | Official News Wire for the Travel Industry

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Archives for July 2019

Jamaica Tourism Minister Meets with Jamaica’s 2019 Taste of the Caribbean Team

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Jamaica Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett (seen center in the photo) pauses for a photo-op with members of the Culinary Federation of Jamaica who recently participated in the 2019 Taste of the Caribbean culinary competition in Miami.

Sharing in the moment is the Chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund’s Gastronomy Network, Nicola Madden-Greig (7th from the left).

The occasion was a courtesy call at the Jamaica Tourist Board’s Kingston office on July 31, 2019.

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (left) engages in conversation with Executive Chef, Mark Cole (right) and Chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund’s Gastronomy Network, Nicola Madden-Greig, during a courtesy call at the Jamaica Tourist Board’s Kingston office on July 31, 2019. During the meeting, the Minister offered his support and congratulations to the members of the Culinary Federation of Jamaica who recently participated in the 2019 Taste of the Caribbean culinary competition in Miami.

To date, the Gastronomy Network has supported the Culinary Federation of Jamaica on the execution of its annual Taste of Jamaica competition and expo as well as the Team Jamaica delegation to the Taste of the Caribbean competition in Miami, Florida.

During this year’s competition the team successfully earned 5 bronze medals, 2 silver medals and 1 gold medal.

Taste of the Caribbean is the region’s premier culinary competition, food & beverage educational exchange and Caribbean cultural showcase.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Corporate Communications

Ministry of Tourism

64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5

Tel: 920-4926-30,

Fax: 920-4944

Taiwan extends visa-waiver for Russians and increases stand at OTDYKH Leisure 2019

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Taiwan is officially extending its visa waiver for Russian citizens until July 31, 2020 to encourage an increase in Russian tourism to the island.

On September 6, 2018, Taiwan announced that Russians would be allowed to visit Taiwan without visas for up to 14 days if visiting for tourism, business, to see family or for some form of international exchange. Originally the program was only to last until July 31, 2019, but the success of the initiative has meant it is now being extended until July 31, 2020.

Official statistics for the island show that in 2017 only 9,226 Russian citizens visited Taiwan. Russian tourists usually visit as part of combined tours including other destinations such as Hong Kong and Macao. From January to May this year, almost 7,000 Russian tourists have visited Taiwan, double the number from the same time period last year. One incentive for Russians to visit the island is that they no longer have to buy a visa which previously cost $100 USD. Another incentive is the fact that two airlines have launched direct flights, flying weekly between Russia and Taiwan. Royal Flight has flights departing from Moscow and S7 has flights departing from Vladivostok. But Russian tourism in Taiwan has been relatively low compared with other popular destinations in Asia, mainly due to the lack of information about the island among travel agencies and Russian tourists.

Taiwan extends visa-waiver for Russians and increases stand at OTDYKH Leisure 2019

Taiwan is taking great measures to remedy this – in 2018 it participated for the first time in the OTDYKH trade fair, and this year has almost tripled the size of its stand, going from 18m2 last year to 50m2 this year. The aim is to strengthen ties between the Russian and Taiwanese tourism industries and to make information about Taiwan more readily available to Russian citizens. It also aims to maximize the success of the visa-waiver program to encourage a greater flow of Russian tourists to Taiwan. 

The 2019 OTDYKH expo is also very pleased to welcome a newcomer, the Taipei City, who joins the trade fair for the first time with an exclusive stand.

The 2019 expo will span across 15,000 m2 with a total of 180 speakers at 30 business events including workshops, presentations and seminars from industry professionals from all over the world. In 2018 the expo welcomed 38,000 visitors over the course of three days, and 287 media attendees from 80 media partners. This year will feature multiple conference halls with guest speakers and exclusive live performances.

Exhibitors are invited to participate and celebrate the 2019 OTDYKH Leisure trade fair and celebrate 25 years of the expo’s continued success.

For further information, please contact Ms. Anna Huber at [email protected] , International office: +43 1 230 85 35

Bartlett meets with Embassy officials regarding Security Audit Report

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Jamaica Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, today met with key Embassy officials to discuss the recent security audit report. The Embassy officials, which included representatives from the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, were updated by Minister Bartlett on the sector’s strategic plans to create a new architecture for security and next steps.

“The meeting was critical as we engaged key stakeholders from our major source markets on the next steps to ensuring safety, security and seamlessness within the sector. They were informed that these next steps include the recent appointment of a new director of Visitor Safety and Experience, Major Dave Walker, an experienced security expert, who will further review this initial report and provide recommendations.”

The meeting also included a technical team from the Ministry and its agencies: the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), which led the island wide security audit and the Tourism Enhancement Fund; as well as internationally recognized security expert Dr. Peter Tarlow of safertourism.com.

“I also highlighted the creation of a Manual on Tourism Ethics, a first of its kind, which will guide our security infrastructure in the sector and how we interface with each other. This manual will be an operational game changer for Jamaica’s tourism as it will be the first time we have a comprehensive guide on this area,” said Minister Bartlett.

Major Walker has been tasked by Minister Bartlett to complete the Manual on Tourism Ethics and recommendations on security for the sector by the end of the year. The aim of the audit, which received support from internationally recognized security expert, Dr. Peter Tarlow, will identify gaps and ensure a strategy of a safe, secure and seamless destination for visitors and locals alike.

Media contact:

Corporate Communications

Ministry of Tourism

64 Knutsford Boulevard

Kingston 5

Tel: (876) 920-4926-30

Fax: (876) 906 1729

UNIGLOBE Travel welcomes new Global Partner in Scotland, UK

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UNIGLOBE Stewart Travel Management is the newest member of the UNIGLOBE Travel network in the United Kingdom.  

UNIGLOBE Stewart Travel Management is based in Glasgow, Scotland, and has been operating for more than 30 years. It serves a diverse range of corporate clients, from emerging enterprises to publicly traded companies, and recently opened a new location in Aberdeen providing specialized service to marine industries.

Craig Patterson is UNIGLOBE Stewart Travel Management’s director of corporate travel. Says Patterson, “We look forward to working with UNIGLOBE to expand our global network, as well as support UNIGLOBE clients around the world needing expertise in travel to Scotland and the United Kingdom.”

The UNIGLOBE Global Partner program is open to top-performing travel management companies who are seeking to expand their networks and technologies to access global markets. “UNIGLOBE Stewart Travel Management is a strong addition to our family,” says UNIGLOBE founder and chief executive U. Gary Charlwood. Craig and his team bring unique strengths to our global travel management portfolio, especially their expertise in serving the complex travel needs of shipping, offshore, and marine security industries.”

About UNIGLOBE

Working globally to serve clients locally across more than 60 countries, UNIGLOBE Travel leverages current technologies and preferred supplier pricing to save clients time and money on business and vacation travel planning. Since 1981, corporate and leisure travelers have depended on the UNIGLOBE Travel brand to deliver services that go beyond expectations. UNIGLOBE Travel was founded by U. Gary Charlwood, CEO and has its world headquarters in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Annual system-wide sales volume is $5.0+ billion.

Media contact: [email protected]

Bartlett appoints New Director of Visitor Safety and Experience to further Review Security Audit Report

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Jamaica Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has appointed a new director of Visitor Safety and Experience, Major Dave Walker, to further review the initial report from the recent island-wide security audit of the tourism sector. Following this review, Major Walker will submit a final report with recommendations on the way forward by the start of the winter tourist season in December.

Minister Bartlett, who made the announcement today, said, “Major Walker comes to the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) with a wealth of security experience and has been directed by me to critically review findings from the initial report, with a view to analysing the data and providing recommendations on constructing a new architecture for security in the sector.”

Major (Retd.) Dave Walker, has spent in excess of twenty-three years in the military where he served in various operational and strategic capacities. Major Walker was a Military Advisor in Sierra Leone and a Military Advisor dealing with matters relating to regional security with the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS).

Major Walker holds a Master’s Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies and a Master’s in Business Administration both from the University of the West Indies.

Jamaica Tourism Minister Bartlett also highlighted that, “An important outcome from this further review will be the creation of a Manual on Tourism Ethics, a first of its kind, which will guide not just the expectations of security infrastructure in the sector but how we interface with each other.”

Last year, Minister Bartlett ordered an intensive security audit of hotel properties across the island. The aim of the audit was to identify gaps and ensure a strategy of a safe, secure and seamless destination for visitors and locals alike. The TPDCo, which is in charge of maintaining quality assurance within the destination, coordinated the intensive security audit with support from internationally recognized security expert, Dr. Peter Tarlow, of safertourism.com.

Media Contact:

Corporate Communications

Ministry of Tourism

64 Knutsford Boulevard

Kingston 5

Tel: (876) 920-4926-30

Fax: (876) 906 1729