Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) member-states have began 2022 brimming with confidence after winning several categories of the coveted annual Caribbean Travel Awards 2022.
“Defying the challenges of a world pandemic that dealt a devastating blow to the predominant revenue-generating industry for Eastern Caribbean countries,” says a press release from the OECS Secretariat, “member-states have needed to strategically pivot” their tourism operations “to manoeuver a myriad of challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Due to COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, the statement adds, member-states were challenged by “an entire shutdown of the tourism sector, lockdowns, phased-reopenings, strict entry restrictions, limited airlift, and staff shortages are amongst a few of the daunting obstacles for the tourism industry.”
OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules congratulated the winners, noting that “Once more, the OECS countries have demonstrated their ingenuity and commitment to excellence.”
He says, “The succession of wins by stakeholders across the spectrum of OECS our Member-States is evident testimony to the resilience, the fortitude of our tourism sector, and the standard of its leadership.”
He adds, “The range of the awards spans national policy, private sector management, and a formidable range of hospitality services.”
Dr. Jules posits that “While our industry still has some strategy to go before we will recoup our losses, we’re encouraged by the drive, standards, and cooperation of our tourism industry partners.”
He says the OECS also “looks forward to constructing on our successes for the upcoming 12 months as we proceed to maneuver to a more sustainable tourism framework.”
Meanwhile, the next are the OECS winners of the 2022 Caribbean Travel Awards:
Caribbean Tourism Minister of the Yr: Lindsay FP Grant, St Kitts and Nevis
Culinary Destination of the Yr: Grenada
Caribbean Airport of the Yr: VC Bird International Airport, Antigua
Caribbean Hotelier of the Yr: Sanovnik Destang, Bay Gardens Resorts Saint Lucia
Small Hotel of the Yr: Anegada Beach Club, British Virgin Islands
Caribbean All-Inclusive of the Yr: Hammock Cove, Antigua
Wellness Hotel of the Yr: Zemi Beach House. Anguilla
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