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Archives for April 2023

Key Change Being Made to Definition of Tourist Attraction – Bartlett

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Jamaica Minister of Tourism revealed an important administrative change being made to the definition of local tourist attractions.

This will facilitate them being licensed whether or not they charge an entry fee. The move is expected to give more Jamaicans greater access to various attractions across the island.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, announced yesterday (April 27) that “an attraction is to be defined in a manner that will remove the requirement for an entry fee to be charged. Some entities may continue to charge an entry fee based on their operations, but it will be optional. Therefore, more Jamaicans will be able to enter local attractions and for those without an entry fee persons will be encouraged to make a greater effort to patronize the products and services provided by those establishments to ensure it is a win-win situation.”

The new definition is to be incorporated into the Tourist Board Act, which governs the operations of such facilities.

The announcement comes as Mr Bartlett leads an island wide tour to engage stakeholders and which coincides with a series of town hall meetings hosted by the Ministry of Tourism to facilitate national consultation on the Destination Assurance Framework and Strategy (DAFS). The tour moved along the South Coast this week and included stops at Lashings Beach Club, Lover’s Leap, Newell High School, the Lionel Densham Aerodrome and entailed the unveiling of interior streetscapes, which provide an augmented reality experience, in Black River, St. Elizabeth. 

Tourism partners also participated in a special meeting of the St Elizabeth Destination Assurance Council at the Bennett Catherine Hall in Black River. A town hall meeting was later held at the Breds Treasure Beach Sports Park to continue public consultations on the DAFS.

Even as he focused on the need for safety and security not just in tourism spaces but all over the country, Mr Bartlett reiterated his position that “it’s zero tolerance now for disorder and indiscipline.” He said there should be no excuse for boorish behavior and giving in to threats of holding back votes. We as a country “must get to that point where our politics elevates us to a higher plane where order and respect, and regard for systems and laws, and morals and values are embraced.”

The Tourism Minister added that:

“Unless we do that then the tourism industry, and any other industry that Jamaica will have will decline to naught.”

At the same time, however, he is also on a campaign to get more Jamaicans to invest in tourism and reap benefits from the booming industry. “Were moving to a new dimension in terms of the expansion and growth of tourism to create an economy in Jamaica that is going to be safe and solid and sound and offers an opportunity for good jobs, but great opportunities for entrepreneurship,” he said.

The Minister underscored that tourism now offered an opportunity for everyone to be able to tap into the wide and deep value chain “that embraces every element of human activity” and he told his audience, “in every element of your creative genius resides an opportunity for economic development.”

Mr. Bartlett said for Jamaica to experience greater growth, tourism must move from the demand side of bringing the visitor in, to the supply side of “how we make the visitor happy and satisfied and spend every dollar that he brings with him. And in that whole process is the retention of the dollar in our own destination,” he stated.

SEEN IN IMAGE:  HM Lover’s Leap: Operator of the Lover’s Leap attraction in St Elizabeth, hotelier Jason Henzell (left) outlines plans to further enhance the historic facility and issues impacting on Jamaica’s South Coast tourism to Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (2nd right) during the Ministry’s Destination Assurance tour of the region and meetings with stakeholders yesterday (April 27). Sharing in the discourse are Manager of Lover’s Leap, Owen Rowe (2nd left) and Executive Director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Dr Carey Wallace (right). – image courtesy of Jamaica Tourism Ministry

More news about Jamaica

MEDIA CONTACT:

Corporate Communications Division

Ministry of Tourism

64 Knutsford Boulevard

Kingston 5

Tel: (876) 920-4926-30

Or

Kingsley Roberts

Senior Director, Corporate Communications

Ministry of Tourism

64 Knutsford Boulevard

Kingston 5

Tel: 920-4926-30, ext.: 5990

Cell: (876) 505-6118

Fax: 920-4944

AG Nullifies Guam Visitors Bureau Board Director Selection

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On March 8, 2023, the Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) Board held a special meeting to discuss selecting the 12th director.

At the meeting, GVB’s legal counsel, Joseph McDonald, informed the board that 11 of GVB’s 12 directors were necessary to select the 12th director because GVB’s enabling act expressly provided for that procedure. On March 11, 2023, President Gutierrez requested the Attorney General to issue an opinion regarding the selection of GVB’s 12th director. 

On March 23, 2023, the Board held its regular meeting to select the 12th director. Once again, legal counsel advised the Board that 11 directors were required to select the 12th director. Notwithstanding legal counsel’s advice, Board Chairman George Chiu insisted to proceed with selecting the 12th director based on a vote of 9 directors.

Director Jeff Jones agreed with Chairman Chiu and suggested to proceed with the selection pending the advice of the Attorney General. Director Jones reasoned that if the selection was contrary to the Attorney General’s opinion, the Board could later ratify the selection when 11 members were present.  The Board then proceeded with the selection of the 12th director and selected Monte Mesa.

Attorney General Weighs in

On April 28, 2023, the Guam Attorney General’s Office issued its opinion and confirmed GVB legal counsel’s opinion that the law requires 11 directors to select the 12th director. The Attorney General opined that “[t]o require participation of less than 11 directors as required by 12 GCA § 9106 (a) when selecting the 12th director is contrary to the authority given to the GVB Board in the GVB enabling statutes.” 

The Attorney General further opined that, “[a]ny acts by an agency falling outside the scope of the express authority conferred to that agency by its enabling statute are to be deemed unauthorized.” As a result of the Attorney General’s opinion, the selection of Monte Mesa as the 12th director was unauthorized and contrary to the law. Until further notice, Monte Mesa is not a GVB Board Director, and his previous participation on the Board was contrary to the law.

More news about Guam

MEDIA CONTACT:  GVB (671) 646-5278

Bartlett Hails Peter Rousseau as Patriotic Jamaican

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“Peter Rousseau was one of the few Jamaicans who had an unshakeable belief in his country, and the value of tourism to national development.”

These were the words of Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, as he paid tribute to Mr. Rousseau who had been ailing and died yesterday (April 26) at his home. Minister Bartlett noted that he made a tremendous contribution to the tourism industry and said that Mr Rousseau did so to the extent of putting himself in debt to build the former Ciboney Hotel, now the luxurious Sandals Ochi Beach Resort, when local investment in the sector was not popular and regarded as a big gamble.

He also managed one of Kingston’s landmark hotels, the Terra Nova and more recently was part of a family-run restaurant. Mr. Bartlett expressed further in his tribute:

“Peter Rousseau also served the tourism sector as President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) during the difficult period of the late 1980s in addition to serving his country as a director of the Jamaica Tourist Board and a number of other boards and performed creditably.”

As he offered sincere condolences to Mr Rousseau’s family Minister Bartlett said: “With his passing, the country and the tourism industry in particular, have lost a Jamaican who was patriotic, helped to hold the tourism industry together through hard times, and he will be remembered for a very long time.”

About Jamaica Ministry of Tourism

The Jamaica Ministry of Tourism and its agencies are on a mission to enhance and transform Jamaica’s tourism product, while ensuring that the benefits which flow from the tourism sector are increased for all Jamaicans. To this end it has implemented policies and strategies that will provide further momentum for tourism as the engine of growth for the Jamaican economy. The Ministry remains committed to ensuring that the tourism sector makes the fullest contribution possible to Jamaica’s economic development given its tremendous earning potential.

More news about Jamaica

MEDIA CONTACT:

Corporate Communications Division

Ministry of Tourism

64 Knutsford Boulevard

Kingston 5

Tel: (876) 920-4926-30

Or

Kingsley Roberts

Senior Director, Corporate Communications

Ministry of Tourism

64 Knutsford Boulevard

Kingston 5

Tel: 920-4926-30, ext.: 5990

Cell: (876) 505-6118

Fax: 920-4944

Seychelles Strengthens as Ideal Tropical Holiday in Sicily, Italy

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Tourism Seychelles representatives in Italy participated in 25th edition of Travelexpo, most important tourism event in Sicily’s calendar.

From April 14-16, more than 450 tourism partners, with over 1,200 professionals from airlines to tour operators and hoteliers, came together in Terrasini Città del Mare, near the city of Palermo.

Seychelles was well represented with a dedicated stand depicting the natural wonders of the archipelago and its culture, providing the perfect occasion to meet the local trade, clarify any doubts about the destination and distribute promotional material.   

Travelexpo’s success confirmed the market recovery in the post-pandemic era, attested by the vibrancy and industriousness of the companies and professionals attending.

Logos, the organizer of Travelexpo, has contributed significantly to the development of the tourism industry in Sicily since 1983, organizing trade fairs and workshops around Sicily and managing the tourism news portal Travelnostop.com with 37, 882 records and dedicated newsletters.  

Sicily is an important market for Seychelles, especially in the honeymoon segment.

Despite being an island with beautiful seas, local consumers are high-end travelers when it comes to special occasions. The new air links by Turkish Airlines departing from Palermo and Catania also help connect Sicily to the rest of the world.  

Seychelles’ participation aimed to increase the destination’s visibility as a travel and desired destination. The three-day event focused on bringing together travel agencies, tour operators, tourism boards, and other tourism suppliers from around the world.  

Commenting on the fruitful three days, Ms. Danielle Di Gianvito, Tourism Seychelles’ representative for Italy, said, “It is a great opportunity to participate in Travelexpo, to further promote and increase the visibility of Seychelles and to meet the Sicilian trade, which is a bit more difficult to intercept due to its geographical position during other workshops and roadshows.”  

Travelexpo was also an opportunity to build and reconnect potential businesses or collaborations. Ms. Di Gianvito had the chance to engage with people from different sectors and interact with multiple attendees.   

More news about Seychelles

MEDIA CONTACT: Tourism Seychelles, [email protected] 

The Love Affair Continues: Sandals® Resorts International Partners with ASTA to Celebrate Global Travel Advisor Day

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Leading luxury all-inclusive resort company Sandals Resorts International reaffirms commitment to travel advisors.

In partnership with the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), Sandals Resorts International (SRI) – parent company of luxury all-inclusive brands Sandals® Resorts and Beaches® Resorts – is celebrating the integral role of travel advisors by reaffirming its commitment through exclusive ASTA partnership along with programming and educational opportunities, as well as advisor incentives in honor of Global Travel Advisor Day.

“Travel advisors have been key characters throughout every chapter of our more than 40-year history and have played a leading role in the industry’s resurgence,” said Gary C. Sadler, the Executive Vice President of Sales and Industry Relations at Unique Vacations Inc., an affiliate of the worldwide representatives for Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts. “We’re proud to have them as partners in our joint success and to champion the critical work of ASTA in recognizing the incredible travel advisor community today, and every day.”

As the exclusive sponsor of Global Travel Advisor Day 2023, Sandals Resorts and ASTA are celebrating travel advisors with a Facebook Live on May 3 that will feature a one-on-one session between ASTA President Zane Kerby and Gary Sadler, who will also be speaking on stage at ASTA’s Global Conference in Puerto Rico on the same day.  While discussing the latest trends in travel, Sadler and Kerby will have an opportunity to dive into the latest research fielded by ASTA which shows that 68% of Americans believe planning a trip is more complex now and that 50% of people are more likely to use a travel advisor today than they were in the past—a 14% increase year over year.

“We’re excited to partner with Sandals to celebrate the accomplishments of travel advisors who are a vital part of the travel and tourism industry as they provide unparalleled customer service to their clients.”

Zane Kerby, President and CEO of the American Society of Travel Advisors, added: “Our members tell me that their businesses are growing, because Americans want to get out and see the world. Travel is more than a priority. It is essential. We’re proud to work with companies like Sandals who both appreciate and support the travel advisor community—not just during special events like today, but every day.”

During the Facebook Live, hosted from 2-4 pm EST on ASTA’s Facebook page, lucky travel advisors will have the opportunity to win a trip to Sandals Dunn’s River, the newest luxury resort within the Sandals Resorts portfolio set to debut May 24, 2023. Showcasing appreciation for travel advisors’ commitment to service, dedication to education and role within the customer booking journey, new bookings of 6 nights or longer at Sandals Resorts made directly with Unique Vacations, Inc. from May 4-31, for travel through December 24, 2023, will also be eligible for additional booking incentive up to $200.

“Programming surrounding Global Travel Advisor Day is important, but for us, it amplifies an extensive suite of tools – including our BDM team, the largest and most active sales force of any Caribbean hotel brand, to help advisors sell more effectively,” said Sadler. “We are there for advisors, not merely through a call center, but as partners in the field.”

Sadler points to the recent launch of a new online training tool, which now allows travel advisors from around the globe to become Sandals Elite Advisors at their own pace, as an example of the company’s innovative professional development and educational opportunities. Advisors will retain access to the program even after completion, allowing them to revisit lessons and access new or updated reference materials including the latest information on specific resorts, room categories, and programming across the Sandals and Beaches portfolio. In addition to the new online course, the company continues to enhance its offerings, launching initiatives such as its “Let’s Talk” webinar series and “Back to the Beach” series hosted by BDM’s.

For more information and details on the company’s special Global Travel Advisor Day incentives, please visit: https://taportal.sandals.com/. For additional details on Global Travel Advisor Day, please visit ASTA’s celebration toolkit Global Travel Advisor Day 2023 (asta.org).

About Sandals Resorts International

Founded in 1981 by the late Jamaican entrepreneur Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Sandals Resorts International (SRI) is the parent company of some of travel’s most recognizable vacation brands. The company operates 24 properties throughout the Caribbean under four separate brands including: Sandals® Resorts, the Luxury Included® brand for adult couples with locations in Jamaica, Antigua, the Bahamas, Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia and Curaçao; Beaches® Resorts, the Luxury Included® concept designed for everyone but especially families, with properties in Turks & Caicos and Jamaica; private island Fowl Cay Resort; and the private homes of Your Jamaican Villas. Family-owned and operated, Sandals Resorts International is the largest private employer in the region. For more information, visit Sandals Resorts International.

About ASTA

Rebranded in 2018 as the American Society of Travel Advisors, ASTA is the leading global advocate for travel advisors, the travel industry and the traveling public. Its members represent 80 percent of all travel sold in the United States through the travel agency distribution channel. Together with hundreds of internationally-based members, ASTA’s history of industry advocacy traces back to its founding in 1931 when it launched with the mission to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism. For more information about the Society, visit our mission statement. 

SEEN IN IMAGE: Sandals Royal Curacao – image courtesy of Sandals Resorts International

More news about Sandals

MEDIA CONTACT: 1-888-SANDALS, [email protected]