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See how wonderful Ja is!
Canadian press upbeat on the island's image
Carl Gilchrist, Hospitality Jamaica Writer
Jamaica's image, sagging under the imposition of the limited state of emergency and disorder in Kingston, is getting a much-needed boost from the Toronto-based weekly publication, Canadian Travel Press (CTP).
The publication's editor-in-chief, Edith Baxter, and Mike Baginski, managing editor, were in the island for four days to get first-hand knowledge of the situation. And the report was good!
"Everything is perfectly normal," Baxter told Hospitality Jamaica while at Breezes Runaway Bay Friday night, shortly after arriving from Montego Bay.
"We've been to Negril and Montego Bay, and are off to Ocho Rios tomorrow, then back to Montego Bay."
According to Baxter, there has been some amount of misrepresentation in the reportage that readers are getting in North America.
As a journalist who has been visiting Jamaica for several years, and being familiar with the island, Baxter thought she would come down and get a first-hand impression of the situation to tell readers.
"We've interviewed clients, guests, and they totally admit it's marvellous; it's like it was six months ago, like it was four months ago. So we just want to get the message across - please come down, you'll see for yourself how wonderful the island and its people are."
planned initiatives
The initiative, organised by the Jamaica Tourist Board, is one of several that have been planned by the state agency, in conjunction with various stakeholders, to prop up the island's image in order to sustain the tourism industry.
The visit, from June 3-6, saw the CTP team travelling through resort areas and attractions to interview visitors to the island to capture their experiences, as well as to interview leaders in the sector on the impact of the state of emergency as a result of the recent unrest.
The information was fed to Baxter Travel Media for daily electronic updates to be disseminated to the travel trade across Canada.
Meanwhile, Superclubs Resorts has reported no real adverse reactions to the Kingston issue.
"We have seen no cancellations," general manager at Breezes Runaway Bay, Franklyn Eaton, said. "I had only one call and that was from a friend of mine in Staten Island, a travel agent, and it was regarding a group which had concerns, and once I reassured her, she was quite okay."
He said, however, that Memorial Day bookings did not pick up as usual and this he attributed to the trouble in Kingston.
Superclubs' vice-president for public relations, Sue McManus, was also positive about the current situation. "I would say it's more or less business as usual. I get a nice feeling that we're comfortable; life goes on and we're getting on with it."
hospitalityjamaica@gleanerjm.com
See how wonderful Ja is!
Canadian press upbeat on the island's image
Carl Gilchrist, Hospitality Jamaica Writer
Jamaica's image, sagging under the imposition of the limited state of emergency and disorder in Kingston, is getting a much-needed boost from the Toronto-based weekly publication, Canadian Travel Press (CTP).
The publication's editor-in-chief, Edith Baxter, and Mike Baginski, managing editor, were in the island for four days to get first-hand knowledge of the situation. And the report was good!
"Everything is perfectly normal," Baxter told Hospitality Jamaica while at Breezes Runaway Bay Friday night, shortly after arriving from Montego Bay.
"We've been to Negril and Montego Bay, and are off to Ocho Rios tomorrow, then back to Montego Bay."
According to Baxter, there has been some amount of misrepresentation in the reportage that readers are getting in North America.
As a journalist who has been visiting Jamaica for several years, and being familiar with the island, Baxter thought she would come down and get a first-hand impression of the situation to tell readers.
"We've interviewed clients, guests, and they totally admit it's marvellous; it's like it was six months ago, like it was four months ago. So we just want to get the message across - please come down, you'll see for yourself how wonderful the island and its people are."
planned initiatives
The initiative, organised by the Jamaica Tourist Board, is one of several that have been planned by the state agency, in conjunction with various stakeholders, to prop up the island's image in order to sustain the tourism industry.
The visit, from June 3-6, saw the CTP team travelling through resort areas and attractions to interview visitors to the island to capture their experiences, as well as to interview leaders in the sector on the impact of the state of emergency as a result of the recent unrest.
The information was fed to Baxter Travel Media for daily electronic updates to be disseminated to the travel trade across Canada.
Meanwhile, Superclubs Resorts has reported no real adverse reactions to the Kingston issue.
"We have seen no cancellations," general manager at Breezes Runaway Bay, Franklyn Eaton, said. "I had only one call and that was from a friend of mine in Staten Island, a travel agent, and it was regarding a group which had concerns, and once I reassured her, she was quite okay."
He said, however, that Memorial Day bookings did not pick up as usual and this he attributed to the trouble in Kingston.
Superclubs' vice-president for public relations, Sue McManus, was also positive about the current situation. "I would say it's more or less business as usual. I get a nice feeling that we're comfortable; life goes on and we're getting on with it."
hospitalityjamaica@gleanerjm.com
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© Gleaner Company | Produced by Go Jamaica
Hospitality Jamaica is updated every two (2) weeks
Privacy Policy