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Tourism Resilience Centre to provide US$100,000 Towards Disaster Recovery Efforts in the Caribbean

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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett says his Ministry through the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC), has allocated US$100,000 to support tourism-ravaged economies impacted by disruptions such as natural disasters and pandemics.

Speaking at a press conference today at the Jamaica Tourist Board’s Kingston office, the Minister noted that the announcement has stemmed from discussions he had with critical tourism partners at the recently concluded United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) 23rd Session of the General Assembly in Russia. 


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“One of the key areas we looked at in Russia is how to deal with some of these disruptions that are affecting us… Coming out of these discussions, in collaboration with the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), we are providing US$100,000 in support of the tourism ravaged economies of the Bahamas and other areas in the Caribbean that may be impacted in the future,” said the Minister.

The JHTA has contributed US$20,000 to assist in relief efforts through the UNWTO and the GTRCMC.

The Minister noted that this fund is going to assist in relief efforts in hurricane-ravaged Bahamas but also towards the commissioning of a baseline study to assess the vulnerabilities of the Caribbean to major disruptions.

“A baseline study is being commissioned by the Centre to look at Caribbean vulnerabilities to disruptions of this nature. It is not just about hurricanes but other pandemics and epidemics. We are doing that, not just on the basis that is providing supplies but to build capacity. It is about the building of capacity to deal with disruptions,” said the Minister.

He also noted that, “This fund is going to look at a study in terms of understanding these phenomena but more importantly, how we build capacity to deal with them.” 

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The Centre’s newly elected Executive Director, Professor Lloyd Waller and his team have been tasked with overseeing the process.

“We want to also acknowledge the work that the Sandals Foundation has done and is doing in terms of the recovery process in the Bahamas.  We are grateful for their partnership with the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, and the massive support they continue to give the Bahamas,” said the Minister.

The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre’s mission includes assisting global tourism destinations with destination preparedness, management and recovery from disruptions and/or crises that affect tourism and threaten economies and livelihoods globally.  

MEDIA CONTACT:

Corporate Communications

Ministry of Tourism,

64 Knutsford Boulevard,

Kingston 5.

Tel: 920-4926-30,

Fax: 920-4944

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

Jamaica to host Regional Sargassum Forum

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In light of the influx of sargassum in the Caribbean region, Jamaica will host a regional forum to facilitate collaboration to address the matter. The forum, which is being spearheaded by the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCM), will be held at the Regional Headquarters of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona tomorrow, Friday July 26.

The objective of the forum is to share knowledge and best practices as it relates to sargassum, specifically the type which originates from the coast of Brazil. The outcome from the forum will be to identify gaps and foster synergies towards a solution.

In highlighting the importance of finding effective solutions to the sargassum issue, Minister Bartlett said, “Jamaica is taking the lead on this critical issue of preventing sargassum from negatively impacting our beaches which will ultimately, negatively impact our tourism.

We are being proactive as the onset of sargassum poses a real threat to not just Jamaica but the entire region that is so heavily dependent on tourism.”

Sargassum is a type of brown seaweed and numerous species are distributed throughout the temperate and tropical oceans of the world, where they inhabit shallow water and coral reefs. It often causes a foul odour, releasing fumes of sulphur compounds that rust metals, and damage modern conveniences.

Professor, the Hon Ambassador Richard Bernal, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global Affairs at the UWI says, “The UWI has been monitoring and identifying solutions to the sargassum situation and this forum will provide an opportunity for collaboration with stakeholders across the Caribbean to further examine the threat and identify practical and cost effective solutions.”

The roundtable participants include mechanical engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Precision Engineering Research Group; and noted researchers from the UWI and the GTRCM.

“I am pleased that we will have some of the brightest minds on this subject area who will engage in discussion on the possible avenues the region can employ to prevent this threat from devastating our shores and collective tourism product,” added Minister Bartlett.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, Corporate Communications, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: 920-4926-30, Fax: 920-4944

Anguilla scores a three-peat! Voted Best Caribbean Island third year in a row in Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2019

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The Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) is delighted to announce that for a truly unprecedented third year in a row, Anguilla has been ranked #1 island in the Caribbean, Bermuda and Bahamas in the 2019 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, honoring the top travel destinations and companies around the globe as rated by its readers. The Island was also claimed the #6 position on the Top 15 Best Islands in the World list.

“We are extremely pleased and proud to once again receive this prestigious Award, a wonderful endorsement of our exceptional tourism product,” said the Hon. Cardigan Connor, Parliamentary Secretary in Anguilla’s Ministry of Tourism. “The credit for this Award goes beyond our tourism stakeholders to all the people of Anguilla, and our longstanding tradition of warm hospitality that brings our visitors back, year after year,” he continued.

“We are thrilled that Anguilla has been voted the #1 Island in the Caribbean for the third year in a row, and the #6 Island in the World, by this discerning group of experienced, global travelers,” said ATB Chairperson, Mrs. Donna Banks. “Over the past two years we have restructured the Anguilla Tourist Board, bringing new talent into the organization, strengthening our marketing department, and expanding our outreach to stakeholders. We are greatly encouraged by this Award, which validates our change in strategy and direction.”

Three Anguilla resorts are featured in the Top 25 Caribbean Resort Hotels category – Frangipani Beach Resort ranked #2; Malliouhana, Auberge Resort Collection ranked #14; and Zemi Beach House Hotel & Spa ranked #24. The Frangipani Beach Resort is once again the only property featured in the Top Hotels Overall, ranked #46.

Starting in December 2018, Anguilla has achieved record-breaking tourist arrivals every month through May 2019, the latest month for which visitor arrivals are available. With brand new and newly renovated resorts, a host of new attractions, and a new campaign, “Beyond Extraordinary” that focuses on the Anguilla experience, the island’s tourism industry is on track to realize its best year ever in terms of both arrivals and revenues.

The World’s Best Awards appear in the August 2019 issue of Travel + Leisure, on sale July XX, and online at this link: https://www.travelandleisure.com/worlds-best. A special reception to celebrate the winners will be held on July 16, 2019 at the new Times Square EDITION in New York City.

For more information on Anguilla please visit the official website of the Anguilla Tourist Board: www.IvisitAnguilla.com; follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnguillaOfficial; Instagram: @Anguilla_Tourism; Twitter: @Anguilla_Trsm, Hashtag: #MyAnguilla.

About Anguilla

Tucked away in the northern Caribbean, Anguilla is a shy beauty with a warm smile. A slender length of coral and limestone fringed with green, the island is ringed with 33 beaches, considered by savvy travelers and top travel magazines, to be the most beautiful in the world.

Anguilla lies just off the beaten path, so it has retained a charming character and exclusivity. Yet because it can be conveniently reached from two major gateways: Puerto Rico and St Martin, and by private air, it’s a hop and a skip away.

Romance? Barefoot elegance? Unfussy chic? And untrammeled bliss?

Anguilla is Beyond Extraordinary. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Alison Ross, Anguilla Tourist Board, North America, T. 917-858-2411, E. rossa@pmgroup.bz

St. Martin shines at CTO’s Caribbean Week in New York City

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The Caribbean Tourism Organization’s, (CTO) Caribbean Week in New York is the largest regional tourism activity in North America. Artists, celebrity chefs,  investors and other strategic partners join government officials and the media for a week of festivities designed to promote the region and for tourism leaders, to conduct bi-lateral meeting on the industry.

In that regard, the Hon. Valérie Damaseau attended the CTO Board of Directors Meeting, the Council of Tourism Ministers and Commissioners Meeting, and the Marketing Conference that was hosted by CTO Allied Members, who presented the latest cutting-edge marketing trends.  During the seminars and other business development meetings Minister Damaseau raised awareness on St. Martin’s tourism product and gave critical updates to further enhance the destination.

At Media Marketplace, representatives from St. Martin had the opportunity to discuss destination updates with trade and consumer media and share information on new developments on island, sharing that 75% of the hotels have reopened, which accounts for approximately 1,200 rooms, while some 65% of the villas have been renovated. St. Martin saw an impressive 118% increase in the total number of stayover arrivals for the month January 2019. In January 2018, the island welcomed 12,028 visitors and that number more than doubled, reaching 26,258 visitors in 2019. 

Hon. Valérie Damaseau participated in one-on-one interviews with select media outlets and television journalists. In speaking with the media, the Minister shared,  “I would like to congratulate our team at the St. Martin Tourist Office as well as our esteemed partners at CTO for their dedication and continuous support in promoting our country.  Participating in these meetings allow us to network, exchange ideas, and help ensure a successful year in the tourism industry”.  She continued, ‘Success comes from hard work so we will always apply ourselves to guarantee that the momentum in visitor arrivals continues”. She also provided information on new brands that are coming to the destination in 2020 and 2021 such as Secret Resorts, Planet Hollywood & The Morgan.

ABOUT ST. MARTIN

With duty-free shops, an eclectic array of restaurants, properties and loads of water sports, St. Martin is for action-oriented vacationers. With its blend of warm hospitality and European style, St. Martin is one of the Caribbean’s more attention-grabbing spots. The destination offers visitors the opportunity to discover beautiful beaches, savor traditional French and West Indian cuisine, and explore an abundance of attractions.

To find information on St. Martin please visit: https://www.st-martin.org/  or follow on

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iledesaintmartin/

Instagram: @discoversaintmartin Twitter @ilesaintmartin

MEDIA CONTACT: Nana Delatour, Nana.d@pmgroup.bz