Destination Wins Four Top Awards at Event
KINGSTON, JAMAICA – September 21, 2006 – Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Entertainment & Culture, the Hon. Aloun N’dombet Assamba, last night accepted the island’s award for Caribbean’s Leading Destination at the 13th annual World Travel Awards which took place at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort & Spa in the Turks & Caicos Islands.
Minister Assamba also accepted the award Caribbean’s Leading Tourist & Convention Bureau which was received by the Jamaica Tourist Board.
Jamaica’s cruise facilities were the toast of the travel industry when it was named World’s Leading Cruise Destination and the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination (Port Authority of Jamaica).
This was the first time in the history of the awards that Jamaica was being voted World’s Leading Cruise Destination, an honour that solidified Jamaica’s position as a major player in the world cruise business.
William Tatham, Vice President of the Port Authority of Jamaica was on hand to accept the prizes for World’s Leading Cruise Destination and Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination.
The World Travel Awards are considered the most comprehensive travel awards in which travel agents from 200 countries vote to recognize excellence in travel destinations, airlines, hotels and cruise facilities from regions around the world.
This year, more than 167,000 travel professionals world wide, including 110,000 travel agents, participated in the voting in which Jamaica took pride of place amongst the world’s leading tourist destinations.
Commenting on Jamaica’s success in winning the four Awards, Minister Assamba said, “Without the co-operation of our partners throughout the industry and their continued support, winning these awards would not be possible. We extend our thanks and congratulations to all of those whose hard work and excellence in service have proven to travellers and the travel industry alike, that Jamaica is the premiere Caribbean destination.”
Chairman of the JTB, Dennis Morrison, stated, “The dedication, innovation and imagination that have been displayed over the years by our tourism partners are being richly rewarded. I specifically want to recognize and thank all the workers in the industry and other sectors whose talents, skills and efforts support the performance of Jamaica’s tourism industry.”
“Being recognized in regional categories is a great honor and winning in a global category, as the World’s Leading Cruise Destination , underscores the fact that Jamaica is a leader in tourism world wide,” Mr. Morrison added.
Minister Assamba also said, “While Jamaica was recognized as a destination, we are very proud to congratulate the many hotel, airline and airport partners who dominated this year’s categories with nominations, including Air Jamaica, Sir Donald Sangster International Airport, Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston, Franklyn D. Resort, Half Moon, Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort & Spa, Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort, Rose Hall, Wyndham Rose Hall Resort & Country Club, Rockhouse, Royal Plantation Ocho Rios, Couples Negril, Couples Sans Souci, Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Jamaica Inn, Strawberry Hill, Sandals Dunn’s River Villagio Golf Resort & Spa, Grand Lido Negril Resort & Spa, Sandals Montego Bay, Tryall Club, Wild Orchid Villa, Jakes, Sunset at the Palms Resort & Spa, Emerald Seas, Goldeneye, and Blue Lagoon Villas.”
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. The Jamaica Tourist Board was declared the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist and Convention Bureau by the World Travel Awards (WTA) for 2006, while Jamaica has earned the WTA’s vote as the World’s Leading Cruise Destination, the Caribbean’s Leading Destination and the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination.
JTB offices are located in Kingston, Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are located in Düsseldorf, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam and Tokyo.
Details of upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Jamaica are posted on the Jamaica Tourist Board’s Web site at www.visitjamaica.com. To book a trip to Jamaica please contact a travel agent or call the Jamaica Tourist Board toll-free at 1-800-233-4JTB (1-800-233-4582), 305-665-0557 or go to www.visitjamaica.com.
For questions regarding the new U.S. passport requirements for travel to the Caribbean, please go to www.travel.state.gov.
