Two community tourism leaders who lead active organisations have teamed up to offer visitors a novel, experiential educational vacation in Jamaica, “Home of Community Tourism.”

The first innovative leader in community-tourism is Diana McIntyre-Pike, president, Countrystyle Community Tourism Network & The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) Caribbean.

McIntyre-Pike is a pioneer with over thirty-seven years of service and passion in training and developing communities.

The other is Jacqueline daCosta, an international expert in sustainable development planning, land, and the environment and the founder and chair of the National Best Community Foundation.

daCosta has voluntarily organised, with assistance from a myriad of partners from the public and private sector, a national competition and program for the sustainable development of communities.

Together these women, their organisations, as well as foreign and local networks have partnered to engage some 300 communities nationwide in the entrepreneurial Villages as Businesses program, which would result in sustainable community tourism.

This program has been developed to provide training and create economic opportunities for community persons interested in investing in their communities by offering community tourism products, rooms, and attractions that build on unique natural, cultural, and human capital.

Lou d’Amore, president, Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) has branded Jamaica, “Home of Community Tourism,” and continues to support the initiatives of IIPT Caribbean on the Island.

McIntyre-Pike has been selected as one of 50 world experts in sustainable tourism to participate in the UNESCO World Heritage Sustainable Tourism Experts meeting from October 18th–23rd in Switzerland, which will enhance Jamaica’s international viability and competitive advantage in being the “Home of Community Tourism”.

Caribbean partners are encouraged to become members of the IIPT Caribbean/Countrystyle Community Tourism Network and to participate in the Villages as Businesses program to help foster the continued growth and success of community tourism within the region as an integrated people-centred approach to sustainable tourism.

Visitors participating in these educational vacations to learn Jamaican culture, heritage, and cuisine will immerse themselves into the traditional village lifestyle, which is a unique unparalleled experience.

The warm, friendly villagers will welcome the visitor with their traditional Mento and folk music, dance, and cuisine, which makes learning so much fun!

The ten-day package offers accommodation in smaller properties and homestays including all meals featuring Jamaican cuisine, community experience tours to many diverse villages; a train tour from the Jamaica Railway Corporation (recently renovated and re-opened); Fi Read Jamaica information book on Jamaican beauty, vibes, and culture by Kevin O’Brien Chang; and a Community Tourism Manual featuring The Youth Transformation Program.

In addition, membership is offered in the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) Caribbean and the IIPT/Countrystyle Community Tourism Network and a certificate of participation in Community Tourism from the International Community Tourism Institute (ICTI) in collaboration with the Western Hospitality Institute (WHI).

World Travel Awards fever comes to Jamaica

A distinguished line-up of travel industry professionals and media from 60 countries are set to gather at the luxurious Sandals Private Island in Montego Bay on October 19th to find out who will triumph at the World Travel Awards Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony.

The Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony marks the fifth and final leg of World Travel Awards 2011 Grand Tour, and follows heats in Dubai, UAE; Antalya, Turkey; Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt; and Bangkok, Thailand.

Regional winners from these events then progress to the Grand Final later in the year.

The event partners are Sandals Resorts, BBC World News and WeClickMedia, while media partners include National Geographic Traveller, eTurboNews, Focus on Travel News, Breaking Travel News, JaxFax and Travel Daily News.

For more info about World Travel Awards 2011 Caribbean & the Americas Ceremony & bookings visit the website.

To find out what else is happening in Jamaica and Montego Bay, why not visit Jamaica.Mobi or Montegobay.Mobi.