Baxter Travel Media, the largest provider of travel industry news and information in Canada, have again named the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) as the “Favourite Tourist Board in Canada”.

The JTB confirmed the announcement yesterday in a release, which noted that it was the 12th consecutive year that the local tourist board was being honoured with the award by Canadian travel agents in Baxter Travel Media’s annual Agents’ Choice Awards.

In his thank you letter to Canadian agents, Paul Pennicook, Jamaica’s director of tourism, thanked agents for again voting for the Jamaica Tourist Board.

“This award is a testament to how hard everyone is working, as a team, to deliver an exceptional product. We have a great team in place who offer outstanding service to travel agents, who in turn offer an unforgettable Jamaica experience to their clients,” Pennicook said.

“It is such an honour to receive this award for the 12th consecutive year,” said Philip Rose, regional director for the JTB in Canada.

“Travel agents are one of our most important partners. In fact, in 2016 we saw 54 per cent of Canadians book their Jamaica trip through an agent. The JTB Canada team regularly works and meets with Canadian travel agents, providing them with the tools they need, product updates, and hosting them on familiarisation tours on the island so they can best sell Destination Jamaica,” Rose said.

Baxter Travel Media are the publishers of Canadian Travel Press and Travel Courier, two of the top travel trade publications in Canada. The Baxter Travel Media Awards are the largest travel agent survey of its kind in Canada, with more than 5,500 agents voting in various categories.

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is Jamaica’s national tourism agency, based in Kingston.

The JTB was declared the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board by the World Travel Awards (WTA) between 2006 and 2016.

In 2016, Jamaica earned the WTA’s vote for the Caribbean’s Leading Destination and the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination for the 10th consecutive year. Additionally, Ocho Rios was named the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Port; Sangster International Airport was voted the Caribbean’s Leading Airport; Club MoBay was named the Caribbean’s Leading Airport Lounge; Dolphin Cove was voted the Caribbean’s Leading Adventure Tourist Attraction; the Montego Bay Convention Centre was named the Caribbean’s Leading Meeting & Conventions Centre; and GO! Jamaica Travel was named the Caribbean’s Leading Tour Operator.

JTB offices are located in Kingston, Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are located in Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Mumbai and Tokyo.