Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett (right) collects Jamaica's World's Leading Beach Destination and World's Leading Cruise Destination awards at the Word Travel Awards in Lisbon, Portugal, Saturday night. He is joined by chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board, John Lynch (left) and president and founder of World Travel Awards, Graham Cook. Photo: Jamaica Observer

Jamaica was ajudged World's Leading Beach Destination and World's Leading Cruise Destination for 2018.

It also won World's Leading Luxury Hotel Villa — Fleming Villa at GoldenEye; World's Leading Villa Resort — Round Hill Hotel & Villas; World's Leading All-inclusive Company — Sandals Resorts International; World's Leading Family Resort Brand — Beaches Resorts; World's Leading Caribbean Attraction Company — Island Routes Caribbean Adventures; and World's Leading Adventure Tour Operator — Chukka Caribbean Adventures.

In highlighting the significance of the awards, Minister of Tourism Ed Bartlett who, along with chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board John Lynch, was present at the gala, said, “I am truly proud to have been able share in this moment which highlights that Jamaica's tourism product is of the highest quality and remains top-of-mind for millions of visitors who come to our shores. Jamaica competed with the best of the best across the globe and has emerged a global winner acknowledged for the hard work and innovation being done in the sector.”

Saturday's gala marked the climax of the WTA Grand Tour 2018 — an annual search for the finest travel and tourism organisations in the world. Government and industry leaders, luminaries and international print and broadcast media from across the globe were in attendance.

The WTA was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.

“Jamaica is poised for exponential growth in tourism, and with this growth we will seek to be more innovative and provide more to our discerning visitors who come to get a taste of all the things we have to offer,” Bartlett pointed out.

Bartlett is scheduled to travel to Istanbul, Turkey to speak at the third UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture under the theme: 'For the Benefit of All', which will be hosted by the Government of Turkey from December 3-5.

He returns to the island on December 6, 2018.