JHTA, JTB on mission to islands

A CONTINGENT of thirteen Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association (JHTA) and Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) representatives left Jamaica on Sunday for a week of presentations in Trinidad & Tobago, St. Lucia and Barbados.

The group is participating in 'Caribbean Blitz 2001', an annual sales and marketing promotion of the Jamaica hospitality and tourism product sponsored by JHTA and JTB.

Under the theme, 'Jamaica is Going Green', the hoteliers are stressing the initiatives taking place to green the destination under the Environmental Audits for Sustainable Tourism project - a joint project of the JHTA and United States Agency for International Development.

Noting that Caribbean Blitz 2001 was planned long before the tragic events of September 11 in the USA, JHTA president, Josef Forstmayr said that "intra-regional travel is even more critical now."

He said that on past missions to the Caribbean, "the Jamaican participants had not only succeeded in dispelling misconceptions about Jamaica, but had also learnt a lot of positive lessons from our Caribbean neighbours."

Mr. Forstmayr said that initiatives like the JHTA/JTB Caribbean Blitz go a long way to developing a better informed public, "One that is more tolerant and appreciative of the similarities and differences across the region."

In Trinidad & Tobago, St. Lucia and Barbados, the Jamaican contingent are meeting with the travel and tour trade and public and private sector representatives. They are also presenting a mini trade exhibition showcasing Jamaica's tourism product.

Participants in Caribbean Blitz 2001 include representatives of the Half Moon Hotel, Renaissance Jamaica Grande, Le Meridien Jamaica Pegasus, Hilton Hotel, Courtleigh Hotel and SuperClubs. The group returns to Jamaica on Saturday.

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