Island builds on past fame as Bob Marley takes to the stand

Jamaica by Candida Brasnett

Island builds on past fame as Bob Marley takes to the stand

Images of personalities flag up Jamaica at WTM

To mark the first year of the 21st century, the Jamaica Tourist Board will present a striking new stand at World Travel Market.

Images of world-renowned Jamaican personalities will feature on the stand including reggae legend Bob Marley, athletic heroine Merlene Ottley-Page and Mary Seacole, whose life is being celebrated in a new opera at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

Leading the WTM delegation from Jamaica will beminister of tourism, sport and environment Portia Simpson Miller, who will be accompanied by director of tourism Fay Pickersgill and more than 40 representatives from the private sector.

The latest statistics from Jamaica show UK arrivals to the island have continued to rise with the number for January to May this year up 7.2% on the same period last year to 52,975.

UK tourist board officials attribute this to a number of factors, not least the success of the Insider’s Jamaica programme which was launched last year and will be promoted again at this year’s WTM.

Expressly designed for visitors to Jamaica who want to get off the beaten track and soak up the local culture, Insider’s Jamaica combines a five-night or longer stay at a small hotel or inn with the freedom to experience the island’s diverse attractions. A total of 58 small properties are featured in the programme, varying from mountain hideaways to old plantation estates.

Visitors to the Jamaica stand will also be able to find out more about the island’s alternative attractions to its beach resorts.

These include the Appleton Rum estate, which celebrates its 250th birthday this year and is currently enjoying record international sales.

It claims to be one of the oldest rum estates in the world and visitors are welcome to tour the estate.

Undiscovered: the Insider’s Jamaica programme will allow visitors to go off the beaten track