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Jamaica pursues wellness-focused tourism initiative

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Jamaica pursues wellness-focused tourism initiative

As the sun rises on the morning of October 2, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism, Donovan White and members of the Jamaica Cycling Association will crank up the RPMs as they partake in the first leg of Discover Jamaica by Bike. A local event, this will serve as a pilot for a consumer cycling experience that will debut in spring 2021. The ride, which begins in Port Antonio and concludes in Kingston on October 5, will lay the groundwork for a new tourism initiative rooted in active travel and the development of outdoor programs that will allow visitors to embrace the island’s natural beauty while enabling physical distancing.

“Jamaica has always prided herself on delivering a tourism product that is ideally suited to deliver what visitors desire,” said Director White. “Discover Jamaica By Bike continues that legacy as it taps into our collective renewed focus on health and wellness coupled with safe, physically-distanced activities. We know that cycling has become a fitness activity of choice for many through this pandemic, and we are confident that development of a bookable experience around this itinerary will drive continued interest in the destination through a new lens.”

Discover Jamaica by Bike will kick-off with a press conference at Goblin Hill on Thursday, October 1. Officials from the Jamaica Tourist Board, the Ministry of Health & Wellness and the Ministry of Tourism will be on hand to share details about the event as well as possible marketing efforts to promote it to international attendees. From October 2 – 5, participants will trek along the Resilient Corridors through Port Antonio, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Negril, South Coast to Kingston, with the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel being the final stop.

Key elements from the October itinerary will be the basis for a consumer-facing itinerary that will showcase different components of the destination with a number of partners along the route. Biking enthusiasts will experience firsthand the rolling hills, beaches and many towns along the way that make Jamaica such a unique destination.

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

Jamaica Brings Virtual Experience to Travelers

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Jamaica, Heartbeat of the World, has curated a care package to refresh the spirit and allow travelers to virtually experience its vibrant culture. Available through VisitJamaica’s Instagram and YouTube channels, the destination is offering an array of music, at-home-recipes, DIY spa treatments, and social media games, recreating Jamaica’s sights, sounds, and tastes for its travelers until the time is right again to travel.

Sounds

Music lovers can jam to uplifting tunes from the “Every Little Thing is Gonna Be Alright” Spotify playlist. The lively and rhythmic compilation of Jamaica’s most beloved songs is a reminder to keep our heads high with hits from Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Beenie Man and many more.

Sights

Puzzle Packs, Jamaica’s new interactive game on Instagram, has users guess a popular location in Jamaica by matching nine picturesque pieces to complete the puzzle. A new puzzle pack will launch each week for a month where five lucky winners will be chosen per week to have the chance to win a Vacation Box filled with goodies to help unwind and chill, ‘Jamaican style.’ The Puzzle Packs are set to launch on Thursday, June 11th.

Tastes

Aspiring home chefs and mixologists can try out new recipes and cocktails from renowned Jamaican chefs to add a little bit of the island to their kitchen. Recreate the two-time Food Network Chopped Champion, Chef Andre Fowles’ quick and savory pepper shrimp pasta recipe from the comforts of your own home. Test out sister chefs Suzanne and Michelle Rousseau’s Jamaican twist on a classic with a spicy creamy tomato soup and pepper grilled cheese with pepper jelly on hardo bread. For virtual happy hours and to celebrate another week of responsible social distancing, try a hand at Canadian-based Private Chef Noel Cunningham’s tropical beverage with his Blue Lagoon cocktail using vodka, blue curacao, and lemonade.

Relax

Spa aficionados can relax and unwind by turning on some ocean sounds and setting up a gentle breeze to create a luxury spa retreat from the comfort of home. For a nourishing body scrub, the Blackwell Rum brown sugar scrub applied during a warm shower will rejuvenate and refresh. This simple rum infused recipe combines two cups of golden-brown sugar, half cup of Blackwell Rum with one cup of heated coconut oil to soften and smooth the skin.

Through this virtual care package, the Jamaica Tourist Board aims to bring the island to its beloved travelers around the world until the destination can welcome them again in person.

For more information on Jamaica, please go to www.visitjamaica.com

About Jamaica Tourist Board

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica’s national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. JTB offices are also located in Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are located in Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Tokyo and Paris.  

This year, the JTB was declared the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board by the World Travel Awards (WTA) for the thirteenth consecutive year and Jamaica was declared the Caribbean’s Leading Destination for the fifteenth consecutive year. Jamaica also earned the WTA award for the World’s Leading Cruise Destination and Leading Meetings & Conference Centre for the Montego Bay Convention Centre. Most recently, Jamaica was named as one of the “Best Places to Go in 2020” according to CNN, Bloomberg and Forbes. Jamaica was awarded three gold 2020 Travvy Awards including Best Culinary Destination, Caribbean/Bahamas; Best Tourism Board Overall and Best Tourism Board, Caribbean/Bahamas. In 2019, TripAdvisor® ranked Jamaica as the #1 Caribbean Destination and #14 Best Destination in the World. In 2018, the International Council of the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) named Jamaica the Destination of the Year and TravAlliance Media named JTB Best Tourism Board, and Jamaica as Best Culinary Destination, Best Wedding Destination and Best Honeymoon Destination. Jamaica is home to some of the world’s best accommodations, attractions and service providers that continue to receive prominent global recognition.

For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Jamaica go to the JTB’s Website at www.visitjamaica.com or call the Jamaica Tourist Board at 1-800-JAMAICA (1-800-526-2422).  Follow the JTB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube. View the JTB blog at www.islandbuzzjamaica.com.

More news about Jamaica.

#rebuildingtravel

Media Contacts: Briahnna Gibson / Natalia Lopez, Finn Partners, Jamaica@finnpartners.com

Jamaica Tourist Agents Can Win Weekly Prize

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With lockdown measures and travel restrictions still in place, the Jamaica Tourist Board is continuing to educate travel agents in fun and innovative ways, with the launch of its new IRIE Jamaican Treasure Hunt. Today, the first of five weekly treasure hunts for agents has launched online, giving agents the chance to win a £50 Jamaica Rewards cash card each week.

Each week, the quiz will focus on a different resort area, allowing agents to gain further insight into Jamaica’s regions and what there is to offer in the destination. This week, agents’ knowledge of The Great Houses of Montego Bay will be put to the test as they have to find the hidden treasures around the city. Once agents have completed the treasure hunt, they will be entered into a prize draw and will be in with a chance to win a £50 reward card.

How to take part: Agents can simply click on the link below and click play in order to begin the treasure hunt:

https://www.spoiledagent.com/us/members/clients/jamaica/contest-2020-UK/week1/

For further information please visit: http://www.jamaicarewards.co.uk/

More news about Jamaica.

#rebuildingtravel

MEDIA CONTACT: April Cernuschi, Account Manager, Finn Partners, T: +44 20 7326 9880, M: +44 7881 557 671

Minister Bartlett to toast 126 couples in Jamaica Tourist Board’s virtual destination wedding ceremony

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Minister Bartlett to toast 126 couples in Jamaica Tourist Board’s virtual destination wedding ceremony

Minister Bartlett to toast 126 couples in Jamaica Tourist Board’s virtual destination wedding ceremony

Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett is set to give a special toast for 126 couples who will be participating in an upcoming virtual wedding. The Jamaica Tourist Board has partnered with DestinationWeddings.com to host a virtual, symbolic wedding ceremony for couples who had to postpone or cancel their Jamaican, other warm weather destination weddings, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The registration closed on Tuesday May 12, with 126 Couples set to participate in the virtual ceremony being hosted live on Zoom from Laughing Waters, Jamaica on May 17, 2020.

The ceremony will include the exchange of vows, live music, a unity ceremony, scenic shots and Minister Bartlett’s special toast.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed life as we know it drastically. While we encourage persons to practice physical distancing, we also want to remind them that this does not mean we have to cancel social engagements. Though they may not be able to visit us in person, we are so happy to welcome these couples to our island virtually to celebrate love in one of the world’s leading wedding destinations – Jamaica,” said Minister Bartlett.

“It is important that we show the world that love is not cancelled and Jamaica has so much to offer to make their special day meet all their expectations. Though they had to cancel their special days in person, we hope that this will make up for it until they are able to visit us in the near future,” he added.

The couples who participate in this unique celebration, will also receive a very special offer. If they book their destination wedding at any of the 17 Jamaica resort partners, they will receive: 3 free nights in an upgraded room category plus an additional, exclusive amenity during their stay; a complimentary wedding package; complimentary arrival service (escort service through customs from the Jamaica Tourist Board with use of the Club MoBay airport lounge); and complimentary departure service via Club MoBay.

“We’re excited to be hosting this virtual symbolic wedding and look forward to welcoming these couples when they visit us for their physical celebrations, when the time is right,” said Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board.

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

#rebuildingtravel

Jamaica Hosts “Together We Stand” Telethon to Raise Funds for PPE to Protect Frontline Healthcare Workers

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The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is raising awareness to help Jamaica fight the spread of COVID-19 with “Telethon Jamaica, Together We Stand.” On Sunday, April 12, at 4:00 pm ET (3:00 pm Jamaica time), the virtual fundraising concert will feature remote performances by some of Jamaica’s leading artists and celebrities including Koffee, Shaggy, Sean Paul, Maxi Priest, and Richie Spice. The 6-hour Together We Stand Telethon will be live-streamed on VP Records’ YouTube channel and a portion of the broadcast will be aired live on Television Jamaica and various digital platforms.

“‘Telethon Jamaica, Together We Stand’ is a call to action to support our doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals during this challenging time,” said Donovan White, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism. “The donations made will provide essential resources to continue protecting our healthcare workers on the frontline and help fight the spread fight the spread of COVID-19 across all our communities. I have been inspired by Jamaica’s display of solidarity thus far and I am confident that as a resilient nation, we will get through this together.”

To make a donation, please visit www.jatogetherwestand.com or call toll free 1-866-228-8393 from the United States, Canada, and Jamaica; or +44-808-189-6147 from the United Kingdom and Europe.

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica’s national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. JTB offices are also located in Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are located in Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Tokyo and Paris.

This year, the JTB was declared the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board by the World Travel Awards (WTA) for the thirteenth consecutive year and Jamaica was declared the Caribbean’s Leading Destination for the fifteenth consecutive year. Jamaica also earned the WTA award for the World’s Leading Cruise Destination and Leading Meetings & Conference Centre for the Montego Bay Convention Centre. Most recently, Jamaica was named as one of the “Best Places to Go in 2020” according to CNN, Bloomberg and Forbes. Jamaica was awarded three gold 2020 Travvy Awards including Best Culinary Destination, Caribbean/Bahamas; Best Tourism Board Overall and Best Tourism Board, Caribbean/Bahamas. In 2019, TripAdvisor® ranked Jamaica as the #1 Caribbean Destination and #14 Best Destination in the World. In 2018, the International Council of the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) named Jamaica the Destination of the Year and TravAlliance Media named JTB Best Tourism Board, and Jamaica as Best Culinary Destination, Best Wedding Destination and Best Honeymoon Destination. Jamaica is home to some of the world’s best accommodations, attractions and service providers that continue to receive prominent global recognition.

For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Jamaica go to the JTB’s Website at www.visitjamaica.com or call the Jamaica Tourist Board at 1-800-JAMAICA (1-800-526-2422).  Follow the JTB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube. View the JTB blog at www.islandbuzzjamaica.com

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

Tourism Ministry to Spend More on Marketing Carnival in Jamaica

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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has announced that his Ministry will be increasing investment in developing Carnival in Jamaica as a tourism product, which will be marketed to destinations across the globe.

Speaking yesterday at the launch of Carnival in Jamaica, at the AC Hotel in Kingston, the Minister said, “The Tourism Linkages Network will continue to support Carnival in Jamaica. We are committed to spend more on it, not for events, but to build the product because that is what will be sustainable and lasting.”

He added that, “Events are good, but you cannot market and package events in the same way you can with a product. In tourism, we drive and market products. We package these products as a combination of rooms, air seats and the experience.”

The marketing efforts for last year’s event proved effective, with data from the Jamaica Tourist Board showing that visitor arrivals through Norman Manley International Airport for the respective Easter/Carnival periods between 2018 and 2019 increased by 11.5% from 9,881 to 11,014 visitors.

Additionally, in the few days leading up to the culmination of Carnival in Jamaica, there was an increase in visitor arrivals from NMIA in 2019 of 18.4% over 2018’s Carnival lead up.

For an average of five nights, visitors also spent approximately US$240 per person per night; up from US$236 in 2018.

“Carnival was re-energised in 2017 with one intention in mind – to create a carnival product so that we can market it… This building out of the product will create an economic arrangement that will generate jobs and employment for hundreds of people, which is the bottom line for prosperity from carnival,” said the Minister.

The data highlighted that Carnival in Jamaica, resulted in an increase in economic activity in a myriad of subsectors, such as entertainment and the creative industries, attractions, ground transportation, auto rentals, catering, media, and retail. 

Thirty-three percent of carnival participants visited an attraction, 49% dined out, and 47% participated in nightlife activities.

Kingston hotels were booked to capacity with 30% of carnival patrons staying in hotels. Airbnb was also a beneficiary with 28% opting for homestays and the remainder staying in private homes, villas, guesthouses and apartments.

“We are marketing Jamaica as a destination for music, entertainment, food, and most importantly – for love. That combination now makes Jamaica, the heartbeat of the world. You will hear more about that as we move on, in terms of our marketing arrangements across the globe,” said the Minister. 

He further explained that, “This marketing drive has become a critical component of the architecture and the arrangements that we are making for disseminating ideas and information about Jamaica. This is very important to us because we are looking forward to building the city of Kingston, as the entertainment sector of the Caribbean.

In doing so, we are not competing with Trinidad or other destinations. We are creating something that is authentic, opinionated – something that people would come to Jamaica to experience and to consume and go nowhere else to get.”

Carnival in Jamaica was launched in 2017 and is used as the umbrella brand for all carnival activities, during the carnival period, making it a national product. This is an annual undertaking, which aims to transform the carnival experience locally. It is a key initiative of the Tourism Linkages Network with support from the Jamaica Tourist Board and key stakeholders.

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