And the Oscar goes to Jamaica…Jamaica…Jamaica. Big up all the players in Jamaica’s tourism industry. Congratulations to you all and keep up the excellent work. Bim!

At the prestigious 2007 World Travel Awards (‘the tourism Oscars’), Jamaica ruled.

Jamaica, on the heels of recording exceptional stopover visitor numbers for 2007, dominated this year's awards, which were held on December 12, 2007 at the Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort and Spa in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.

Jamaica was judged the leading Caribbean destination and leading cruise destination. In addition, Air Jamaica was judged the region's leading airline, and also garnered the best business class and best airline Web site awards.

Not surprisingly, the Jamaica Tourist Board took home the leading tourist and conventions bureau title. In addition, the Sandals Resorts all-inclusive resort chain alone won a mammoth 16 trophies, including, The Bahamas' leading resort, and leading spa resort awards (won by Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort). It also won the world's best all-inclusive award, and the Caribbean's leading hotel brand award (for the 14th year in a row). Jamaican companies Chukka Caribbean Adventures and Trafalgar Travel were named the Caribbean's leading nature adventure excursion and leading travel agency respectively. Winners of the awards were decided by 167,000 travel professionals in over 2,000 countries.

Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said Jamaica is expecting a record 1.8 million visitors for the 2007/2008 winter season.

See you in Jamaica.

Story taken in part from The Nassau Guardian

See you in Jamaica.