Jamaica Wins Nine Awards at WTA Ceremony

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says the nine awards won by Jamaica at the 23rd World Travel Awards (WTA) ceremony on Friday (December 2), is a testament to the current international value of Brand Jamaica.

Mr. Bartlett said the awards were a vindication of all the hard work and dedication that have been put into enhancing the tourism product and “a ringing endorsement of all the policies and programmes we have been undertaking.”

“Jamaica starred big time and had the most combined awards from the scores of destinations that were nominated,” Mr. Bartlett said via email from the Maldives, southern Asia on Saturday (December 3).

“It is not an exaggeration to say that the garnering of such prestigious accolades, on such a stage and on that particular night, will be a major advertising boost for us and something which could positively improve on our projections throughout the winter tourist season,” he added.

The ceremony which was held at the Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Hotel in the heart of the Maldives, saw Jamaica winning individual awards for: World’s Leading Cruise Destination and World’s Leading Wedding Destination.

Mr. Bartlett also received the distinctive award of the World’s Leading Personality for Outstanding Services to Travel at the function.

Other awards won by Jamaica and its resorts and travel partners were: World’s Leading Luxury Hotel Villa (Ian Fleming Villa at Goldeneye); World’s Leading New Island Resort (Melia Braco Village); World’s Leading Villa Resort (Round Hill Hotel and Villas); World’s Leading Family Resort Brand (Beaches); World’s Leading All-Inclusive Company (Sandals Resorts International) and World’s Leading Caribbean Attractions Company (Island Routes Caribbean Adventure).

Meanwhile, Mr. Bartlett, stressed that now is not the time for complacency as “rest assured that as we celebrate, our competitors are busy plotting marketing strategies”.

“We must also be cognizant of the fact that the success of our tourism will not be sufficiently measured by the number of international awards that are won, but by the resilience of our people and the nimbleness of our models,” he explained.

He added that the consistency of Jamaica’s tourism growth, both in revenues and visitor arrivals, has positioned the country as world beaters.

“I offer my deepest and most profound gratitude to the many partners in tourism who over time have conspired to give Jamaica a moment of glory like this,” Mr. Bartlett noted.

Jamaica was also represented at the ceremony by Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation Hon. Horace Chang who collected the award for World’s Leading Cruise Destination on behalf of the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ).