Jamaica to make visa application easier for GCC visitors
In a bid to attract more visitors from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, Jamaica is moving ahead with plans to make the visa application process easier. Speaking at a recent press conference at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, Minister of Tourism Edmund...
SIA’s next chapter: Digital innovation
MBJ Airports Limited (MBJ), operators of Sangster International Airport (SIA), is charting the course to a fully digital traveller experience as the company celebrates its 22nd anniversary of operating Sangster International Airport (SIA), Jamaica's premier tourism...
Curaçao opens training centre for hospitality students
Hospitality students in Curaçao can now get on-the job lessons at Parasasa Hotel Curaçao, a training centre that had its soft opening May 5. The renovated building consists of 37 double rooms and eight suites. At Parasasa Hotel Curaçao, students from Nilda Pinto SBO,...
Montserrat launches youth-led environmental magazine
The Montserrat Tourism Authority has released the first edition of the Community Environmental Stewardship Initiative (CESI) Magazine, a vibrant new platform championing local voices and environmental action. Described as a call to action CESI Magazine brings together...
Nevis Peak Residences at Four Seasons Resort breaks ground
St Kitts and Nevis Sotheby’s International Realty has officially broken ground on the Nevis Peak Residences — a multimillion-dollar luxury development at the Four Seasons Resort Nevis. The project marks a major boost for foreign investment on the island, aligning with...
New wave of luxury tourism development for Jamaica
Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, recently announced that a new era of luxury tourism is on the horizon for Jamaica during a contract signing press conference hosted by LCH Developments, developers of The Pinnacle. This event took place on April 10, at The...
Caribbean Airline adds more flights between Trinidad and Miami
Caribbean Airlines will offer more flights between Trinidad and Miami, starting June 19. The new services will operate on Thursdays and Sundays, offering customers even more options for their weekend getaways. Miami remains a favorite destination for shopping, quick...
New CTO, CDB partnership pays off
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB, the Bank) are collaborating on a new initiative to modernize tourism education and workforce development across the Caribbean – strengthening the region’s competitiveness in an industry...
Royalton Chic Barbados open for business
Blue Diamond Resorts is set to turn heads and set pulses racing as it redefines all-inclusive hospitality in Barbados. On March 19 Royalton CHIC Barbados, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort – Adults Only, officially opened for bookings, gearing up for...
Sporting events key to Jamaica’s tourism strategy
Director of Tourism Donovan White has hailed sporting events as a key strategy in Jamaica’s tourism growth. With sports and tourism being inextricably linked, the Jamaica Tourist Board continues to use these types of events to leverage the sector’s tourism offerings...
Avelo Airlines adds new Nassau to Raleigh-Durham route
A new route with new visitors begins this summer when nonstop service between Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) takes flight on June 11. The announcement of the new nonstop service was made Tuesday, March 11 by...
American Airlines launches direct flight to South Caicos
The Turks and Caicos Islands proudly welcomed the inaugural American Airlines flight to South Caicos on Saturday, March 15th, marking a historic moment for the destination and its residents. The inaugural flight was greeted by a traditional water cannon salute at...
New Year, new focus for Sandals Resorts
The Caribbean tourism sector faced some challenges in 2024, according to Sandals Resorts International executive chairman Adam Stewart, from the heightened demand for European travel to the US presidential election. But with November being its strongest booking month...
CTO partners with Travel & Adventure Shows
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has entered into a strategic partnership with Travel & Adventure Shows, the largest series of travel shows in the United States. The collaboration represents a significant step in amplifying the visibility of Caribbean...
Discover Anguilla in 2025
Tucked away in the Eastern Caribbean lies the truly incomparable Caribbean island of Anguilla. The British Overseas Territory, renowned for its powder-white beaches, exciting culinary scene and outstanding accommodation, is flourishing with new infrastructure, resort...
Cheer every year, promises JTB
Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism plans to make special Christmas Treats for the children of tourism workers an annual tradition. The ministry hosted a series of treats at the end of 2024, working with its public bodies, local businesses, community organisations, and...
Jamaica’s 1st casino by year end
The US$400-million Princess Resorts will add another dimension to Jamaica’s tourism industry at the end of this year. It is far advanced with plans to develop the country’s first casino since licensing legislation was approved in June 2010, following the enactment of...
Jamaica cruise tourism season starts with a bang
With Jamaica having welcomed 1.1 million cruise passengers since the start of the year, the 2024/2025 cruise tourism season got off to a strong start with ten vessels calling on the three main resort ports, with some 34,519 passengers and a combined crew of...
The Bahamas: a look ahead
April 12, 2025 is the projected end date for Delta Air Lines’ new weekly nonstop airlift from Detroit, which The Bahamas welcomed on December 21. Paradise Island The seasonal route, which is being re-launched after a four-year pandemic pause, is the only one being...
AA begins daily flights to Ian Fleming Int’l Airport
American Airlines has begun offering daily flights to the Ian Fleming International Airport in Boscobel, St Mary in Jamaica. This is an expansion of its current twice-weekly service to the airport. It is a move that residents and businesses in St Ann, St Mary and...
Dominica shows out at DEMA 2024
Dominica’s unique diving experiences were on show at Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) Show 2024, which attracted hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of professionals globally, making it a vital platform for networking and education. Discover...
Belize makes it easier for travellers
There’s a new online departure and arrival immigration and customs declaration system, designed for all travellers entering and leaving Belize. It has been available since December 1, 2024. The platform allows travellers to complete and submit the required immigration...
Chukka Caribbean Adventures gets global nod
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chukka Caribbean Adventures, Marc Melville, is celebrating the company’s World’s Leading Destination Experiences 2024 Award as a crowning achievement for Jamaica and regional tourism. Chukka was chosen from a world-class field of...
Turks and Caicos Islands has a buzz
The Turks and Caicos Islands has welcomed more than one million cruise passengers in the first 10 months of 2024. There were 1,034,251 arriving at the Grand Turk Cruise Centre up to October 31st, 2024, far surpassing the 924,250 total number of passengers that arrived...
Global goals
Jamaica sets sights on becoming global health and wellness tourism leader Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says Jamaica is positioning itself as a global leader in health and wellness tourism, combining its rich cultural heritage and natural resources to attract...
New Portugal/Jamaica flights for 2025
Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett has welcomed a new flight out of Europe as World2Fly is set to begin rotations in Summer 2025 from Lisbon, Portugal, to Montego, Jamaica. The service will enhance visitor arrivals from Continental Europe by approximately 7,000...
CTO pushes innovation & sustainability at WTM
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) reinforced its forward-thinking approach to travel and tourism on November 5 at World Travel Market in London, where Secretary-General & CEO Dona Regis-Prosper joined a panel of influential female industry leaders to...
Travel expert’s top 5 spots for 2024
Onya Tinglin has been to almost every river and beach in Jamaica. It was part of the work she had to put in when building her company Saskia Skyers Adventure, Travel, and Tours. She now does brisk business providing international tours through her four-year-old...
Artwalk 2024: Come fall in love
Executive Director of Kingston Creative, Andrea Dempster Chung is determined to play Cupid. Her goal is to get people “to discover downtown and fall in love with their city all over again”. “Throughout the year we will take guests on free walking and bus tours to 12...
Oh what fun…
As we bring the curtains down on yet another fabulous year of exploring Jamaica, we take a look back at some of the memorable moments of 2023. https://youtu.be/H0A-dbfmiJU Highlights from our videos in 2023 STAY Sandals Dunn’s River’s Coyaba Sky Rondoval Villas are...
Harmony Beach Park
MoBay’s best kept secret More than two years after the $1.3-billion Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay was opened to the public, many people still haven’t visited. They’re missing out. It’s the perfect place to spend the day lounging in the sunny resort city. It prides...
Italian-Jamaican fusion at Sabores
Frank Peeters is no stranger to the restaurant industry. With Wingz and Tingz already under his belt as a crowd favourite in Montego Bay, his recently opened Italian-Jamaican restaurant Sabores promises to also be another winner. Peeters, however, has widened his...
Locals to grade Jamaica’s tourism sector
OVER the next few months, if all goes well with the procurement process, Jamaicans will have a chance to say exactly how they feel about the country’s tourism industry. The Ministry of Tourism (MOT) recently invited bids for a consultant(s) or firm to do a...
Cannabis sector eager to expand tourism market
CanEx founder Douglas Gordon has welcomed a suggestion that players in the cannabis sector should view the millions of visitors that travel to Jamaica each year as potential buyers of medical marijuana. In fact Gordon, whose annual business conference brings local and...
Irie style Mexican classics
Yearning for a taste of Mexico but can’t book a trip anytime soon? Senior sous chef at Sandals South Coast, Odane Colquhoun shares his favourite Mexican classics with a Jamaican twist that you can enjoy with friends and family. Senior Sous Chef at Sandals South Coast,...
Airbnb anxiety
TREPIDATION. That’s the word that instinctively rolled off Clyde Cameron’s tongue when asked how he felt about the Government’s plan to formalise the short-term real estate rental market. He’s eager to hear the details of any change that will have a direct impact on...
High-tech water toys from Carib-Blue
SUMMER’S over but when you live where other people vacation there’s always a reason to get in the water. Here’s a good one: easy-to-use, high-tech toys that are tonnes of fun! Launched in October 2019 on the popularity of a board that majestically hovers in the air,...
DLE Café: Healthy eats never tasted so good
When 20-year-old Nathan Anderson says the food at DLE Café tastes good, believe him. He’s guest engagement ambassador at the family-run health food eatery that welcomes a steady stream of customers at its Fairview location in Montego Bay. They come for the pumpkin...
Budapest buzz
Never one to waste an opportunity to market Brand Jamaica, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett and his team made a splash in Budapest during the just concluded 2023 World Athletics Championships. The minister expects to see results after Jamaica Product Exchange (Japex)...
One to watch: Official launch of Bob Marley’s One Love restaurant
Bob Marley’s One Love restaurant at Sangster International Airport (SIA) was a bit behind its originally planned March opening but all that’s now in the past. Following a soft opening on July 24, plans are in high gear for the official launch later this year. “There...
Camp Irie: A 600-acre adventure
BOASTING a river, an ATV trail, and Jamaica’s first outdoor laser tag “battleground” on a 600-acre property close to the world-renowned Appleton Estate, is the recently opened Camp Irie Adventures. The facility conceptualised by father-son duo Rohan and Daniel Miller...
Jamaica in WTA spotlight
Jamaica took home more than 30 major wins at the 2023 World Travel Awards Caribbean & The America’s Gala, held on August 26 in St Lucia. Jamaica was again named Caribbean’s Leading Destination for the 17th consecutive year with the Jamaica Tourist Board winning...
SIA’s 15th win
Sangster International Airport (SIA), Jamaica’s leading gateway to the world operated by MBJ Airports Limited (MBJ), was again named the Caribbean’s Leading Airport at the World Travel Awards (WTA). SIA emerged as the winner from a pool of 13 Caribbean competitors...
Sandals Foundation pushes sustainability
With environmental conservation becoming one of the primary issues that must be addressed in order to combat climate change and global warming, through a partnership with Oceanic Global, the Sandals Foundation has engaged local businesses in Salt Marsh, Jamaica to...
Bikers hit the road
SIGHTSEEING across Jamaica can look a little different this summer with a guided motorbike excursion from the Spice Joy Ride Motorcycle Rentals and Tours in Salem, St Ann. Owned and operated by Jedaiah Holloway, the Spice Joy Ride experience gives adventurers a new...
On the menu at Sandals Ochi
WHAT makes an island getaway at Sandals Ocho Rios special is much more than its pristine waters and friendly faces, it is the deliciously prepared meals served at all 16 restaurants on the property. Greeting the Jamaica Observer’s LetsTravelCaribbean.com with a warm...
Quiz lessons
PRIMARY school students from across Jamaica have showcased their knowledge of the country and its tourism product for six stagings of the Tourism Product Development Company’s (TPDCo) Tourism Quiz, walking away with a long list of coveted prizes plus bragging rights....
70 new jobs from ONE LOVE restaurant
The new BOB MARLEY’S ONE LOVE restaurant opened on July 24, 2023 at Sangster International Airport (SIA) in Montego Bay, Jamaica, with the creation of 70 new jobs across a range of hospitality roles. Operated by Montego Bay-based Express Catering Limited and its...
SRI certifies more disability divers
A total of 14 scuba instructors from various Sandals resorts across Jamaica recently participated in a four-day Dive Buddy Course conducted by the Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA). The HSA is responsible for supporting and improving the physical and social...
Up next in tourism
JOVAN Miller has long dreamed of using his skills in virtual reality to move Jamaican tour operators away from their traditional way of wooing tourists. After three months of calling the Ministry of Tourism to pitch his idea, they told him about a new project...
More ways to get in the water!
It’s hotter than ever so we’re back with more water sports you can do to keep your cool. This time it's all about kayaking, paddle boarding, wind surfing, the Hobie cat, and tubing. Remember, it's safety first so you need to be able to swim to do all of...
New from Cannonball Café
REGULAR patrons of Cannonball Café already know its New Kingston eatery has an extensive menu of delectable dishes. Now there’s even more to enjoy. On your next visit be sure to try their steak and cheese sandwich; homestyle mac and cheese; puff pastries...
Sandals Dunn’s River: 5 reasons to stay
Guests lucky enough to be among the first welcomed to the stunning Sandals Dunn’s River, which officially opened its doors yesterday, are familiar with its pristine beaches, the rivers meandering through forests, and rushing waterfalls washing over the landscape. For...
Get in the water & ski like a pro!
THIS is expected to be one of the hottest years ever recorded so LetsTravelCaribbean.com intends to hit the beach as often as possible. We bring you the first in a series of features on watersports that will ensure you have loads of fun while you beat the heat. There...
Tasty, exotic fruit
LOCAL adventurers will appreciate the wide range of exotic fruit that can be devoured at the Rastafari Herbal Garden in Bruce Hall, St James. wned and operated by Thomas Huber, the property boasts small and large fruit trees with tasty treats to entice everyone who...
Running in Sandals: love & philanthropy
Most stories at Sandals Resorts are about couples falling deeper in love in paradise. But the story of Norville and Kerry Esty is about two team members connecting with each other as they experience the run of their lives. The husband-and-wife duo share a passion for...
Fully booked! Travel Expo 2023
IT started out with about 20 hotels in 2019 but this year at least 63 companies — including airlines, attractions and ground transportation providers — will gather for Travel Expo 2023 on April 29. It’s a hot-ticket item and within 48 hours of organisers GO! Jamaica...
Mother of all kite festivals
THOUGH newer kite festivals across the country are stealing some of its thunder, the Jamaica International Kite Festival, held in St Ann since 2005, is holding its own. On Easter Monday things were off to a slow start at Plantation Cove as those who showed up on time...
Kite festival flavours
NO one with a few dollars in his pocket could honestly complain that there wasn’t anything to eat at the Kite Festival and Family Fun Day in St Ann on Easter Monday. LetsTravelCaribbean.com brings you some of the mouth-watering flavours. Authentic Fingalicking Jerk...
WATCH: Kite festival flavours
The whistle of the peanut man’s cart, the small of freshly popped corn, jerk pork and festival. There was something for every foodie at the International Kite Festival held in St Ann on Easter Monday. https://youtu.be/vyJNMu9omYg
Jamaican is new GM at Iberostar Costa Dorada
Andrew Wright is the new General Manager of Iberostar Costa Dorada, a five-star, 516-room hotel in Puerto Plata that provides more than 700 jobs in the area. Wright is originally from Jamaica but went to Canada to finish high school and, upon graduating in 2005,...
WATCH: CMU’s big plans for tourism
We have a chat with President of the Caribbean Maritime University Professor Andrew Spencer who provides details on an impressive partnership with Carnival Cruise Line. The collaboration will see training, scholarships and jobs that will change the face of tourism....
WATCH: The hooligan hike
Come with us as we trek through the hills of New Milns in Hanover as a friendly group of about 20 dogs from Montego Bay Animal Haven leads us to and from their favourite river. Join us as we go hiking with the hooligans. https://youtu.be/L0Sokcw165I See related...
WATCH: Spiritz of Montego Bay
Driven by his passion for food, head chef Jeffrey Smith explains what makes Spiritz of Montego Bay stand out from the competition. Now in expansion mode, Smith is confident that the food offered at their Rose Hall Main Road location speaks for itself....
Spiritz spreads its wings
WHILE it may still be considered a newbie in the industry, St James-based eatery Spiritz of Montego Bay is expanding. With just three years of business under his belt, head chef Jeffrey Smith is gearing up to serve delicious meals from within a newly built shopping...
CMU ramps up tourism training
The tourism industry is set to benefit from a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that was inked, earlier this month, between Carnival Cruise Line and Caribbean Maritime University (CMU). According to CMU President Professor Andrew Spencer, 45 maritime students will get...
Go HIKING with the HOOLIGANS
Do you love hiking? How would you like to get your feet wet in the crystal clear waters of a river high up in the hills of Hanover? Are you up for being on the receiving end of lots of love from a group of energetic dogs who will race to the river, wait patiently for...
WATCH: LTC February episode
In this month’s episode of LetsTravelCaribbean.com we look at the booming resort real estate market, spend a relaxing day at the ArtWalk Festival in downtown Kingston then head to the north coast to check out Miss Lily’s restaurant at Skylark in Negril. Enjoy!...
Career moves: Unique Vacations has new CMO
Affiliate of the worldwide representative of Sandals® Resorts and Beaches® Resorts, Unique Vacations Inc (UVI) has announced the appointment of Tony Cortizas as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), effective immediately. Cortizas, a veteran hospitality marketer, brings more...
New interCaribbean flights connect St Kitts and Barbados
interCaribbean Airways now has new nonstop services from St Kitts to Barbados. These flights will connect with services to Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and Georgetown, Guyana.Service from the Barbados Grantly Adams International Airport is scheduled to...
More Frontier flights into Jamaica
Continuing to expand gateways and ease of access to the island for US travellers, Jamaica now has nonstop air service from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport (MBJ) with Frontier Airlines. The new flight, operating three...
High hopes for Caribbean Travel Marketplace
Former president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism and Association (CHTA) Patricia Affonso-Dass believes the 41st annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace, to be held in Barbados May 9-11, can be a defining moment for the travel trade body. The Barbados-based hotelier,...
One Love for Montego Bay Airport
The dining experience for anyone transiting Jamaica’s largest tourist gateway, the Sangster International Airport (SIA) in Montego Bay, is being touted to become an unforgettable one with the pending opening of the world’s first Bob Marley-branded restaurant, dubbed...
Coffee contest finalists to be announced March 10
The top five finalists in the first ever Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Innovation Competition will be announced on March 10. The online contest is an exciting new addition to the annual coffee lovers’ event, which is in its sixth staging. The competition is expected to...
RESORT real estate BOOM
Tourism is booming, once again, and it’s not just about hotel stays. Sale of property in resort areas is also on the uptick. According to Sagicor Property Services there was a dip at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but between 2021 and 2022 there has been a...
Irresistible ArtWalk!
We couldn’t resist any longer! So we finally made it to Kingston Creative’s ArtWalk Festival in downtown, Kingston, and we had a blast! Held every last Sunday of the month, it’s an open-air display of Jamaica’s artistic and cultural talent. Performances are free,...
Wayne Lewis: Born for the water
A visionary from the hills of Buff Bay, Portland, Wayne Lewis had a dream to become a leader in watersports — a dream he was adamant he would accomplish. Seven years ago, Lewis walked through the gates of Beaches Ocho Rios as an eager participant in the Sandals and...
Goal: More tourism wealth
In recognition of the smaller players whose hard work the tourism sector is built upon, and the need to ensure that “no one is left” behind, President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Nicola Madden-Greig has come out strongly on the importance of...
Historic tourism resilience conference
The historic Global Tourism Resilience Conference, which was held from February 15-17, 2023 at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Regional Headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica, ended with a major declaration recognising the importance of building tourism resilience...
Labour think tank formed
News of the formation of a global international tourism think tank on employment issues was a major development outlined on the first day of the Global Tourism Resilience Conference at the UWI Regional Headquarters, Mona in Kingston, Jamaica on February 16. Dubbed...
Airlift needed
Director of Tourism, Donovan White says air connectivity remains the key to building multi-destination tourism in the Caribbean. Speaking at the Global Tourism Resilience Conference at the Regional Headquarters of the University of the West Indies on February 18, he...
Nevis welcomes Cape Air
Cape Air now offers flights to Nevis. The inaugural flight, from St Thomas to Nevis, was welcomed on February 15. To commemorate the event, passengers were greeted by a Nevisian Masquerade band and tote of goodies provided by Nevis Tourism Authority and Cape Air....
CTO lauds six for sustainable tourism
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has announced the winners of the Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Awards Competition 2022. CTO has been hosting the Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Awards from 2000 to coincide with the start of the new millennium, in seeking to...
CTO resumes key events
As the tourism sector across the Caribbean registers strong post-pandemic results, the 25-member Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is resuming several hallmark activities and events this year to help strengthen the region’s position as the world’s leading...
SIA runway on track
The US$34-million runway extension project at the Sangster International Airport (SIA) in Montego Bay, Jamaica is on track for completion this year. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MBJ Airports Limited, Shane Munroe, says construction, which is approximately 65 per...
Spring break in Grenada?
Spring break is right around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than planning your dream getaway vacation to the unspoiled tri-island state of Grenada. According to the latest data from Expedia experts, without the COVID-19 testing requirements of Spring...
Sandals teams up with NY landmark for Valentine’s Day
Ahead of Valentine's Day, New York's Empire State Building has partnered with Sandals Resorts to add — for a limited time — a free engagement-moon or honeymoon at a Sandals resort to its Happily Ever Empire proposal package. Couples who purchase the Empire State...
February 17 is Global Tourism Resilience Day
Jamaica’s efforts to bolster resilience in global tourism by proposing the official designation of February 17th as Global Tourism Resilience Day annually has yielded great success, as the United Nations (UN) has officially ratified the move to facilitate its...
Airbnb grants US$250K to resilience centre
In keeping with its primary focus on sustainability, the 2022 Airbnb Community Fund has included the Global Tourism Resilience Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) on its list of list of grant recipients. More than US$6 million in grants has been awarded to 20-plus...
February in the Bahamas
Falling in love comes naturally in The Islands of The Bahamas, among the white sand beaches and sapphire blue cays. Throughout February, visitors can rediscover their sense of adventure, immerse themselves in cultural traditions and score seasonal savings to make the...
WATCH: LTC January 2023
We talk one-night stays with the JHTA, visit rustic Windmill Cottages plus take a look at what’s on the menu at Grego’s Seafood Bar & Grill in this month’s issue. Here we go… Let’s travel! https://youtu.be/J-H5eRI6_OI
$2023 in savings from Sailrock South Caicos
Help has arrived for all those well-intentioned resolution-makers who promised themselves to travel more this year. Sailrock South Caicos, the award-winning luxury villa resort located in the Turks and Caicos Islands, is offering packages with remarkable savings on a...
Financial ties for resilience centre
Plans are in high gear to strengthen ties between the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) and the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF). This follows a meeting with Minister of Tourism and Co-Chair of the GTRCMC Edmund Bartlett, CAF...
Grenada unveils new sign
Grenada has a striking new sign that welcomes visitors with a bold and colourful display of the island's name in large letters. The sign is said to represent the unique selling points of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Unveiled by the Grenada Tourism...
Locals STILL welcome
President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) Robin Russell has dismissed concerns that locals are now being treated shabbily because foreigners are once again flocking to the country’s shores. “That is definitely not what is happening! We do treasure...
Rustic retreat – Windmill Cottages
YOUR bucket list for this year will be incomplete without the addition of a relaxing weekend getaway at Windmill Cottages in the cool hills of Malvern, St Elizabeth. Perfect for couples wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of their lives or groups of friends hoping...
Grego’s: Come for the food, stay for the vibes
GREGO’S Seafood Bar and Grill in Junction, St Elizabeth, is known for offering some of the best seafood in Jamaica’s southern belt but what makes the eatery extremely special is the spectacular customer service that is delivered along with the tasty meals. Owned and...
Sir Lancelot shines at Sandals
“Full circle” with his career in the tourism and hospitality industry is a unique way to describe how Lancelot Wilson, food and beverage manager at Sandals Royal Plantation (SRP) in Ocho Rios, has been growing within the Sandals chain of resorts. His journey follows...
Global Resilience Centre partners with Mastercard
In a major boost to its operations, the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Mastercard to strengthen cooperation on tourism innovation. The signing took place during FITUR, the largest...
Barbados to host Caribbean Travel Marketplace
Barbados will host the 41st edition of Caribbean Travel Marketplace at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in Bridgetown from May 9-11, 2023. The announcement was made by Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) president Nicola Madden-Greig. This will be the...
Caribbean Airlines says ‘Welcome Home’
Caribbean Airlines “Welcome Home” campaign 2023 was launched with a bang at Adam Smith Square, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, signalling the regional carrier’s commitment to participating in more carnivals across the region this year. On January 21, the airline transformed...
Jamaica, Sierra Leone boost tourism ties
As part of efforts to capitalise on tourism offerings between Jamaica and Sierra Leone, both countries are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The move is aimed at strengthening tourism cooperation between both countries. “With the strong historical and...
2,000 houses for tourism workers
Spanish hoteliers operating in Jamaica have committed to constructing at least 2,000 new residential units for local hotel workers and their immediate families. The commitment was given during a recent breakfast meeting with Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett and...
Double-digit growth
On the heels of Jamaica’s strong recovery after fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, the forecast for 2023 is that the destination is on track to achieve 11 per cent growth. Gross foreign exchange earnings for the 2023 calendar year are also forecasted to reach a...
MAS DOMNIK is back!
It’s Carnival time in Dominica! After a two-year absence revellers are once again soaking up the colour, excitement, music, cheerleaders, masquerades, costume bands, T-shirt bands, and troupes of Mas Domnik. The 2023 Carnival Calendar boasts two months of activities...
CTO’s 25th: US Virgin Islands
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has started 2023, a year it sees as one of growth for the regional body, by welcoming the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) as its 25th member country. The USVI, one of the leading destinations in the Caribbean, joins the...
Barbados Sailing Week bigger than ever
Expanded this year from the usual three to eight days, the 2023 staging of Barbados Sailing Week is well underway and booming. Officially launched on January 14, this year’s event aims to rebuild the momentum around Sailing week and Barbados’ sailing community as a...
Brace for competition
As the Caribbean tourism industry revels in the recent gains from the US travel market, stakeholders are being warned that competition is on the horizon and much planning is necessary to sustain the momentum the region has been enjoying. According to ForwardKeys,...
Whimsical Wedding
It was truly romantic when 38-year-old Steven John Adams and 33-year-old Christie Alysha Chuck stared longingly into each other’s eyes as they waltzed across the lavishly appointed grand ballroom of Sandals South Coast to R&B crooner, Major’s love medley Why I...
Invest in Blue Mountain Coffee Fest
Jamaica’s Tourism Ministry is urging private investors to take over the already successful Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival (JBMCF) and develop it into a major international event that will attract thousands of visitors. Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett made...
Mastering rum in St Kitts
Ever wanted to learn all there is to know about Caribbean rum? Now’s your chance. St Kitts, home to the region’s oldest surviving rum distillery, has launched a not-to-be-missed immersive certification programme that provides both a theoretical and practical...
Knutsford Court Hotel is now ‘Summit’
Novamed, the new owners of Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston, Jamaica, have renamed the four-acre property – Summit. The new name of the soon to be ‘smart business campus’, according to Novamed Founder and Principal, Dr David Walcott, is being revealed on the...
Good year ahead for St Kitts
For St Kitts, 2022 was a year of meaningful accomplishments. The destination won a number of accolades including Caribbean Journal’s Destination of the Year; generated strong media buzz; and increased visibility, ultimately driving arrival numbers nearly to...
Half Moon GM named ‘Caribbean Hotelier of the Year 2023’
Shernette Crichton, general manager of the iconic Half Moon Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, has been named “Caribbean Hotelier of the Year for 2023”. Crichton was bestowed the honour during the recently announced Caribbean Travel Awards (CTA) in Florida. “My journey...
Still in love
Thy La and David Bastien chose Royal Decameron Montego Beach as the perfect venue to renew their wedding vows on December 28. The couple, who live in Quebec, Canada have been married for five years but they’re still very much in love. They declared their undying...
Making waves
Two tourism workers from rural communities in Jamaica have emerged as shining stars aboard the world’s largest cruise ship – Wonder of the Seas. Portland’s Consie “Omar” Cover and St Ann’s Janet Jackson Dinnall are not only rated as high-quality employees but both...
Impressive Grenada
Grenada’s visitor arrivals for September to November 2022 showed a significant boost over the benchmark year of 2019. With 14,232 visitors — the highest ever — November was up by 17 per cent. The trend was expected to continue into December 2022."We are heartened to...
TLN in 2023: full speed ahead
In keeping with its commitment to connect tourism with other productive sectors, the Tourism Linkages Network (TLN), a unit of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), plans to continue full speed ahead into 2023. Much to the satisfaction of the tourism industry and its...
Jeep safari tour
In the final of our three-part exploration — courtesy of Island Routes — of Jamwest Motorsports & Adventure Park, we bring you highlights of the Jeep safari tour. The tour begins with a ride in a rugged yet colourful jeep. It all begins with a ride, in the back of...
Chill out @ Latitude Bar and Grill
Latitude Bar and Grill is the perfect spot to chill out with friends after a long day at work. With deliciously prepared meals and large television screens to watch your favourite sporting events, an evening of relaxation that offers a break from the rigours of daily...
DENISE WATSON: Purpose driven
Getting the proverbial foot in the door was all Denise Watson needed to forge her way in the tourism industry and boost her professional development. When the opening for a sales representative came up at Sandals South Coast more than 15 years ago, she grabbed the...
Gastronomy & diplomacy
Members of the diplomatic community in Jamaica will host one dinner each month, part of an innovative initiative to enhance gastronomy tourism locally and increase visitor arrivals. The move complements an ongoing thrust to bolster the continued development of Devon...
High praise from CHTA
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourist Association (CHTA) has praised the region’s tourism industry, local government authorities and the Caribbean Public Health Association (CARPHA) as a growing number of destinations continue to set record tourism arrivals, expenditures...
Service training for Aruba
Luigi Heredia, President of the Aruba Time Share Association (ATSA) has lauded the successful completion of the island-wide training initiative, delivered by the CHTA Education Foundation. “We want our members, guests, colleagues, owners, partners, investors, and...
HOTBOX Jamaica: Off the beaten path
Hotbox Jamaica, a ganja vacation destination, is reintroducing itself to the tourism and entertainment market with a new home and updated attractions for visitors looking for an authentic Jamaican experience. It now offers guests a three-bedroom Greathouse at the...
Sandals Foundation & Island Routes raise millions for turtles
In an incredible feat to support local sea turtle conservation efforts, the Sandals Foundation and Island Routes have raised an impressive $8 million through its Turtle Watching Experience sold to guests of Sandals and Beaches Resorts from July to November this year....
SIA gets CARBON stamp of approval
Sangster International Airport’s (SIA) successful reduction of its carbon emissions has earned it Level 2 certification in the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme. The SIA, which is operated by MBJ Airports Limited,...
Musical boost
Tourism officials are excited about the potential fillip Jamaica has received from having big name music stars performing and vacationing in the country recently. Nigerian international music star Burna Boy’s December 18 performance attracted thousands of locals and...
Classic elegance
Trident Castle in Port Antonio Bay, Portland offered the perfect backdrop for the classic elegance of Latoya and Cleveland Fowler’s nuptials on December 3. Spanning seven stunning acres nestled on a peninsula, the castle is a spectacular fusion of medieval and modern...
Jamaica having strongest ever winter tourist season, says Bartlett
Within the first three days of Jamaica’s current winter season, the destination welcomed more than 40,000 visitors, the country’s best performance ever according to Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett. “This start of the 2022/23 winter tourist season is the strongest...
YAAMAN keeps it local for park expansion
Yaaman Adventure Park is doing its part to build Jamaica by buying local materials and utilising a local engineering company for its park expansion. The company has invested millions in the work being done. According to General Manager Travoe Brown, the expansion...
Get creative!
Craft traders are being encouraged to further tap into their creativity as they prepare for what is projected to be Jamaica’s best tourist season ever. The encouragement comes from Chief Technical Director in the Ministry of Tourism, David Dobson, who was addressing...
USVI exec wins regional award
US Virgin Islands (USVI) Department of Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte has been named Caribbean Tourism Executive of the Year by Caribbean Journal (CJ). “No Caribbean destination has seen more growth in the last three years than the US Virgin Islands. So much of...
SIA says goodbye to passengers in style
Sangster International Airport (SIA), Jamaica’s leading gateway to the world operated by MBJ Airports Limited (MBJ), now has an Expanded Departures Area which is being hailed as yet another element to the passenger experience that is critical to the overall success of...
Love, Anguilla
The Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) has launched a contest and it’s all about Love. Launched on December 15, the international contest runs through January 22, 2023 and the winner will be announced on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2023. “Love, Anguilla”, offers...
Hedonism II has new Sales & Marketing Manager
Hedonism II has a new Sales and Marketing Manager, Tatiana Answer. She reports to the Executive team and will be assisted by a team of seasoned professionals including Shantol Douglas and Andre Malahoo in Group Sales; Event Coordinator in Group Sales, Diana Field; and...
US$1.4B winter tourist season
Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says with the anticipated boost of US$1.4 billion from tourism earnings for the winter tourist season, the country’s foreign exchange inflows remain on a growth trajectory for the first quarter of 2023. He explained that the...
Job well done!
Minister of Tourism for Jamaica, Edmund Bartlett has said a very public thank you to key ministries and individuals for the role they played in helping the country’s tourism industry recover during the COVID-19 pandemic. “This is a crowning moment that defines the...
GOLDEN 14: Tourism Day Awards
Fourteen stalwarts who have dedicated 50 years or more to Jamaica’s tourism sector have been given the recognition they deserve. They took centre stage at the Golden Tourism Day Awards held at the AC Hotel in Kingston on December 11. “As minister of tourism, this...
Madden-Greig looking forward to working with new CHTA VPs
President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Nicola Madden-Greig is looking forward to working with a new slate of vice presidents as the CHTA moves to tackle issues that impact tourism in the region. For the period 2022-2024, four new VPs have been...
$100m fund for tourism innovators
Participants in Jamaica’s Tourism Innovation Incubator whose ideas are chosen for implementation will have access to $100 million to transform those ideas into profitable projects. “I have put $100 million in EXIM Bank for the new ideas which are converted into...
Alabama sisters say ‘I do’ in South Coast soiree
We share a lot with our siblings; the same genetic pool, a home, and lunch snacks, but can you imagine sharing a wedding date? That was the reality for sisters, Malorie and Maddison Welch from Alabama in the United States of America on November 21, 2022, when they...
BOOKINGS OPEN: Beaches Negril & Sandals Halcyon Beach
Excitement for 2023 is building at Sandals Resorts International (SRI), as the Caribbean’s leading all-inclusive resort company unveils next generation expansions to its beloved, flagship family resort, Beaches Negril in Jamaica, and the lush, nature-laden Sandals...
Major turnaround for Jamaica’s cruise industry
Executive Director of Jamaica Vacations (JamVac), Joy Roberts, says the 2022/2023 cruise-shipping season will see a major turnaround for Jamaica, following the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “For starts, 2022 going into 2023 will see Royal Caribbean sending...
Farmers earn J$125m from tourism in 10 months
For the first 10 months of this year, Jamaican farmers sold just under J$125 million of produce through the tourism Agri-Linkages Exchange (ALEX) online platform. Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett revealed those figures during the launch of the Agricultural Suppliers...
Dominica expects active cruise ship season
Royal Caribbean Cruises’ 2,000-passenger MV Rhapsody of the Seas is scheduled to make 12 calls to Dominica for the 2022/2023 cruise season. It is one of six ships that made inaugural calls to the island over the past two months. Rhapsody of the Seas is one of the...
CAL resumes daily flights to Grenada
Grenada once again has daily flights from Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) and, in welcoming the increased intra-regional flights, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has noted the extreme hardship in recent times to move freely between the islands. “The return of a daily...
Jamaica poised for largest room boom
With Jamaica’s local tourism interests upbeat and expecting a "very good winter tourist season", the minister with responsibility for the sector Edmund Bartlett is even more bullish about the long-term prospects. Bartlett says thousands of resort rooms are now under...
SIA: multi-destination hub
Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett is heading a team of Caribbean tourism officials to Saudi Arabia to cement a major multi-destination tourism arrangement with leading airlines in the Middle East. Bartlett who left the island on the weekend, will also be a key...
UNICO signals new perspective, says Bartlett
Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett has signalled the start of what he termed “a new perspective in tourism development in Jamaica” following the ground-breaking ceremony for the UNICO Montego Bay 451-room luxury adults only all-inclusive resort recently. UNICO...
Tobago woos locals
For the first time ever, the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited will be hosting a domestic tourism roadshow experience by Tobagonians and for Tobagonians called “We Are Tobago”. Hosted as part of the Division of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation “Tourism...
Dominica unveils 2023 festivals
Discover Dominica Authority has unveiled its 2023 festival line-up, welcoming the return of all three of its signature festivals, including Mas Domnik, for the first time since the pandemic. Known for its rich culture and traditions, the island’s three festivals, Mas...
Bartlett bats for health & wellness tourism
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says that Jamaica's natural resources and geographic location make the island well-positioned to be a leader in the health and wellness tourism industry. He, therefore, called for greater investment to be made in the industry to ensure...
ROK’s first Christmas
The Hilton’s ROK Hotel Kingston intends to make its first-ever Christmas unforgettable. It’s rolled out an impressive list of holiday offers and, as of November 25, it may unveil not one but three Christmas trees on property. ROK Hotel Kingston is the perfect place to...
December deals @ The Cliff Hotel
For locals who usually start their Yuletide celebrations as soon as December rolls around, The Cliff Hotel in Negril’s West End has extended its summer deals to cover the first 20 days of the month. “Typically, locals consider the entire month of December a festive...
Chilling & Grilling
FOURTEEN Queens Drive in Montego Bay is a spot that has a long history of serving up good food. Years ago it housed the very popular Boston Jerk, and more recently it was the venue for Sabrina’s Kitchen & Cocktails. Now, Chilling and Grilling is the latest eatery...
What a rush!
We continue our look at some of the fun things to do at Jamwest Motorsports & Adventure Park, one of the packages you can effortlessly book through Island Routes. If you’re all about action-packed adventure and don’t mind getting a bit dirty, we highly recommend...
Jamaica wows at World Travel Awards
Jamaica has been named the World’s Leading Family Destination and World’s Leading Wedding Destination at the 2022 World Travel Awards. The international recognition took place at the Gala ceremony at Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Muscat, Oman. “These...
Neos Air: MAJOR BOOST
Jamaica's air connectivity out of Europe has received a major boost with the return of direct flights out of Malpensa Airport in Italy to the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay. The return of the service started on November 20. "The addition of these direct...
Virgin Atlantic launches UK/TCI route
Virgin Atlantic begins flying from Turks & Caicos to the vibrant and historic city of London in 2023. The new service to London Heathrow airport will provide travellers from Turks & Caicos a direct link to the UK’s iconic capital city, alongside seamless...
Health standards for tourism
Building upon the Caribbean’s innovative and successful partnership between tourism and health, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (Carpha) has launched the first Caricom-approved health safety and environmental sanitation (HSE) hospitality standards. These guidelines...
Four Seasons Nevis: ready for THE HOLIDAYS
With the holidays fast approaching, Four Seasons Resort Nevis is pulling out all the stops this festive season, rolling out a wide variety of celebratory programming that spans the Resort's 350-acre playground. Greeted by blue skies, crystal clear waters, the majestic...
Bahamasair milestone
Bahamasair now offers direct flights from Raleigh to Freeport, a milestone event that is expected to boost visitor arrivals to the island. Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Investments & Aviation (BMOTIA) officials were on hand on, November 17, for the launch....
Dream holidays for Black Friday auction
Up to November 25, dream holidays will be available in the first Caribbean Black Friday Travel Auction, which will benefit the Education Foundation of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTAEF). The CHTAEF is the largest charitable organisation to provide...
‘Jamaica’s Tourism Titans’ podcast launched
The Tourism Product Development Company Ltd, (TPDCo) a public body of the Ministry of Tourism Jamaica, has launched a podcast that will share the inspirational stories of those who have made a significant contribution to the industry. It has been dubbed “Jamaica’s...
Canada, Jamaica strengthen ties
The long-established relationship between Jamaica and Canada, its second largest tourism market, has been strengthened with an agreement reached to enter a new era of cooperation and collaboration in tourism, resilience and sustainability. Jamaica’s Minister of...
TCI makes students tourists for a day
Members of the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board recently travelled to South Caicos for school visits, as well as to commence the ‘Hello Tourist’ programme, part of Tourism Environmental Awareness Month (TEAM). The team from the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist...
Desirable Tobago
Tobago has won silver in the Most Desirable Island - Rest of World category at the 2022 Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards. The win is being attributed to the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited’s (TTAL) ongoing strategy to revive interest in destination Tobago within the UK...
St Lucia eyes 1 million cruisers after port upgrade
A partnership between the Government of Saint Lucia and GPH – the world’s largest independent cruise port operator – will help boost cruise passenger volume to St Lucia to more than one million per year. The peak is now 790,000 passengers each year. The partnership...
Record numbers
Destination Jamaica has rebounded strongly in the Canadian market with commitments of airline seats for winter up by almost 30,000 over the numbers for 2019, before the pandemic. Canada is Jamaica’s second largest visitor market. “So far, we have been successful in...
Arajet pushes down prices, flight time in Caribbean
The Caribbean’s newest airline, Arajet, will take to the skies with direct flights between Santo Domingo and Kingston as of November 14, significantly reducing ticket prices and travel time. Fares will fall from an average US$800 to US$252, round-trip, and travel time...
415 trained in Turks & Caicos
A record 415 participants from the hospitality and tourism sector across the Turks & Caicos Islands have completed a 24-day intensive training programme facilitated by the CHTA Education Foundation. The national Caribbean Supercharged Service training series was...
New tourism investment thrust needed
As the global marketplace wrestles with the 40 per cent GDP loss in tourism and travel brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett has called for a new tourism investment thrust to recover from the fallout. Prior to the...
TARGET: 30% more tourism workers each year
Global tourism stakeholders have agreed on the need to increase sector employees by at least 30 per cent each year, part of a wider “paradigm shift” that is vital to attract, retain and adjust staff amid post-COVID-19 shortages. This is among the findings from a...
Cuba, Jamaica talk tourism
The continued push to reimagine Caribbean destinations and move to cement multi-destination tourism was the topic on the agenda during a meeting joined by Jamaica’s Tourism Minister, Edmund Bartlett; Cuba's Minister of Tourism, Juan Carlos García Granda and other...
Canadian wins trip to Antigua & Barbuda
Canadian radio contest winner, Kella Thompson will soon be saying “goodbye” to the cold weather and “hello!” to a week of sunshine in Antigua & Barbuda after winning an all-inclusive stay at the Gallery Bay Resort and Spa. Thompson, who won a trip for two, was the...
Jamaica takes 7 Travvy Awards
Jamaica copped seven awards in the prestigious gold and silver categories for 2022 at the Travvy Awards. The categories in which the island did well ranged from weddings to food and the support provided to upcoming travel agents. Representatives from the Jamaica...
UK market doing well for Jamaica
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett has announced that the United Kingdom (UK) is the fastest growing recovery market for the island. Speaking at the November 7 launch of the destination’s new advertising campaign dubbed ‘Come Back’, Bartlett said the...
St Kitts celebrates island wellness
In honour of Tourism Awareness Month, St Kitts Tourism Authority is embracing this year’s theme, “Immerse, Indulge, Renew, Rethinking Tourism 2022,” to spotlight the island’s wellness experiences. Throughout the month, the Tourism Authority will host a series of...
Saudi hotel chain eyes Jamaica
Saudi hotel chain Boudl Hotels and Resorts is actively searching for a significant hotel investment in Jamaica. Talks, which began in July during a visit by a large delegation of Saudi Arabian government and business interests, continued at World Travel Market...
BVI hosts 10th lobster fest
It is “A decade of decadent celebration” as the BVI Tourist Board & Film Commission (BVITB&FC) celebrates the 10th year of the Anegada Lobster Festival (ALF). From November 25 to 27, this festival will welcome foodies from around the world to Anegada to...
Two million and counting
Jamaica has welcomed more than two million stopover arrivals for 2022, as of October. This is in line with previous projections as the destination continues its strong tourism recovery. “It is truly gratifying to see our arrivals numbers returning to growth in recent...
‘COME BACK’ to Jamaica
Jamaica has launched a new advertising campaign inviting people to come back to their best selves at the destination. “In Jamaica, we’ve been recording arrivals that exceed pre-COVID-19 levels, demonstrating that our travel sector is resilient and so are...
Robin Russell’s vision for JHTA
Robin Russell has little interest in sporadic cash injections that will give the tourism sector a short-term shot in the arm. What he will focus on, during his tenure as president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), is long-term sustainability. This...
Bartlett sells Jamaica in NY, London
As Jamaica seeks to reconnect with travellers and strengthen its tourism brand in the global market, Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett and a team of high-level tourism officials have begun yet another strong marketing push. It began with Bartlett leaving the...
Record October for Jamaica
Jamaica’s tourism sector is on track for record arrivals for the month of October 2022, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. According to Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett preliminary figures released by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) for the first three weeks of...
More kudos for TCI
The Turks and Caicos Islands has dominated the category of “Top 20 Resorts in the Atlantic Islands” in Condé Nast Traveler’s recently released annual Readers’ Choice Awards. “Resorts from the Turks and Caicos Islands securing approximately half of an entire Condé Nast...
£2000 award for Animal Farm
Animal Farm and Nature Reserve has won a £2000-award from Big Up Small Business as part of a business improvement programme. The nature attraction and venue in Hanover, Jamaica offers walking trails, bird watching, events and eco-cottages. From left: Jamaica...
Grenada expects 11% more cruise passengers
Grenada will welcome 202 calls for the 2022-23 cruise season, bringing 11 per cent more passengers seen in the benchmark 2018 – 2019 season. The current season officially got underway on October 21 with the arrival of Celebrity Summit, part of the Royal Caribbean...
Chukka Caribbean’s US$4-million injection
A US$4-million investment by Sygnus has been welcomed by CEO of Chukka Caribbean Adventures, Marc Melville who says the funds will help the company execute plans to grow even further. “We have a growth strategy, and we see a lot of opportunity and untapped potential...
It’s cruise season!
JAMAICA’S 2022 cruise season is underway and tourism players are eager to see how the sector will perform now that measures put in place during the height of the novel coronavirus pandemic have largely eased. Since September 5, ships are allowed to board unvaccinated...
Cruise control
IF passenger feedback is anything to go by, Jamaica’s cruise sector appears to be moving in the right direction. Efforts are underway to boost both home-grown and international marketing of the sector; meanwhile the tourism ministry is expected to make yet another...
Getting ready for the millennials
With more millennials booking cruises, Jamaica’s tourism ministry, its various agencies and local stakeholders are working to come up with new activities for them to do when they come ashore. The move is expected to be a boon for community tourism. “We have passengers...
Cruise options for locals
It’s not a topic often explored but, yes, Jamaicans do go on cruises that leave from the country’s shores. LetsTravelCaribbean.com sought out managing director at Leisure for Pleasure Holidays and Tours Limited Judith James-Watts for details on upcoming cruise options...
SOOTHING: Rocky Water Village Mineral Bath
With Island Routes offering more than 500 tours in 13 destinations across the Caribbean, we turned to them to help us discover fun things to do in Jamaica. The tour company has, after all, “carefully selected the crème de la crème of curated excursions, adventures and...
Belinda’s serves up authentic Jamaican food
Belinda's Riverside Restaurant sits on the banks of the Rio Grande waiting to serve the best meals in Portland. Operated by Belinda Grey, affectionately called Ms Belinda, this rustic riverside eatery boasts a unique history spanning more than four decades. Miss...
Lavender Moon Villas: Labour of love
There’s an interesting story behind the name of Ocho Rios’s latest place to stay: Lavender Moon Villas. It’s named in honour of one of the co-owner’s sisters, Natasha Levers, who was fondly called Moony. Lavender was her favourite colour. “This was done with so much...
Saint Martin’s Hommage
If you’re ever on the 'friendly island' of Saint Martin, you have got to check out Hommage Hotel & Residences, overlooking Simpson Bay Lagoon. Saint Martin is an overseas collectivity of France, located in the Leeward Islands and Lesser Antilles. It shares borders...
‘Big up Ms Gia!’
Starting as a HEART trainee at the front office, moving through to middle management and now at the helm of a team of more than 70 housekeepers at Beaches Ocho Rios resort, Gia Redway has remained humble and committed. She strives to always give more than expected by...
HUGE WIN for AC Hotel Kingston
AC Hotel Kingston, a leading business and lifestyle hotel in the city, has been named Jamaica’s Best MICE Hotel 2022. This is the first time the hotel, part of the Marriott brand of companies, has been nominated for and bestowed with this honour, adding to the...
Grenada kicks off cruise season
Grenada’s 2022-2023 cruise season got under way on October 21 with the arrival of Celebrity Summit, part of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, carrying 1,500 passengers to the port at Melville Street, St George’s. Two hundred and two cruise calls are scheduled this...
Sustainable travel talks at forum in France
Minister of Tourism for Jamaica Edmund Bartlett is slated to share insights on ways to boost the resilience and sustainability of the global tourism industry, during a series of high-level international discussions and meetings with international tourism partners,...
Sandals Foundation gives farmers a boost
The Sandals Foundation has solidified its mandate in developing a resilient and sustainable agriculture sector in Jamaica by improving the capacity of farmers in the rural community of Hermitage in St Ann to implement climate smart practices to increase crop...
St Martin to host food fest
After the huge success of last year’s inaugural event, the St Martin Tourist Office is organising the second edition of its gastronomy festival on November 11 and 22. A host of culinary talent from all over the world, as well as foodies who want to embark on a gourmet...
ON THE COVER: TCI
Turks and Caicos has made the cover of Outlook Travel Magazine which has a 50-page feature on the destination. The leading destination and global lifestyle magazine with an audience of more than 575,000 business executives and avid travellers works closely with...
Cruise talks wrap up
Hundreds gathered in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic with one common goal: improve cruise tourism, especially the mutual benefits between destinations and cruise companies. That was again the main theme of another successful FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show,...
Push for GLOBAL TOURISM RESILIENCE DAY
Major tourism stakeholders in the Caribbean have thrown their support behind a move to designate February 17 as Global Tourism Resilience Day. They are hoping the rest of the world will come on board to make this an annual, worldwide event. President of the Caribbean...
Meet in Jamaica
Jamaica’s strength as a destination for meetings and events is being touted during IMEX America, the largest trade show in the US for the global meetings, events and incentive travel industry. “While all destinations across the world have experienced challenges as a...
FRIENDLY BELIZE
Belize’s contagious, warm hospitality, stunning natural beauty, and cultural richness have earned the country international recognition as one of the friendliest nations in the world. This outstanding recognition of the Jewel was announced in the Condé Nast 2022...
Antigua & Barbuda gets more from AIR CANADA
The dual-island destination of Antigua & Barbuda is seeing an uptick in Canadian traffic just in time for the winter travel season. A new offering of flights from Air Canada, which began on October 8, is expected to help realise a recovery to pre-pandemic airlift...
862 & COUNTING cruise jobs for Barbados
Almost 900 people in Barbados received job offers coming out of a recent Royal Caribbean Group job fair and Princess Cruises recruitment sessions. “Of the 862 persons that received job offers, 70 of them have departed Barbados to take up positions on ships from US and...
CHTA names winners of resilience awards
In keeping with its commitment to advance the quality, sustainability and profitability of the tourism industry in the Caribbean, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has announced the winners of its 2022 Destination Resilience and Caribbean Hotel...
Jamaica ahead of tourism targets
Jamaica is expected to welcome five million visitors in 2024, a full 12 months ahead of the initial target. It is also poised to generate a projected US$5 billion in earnings from tourism for the 2023 calendar year, based on the current trend in the industry’s...
More from Frontier
American low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines has announced plans to expand its relationship with Jamaica by introducing three additional non-stop flights into Montego Bay starting next February. Frontier's Senior Manager for International Sales and Marketing William...
Kevin Hendrickson is Caribbean Hotelier of the Year
Distinguished Jamaican hotelier and businessman Kevin Hendrickson has been declared Caribbean Hotelier of the Year by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). The award was presented during CHTA’s historic Caribbean Travel Forum ahead of the official...
US$5.7 billion: Jamaica’s earning since reopening
After months of closure following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic, Jamaica’s tourism sector said it has, to date, raked in more than US$5.7 billion in earnings since reopening its borders in June 2020. According to recent data, more than five million...
Weathering any storm
Resilience. It’s a word that comes up in almost every discussion about the tourism industry these days. Including weather-related events and a pandemic, there have been an estimated 12 major disruptions in the sector in the last half a century. After the...
Inside the resilience centre
Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, co-chair and founder of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre explains why the centre was launched and the work it has been doing. LetsTravelCaribbean.com: Why was there a need to establish the Global Tourism...
Resilience index coming
An index that will provide valuable data on everything from visitors’ safety to how attractive a destination is to investors is one of the big ticket items on the agenda for the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMG) which has emerged,...
Stronger together
Resilience has joined sustainability as the newest buzzword in tourism circles and the point is often made that Caribbean countries have a much better chance of recovering from any disruption if they work together. “If we can forget, for a minute, the wonderful values...
Chukka’s multi-destination boost
Multi-destination tourism is being touted as a major part of the strategy the Caribbean must embrace going forward, one of the tools that will make the region more resilient. Chukka Caribbean Adventures knows a thing or two about that. According to CEO Marc Melville,...
Time to unite… again
By Executive Chairman, Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart “There is no doubt that the pandemic united us. While disarming ourselves of competitive tensions we had to focus on the big picture at all times. It was probably the first time in modern-day travel...
Sea Island Beach Club
— One for the books With deliciously prepared meals, a cocktail bar full of surprises, and a beautiful white sand beach, the newly opened Sea Island Beach Club in Montego Bay welcomes everyone longing for good food and a relaxing day in paradise. Located on the...
Indulge your senses at Temple X Music Mansion
A tour of Montego Bay’s newest attraction, Temple X Music Mansion, is sure to leave music and art lovers with a heightened sense of appreciation for the rich historical value that can be found behind the property’s walls. Brainchild of Canadian music promoter Kit...
Celebrating Tourism Awareness Week
Now being celebrated until October 1, Tourism Awareness Week (TAW) 2022 got underway with representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, its public bodies and the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) gathering to give thanks for the industry and its...
The next big idea
The tourism ministry is banking on innovative Jamaicans to come up with the next big idea that will help the country hold onto its place as one of the leading destinations in the world. The Tourism Innovation Incubator will be launched on September 30 as part of a...
AC Hotel Kingston’s Andre Harris
Andre Harris’s passion for food led him to the tourism industry, and he hasn’t looked back. He’s been soaking up knowledge over the years and it’s prepared him well for his newest role as hotel manager at AC Hotel Kingston. He stepped into his new role on September 1....
Here comes the bride
Gorgeous gowns from Bliss Bridal Boutique took centre stage at Jamaica Bridal Expo 2022, held September 23 and 24 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre. Each staging of the popular event showcases Jamaica as a premier destination for weddings, honeymoons and romance,...
Homecoming Tour
It’s an almost two-decades-old tradition. A group of hardworking Jamaicans living in Florida spend five relaxing days at one of the Sandals Resorts across the Caribbean. By the end of their trip, they vote on which property they will visit the next year. It’s the Duke...
NEEDED: Global tourism resilience fund
As destinations worldwide continue their recovery efforts from the impact of COVID-19, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett says a Global Tourism Resilience fund is needed now, more than ever. Speaking at the 5th Tourism Expo Japan (TEJ) Ministerial...
Jamaica looks to Japan
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett has indicated that tapping into the Japanese outbound market is a priority for the Caribbean country, as the destination continues its strong recovery from the pandemic. The announcement follows fruitful discussions with...
CHTA head touts tiered airline tax
The President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is recommending a tiered “dynamic taxation system” as a novel and potential solution to address ongoing concerns about the high cost of air travel within, as well as to and from the region. Calling...
Montserrat’s BIG PLANS
Six days and more than 10 opportunities have been planned to allow Montserrat residents and visitors to experience some of the tours and experiences offered by local businesses during Tourism Week. The celebration has been co-sponsored by the United Nations...
Rethinking tourism
Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism, its public bodies and industry partners will highlight the importance of the sector to economic development and invite stakeholders to rethink how they approach tourism in a post-COVID-19 pandemic world, through the observance of Tourism...
Meet Round Hill’s Miss Carmen
At Round Hill Hotel and Villas, everyone knows Miss Carmen and many have no clue that her real name is Laura Mae Grant-Gordon. She chose the name Carmen years ago when she was in school. It sounded better to her ears. LetsTravelCaribbean.com Radio sits down with her...
Chukka’s Caribbean push
Chukka Caribbean Adventures has collaborated with the Antigua and Barbuda Government to create, manage, and operate a new historical eco-adventure tour in Fort Barrington, Antigua, in time for Antigua Cruise Port’s fifth pier to welcome the world’s largest cruise...
Martinique’s Depaz distillery
A trip to the French overseas department of Martinique – the flower of the Caribbean – would not be complete without visiting the Depaz distillery in the northern part of the island. Nestled in a wonderfully scenic setting in the hills around Saint-Pierre,...
Bryan is new CTO head
Cayman Islands Minister of Tourism, Kenneth Bryan has been elected as the new chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). This follows last Tuesday’s Annual General Meeting which was part of the CTO Business Meetings and Caribbean Aviation Day Event staged...
Tobago teen wins CTO Youth Congress
J’nae Brathwaite of Tobago has won the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Tourism Youth Congress which was staged at The Ritz-Carlton in the Cayman Islands on September 15. In her winning presentation on Experiential Tourism, the 17-year-old Brathwaite articulately...
SANECIA TAYLOR: Jamaica’s 2022 Jr Minister of Tourism
Sixteen-year-old Sanecia Taylor is Jamaica’s new Junior Minister of Tourism and will represent the island at the 18th staging of the Regional Tourism Youth Congress, being held in the Cayman Islands. The three-day Congress ends on September 16. A student at the...
Sandals, Cayman tourism dept sponsor prizes for CTO youth congress
Sandals Barbados Resort & Spa and the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT) are sponsoring prizes for the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) 18th Tourism Youth Congress taking place in the Cayman Islands on September 15. Eleven countries are...
WTA #6 for Margaritaville
Margaritaville has been dubbed the Caribbean’s Leading Entertainment Venue for the 6th consecutive year, solidifying the company’s position as an innovator and industry leader in entertainment and its dedication to consistently delivering world-class dining and...
Sandals, Beaches now on Hotelbeds
One of the world’s most well-known names in hospitality, award-winning Sandals and Beaches Resorts, has been added to the Hotelbeds portfolio. As the leaders in Luxury Included® vacations, the adults-only Sandals Resorts and family-friendly Beaches Resorts offer a...
Big plans for Negril
Major plans, including an additional 5,000 hotel rooms, are on the drawing board for the development of Negril over the next five years. At the same time, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett has hinted at Negril being given a status that will remove it from the dual...
Man on a mission: ADRIAN JOHNSON
After years of being an award-winning bartender, Adrian Johnson has his sights set on a career change. He shares his story with TLC Radio. Related story https://youtu.be/0N8VsPo5qj8
Villa on the water
Everton “Singing Melody” Hardweare and his wife Ruby Robinson Hardweare tell LTC Radio about their yacht HRH Mimosa. It’s been dubbed the villa on the water by some who’ve experienced even a taste of what it has to offer. https://youtu.be/hTh3_N9gLn4 Related...
Where will you go?
We take you to a number of our favourite must-see spots in the Caribbean! From Bavaro Beach in Punta Cana and heritage rich Old San Juan to adventure packed Varadero, we give you choices galore! Where will you travel to next?...
Celebrity chef Brian Lumley tells LTC Radio what’s cookin’
Don’t be fooled by Chef Brian Lumley’s youthful look. He has years of experience under his chef’s hat. https://youtu.be/2PIk7nlhtbA
LetsTravelCaribbean.com Radio spotlights Sandals Royal Curaçao
Sandals Resorts International (SRI) has opened its 16th Sandals Resort, Sandals Royal Curaçao, racking up a number of firsts in the process. The resort company’s debut in the Dutch Caribbean sets in motion entirely new and innovative ways to experience the charming...
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Jamaica to make visa application easier for GCC visitors
In a bid to attract more visitors from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, Jamaica is moving ahead...
SIA’s next chapter: Digital innovation
MBJ Airports Limited (MBJ), operators of Sangster International Airport (SIA), is charting the course to a...
Curaçao opens training centre for hospitality students
Hospitality students in Curaçao can now get on-the job lessons at Parasasa Hotel Curaçao, a...
Montserrat launches youth-led environmental magazine
The Montserrat Tourism Authority has released the first edition of the Community Environmental...
Your Next Adventure Awaits
Discover the top things to do in Jamaica
Nevis Peak Residences at Four Seasons Resort breaks ground
by LTC Writer
St Kitts and Nevis Sotheby’s International Realty has officially broken ground on the Nevis Peak Residences — a multimillion-dollar luxury development at the Four Seasons Resort Nevis. The project marks a major boost for foreign investment on the island, aligning with...
New wave of luxury tourism development for Jamaica
by LTC Writer
Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, recently announced that a new era of luxury tourism is on the horizon for Jamaica during a contract signing press conference hosted by LCH Developments, developers of The Pinnacle. This event took place on April 10, at The...
Royalton Chic Barbados open for business
by admin
Blue Diamond Resorts is set to turn heads and set pulses racing as it redefines all-inclusive hospitality in Barbados. On March 19 Royalton CHIC Barbados, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort – Adults Only, officially opened for bookings, gearing up for...
Discover Anguilla in 2025
by LTC Writer
Tucked away in the Eastern Caribbean lies the truly incomparable Caribbean island of Anguilla. The British Overseas Territory, renowned for its powder-white beaches, exciting culinary scene and outstanding accommodation, is flourishing with new infrastructure, resort...
Jamaica cruise tourism season starts with a bang
by LTC Writer
With Jamaica having welcomed 1.1 million cruise passengers since the start of the year, the 2024/2025 cruise tourism season got off to a strong start with ten vessels calling on the three main resort ports, with some 34,519 passengers and a combined crew of...
The Bahamas: a look ahead
by LTC Writer
April 12, 2025 is the projected end date for Delta Air Lines’ new weekly nonstop airlift from Detroit, which The Bahamas welcomed on December 21. Paradise Island The seasonal route, which is being re-launched after a four-year pandemic pause, is the only one being...