Travel agents purchasing craft items at the mini expo at Sunset Jamaica Grande. - Photo by Carl Gilchrist

A group of 75 travel agents from United States, Canada and the United Kingdom has given Jamaica high ratings as a tourist destination.

The travel agents spent two days in Montego Bay and another two in Ocho Rios last week, experiencing the island's tourism product at first hand.

Sandy Keel of American Express Travel out of Jacksonville, Florida, was delighted at being in Jamaica for the first time and told The Gleaner, "I love it! Oh, my God, the people are so friendly. I'm just impressed. It's clean, it's so friendly and everybody is so nice.

"The beaches are gorgeous, I walk out until the water is chest high and I can still see my feet. I'm really having a great time. The jerked chicken rocks!"

Experience

The experience, she said, was more than she expected.

On the weekend, they attended a mini expo at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios, which hosted the group. The mini expo showcased suppliers from the Ocho Rios/Runaway Bay resort area, inclusive of hotels, attractions and transportation firms.

The travel agents were also treated to a viewing of the Jamaica Tourist Board's (JTB) promotional video, 'Jamaica, Once You Go You Know'.

JTB Regional Director Rosie Johnson explained that the event was geared towards increasing Jamaica's presence in the marketplace.

"June is one of the designated travel agents' months and in order to increase the exposure of Jamaica in the marketplace, particularly now, we have been taking numerous agents to Jamaica to see the updated products," she explained.

"This is the first mega fam for June and another set (of travel agents) will arrive this coming weekend. In addition, we will be having the UK Jamboree," she added.

Johnson said the travel agents were impressed with Jamaica.

Meanwhile, Michelle Toyloy-Carter, JTB's district sales manager (Jamaica), told the travel agents that the island was not only known for sea, sand and sun. She wants to highlight Jamaican culture and cuisine.

Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association Area Manager Vana Taylor, in endorsing Toyloy-Carter's sentiments, thanked the travel agents for coming to Jamaica and urged them to continue selling the product.

The JTB team on hand also included Donald Sewell, Mark McDermot, Claudia Cole-Robinson, Louise Pacquett and Wayne Sterling.