Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) member-states have started 2022 brimming with confidence after winning several categories of the coveted annual Caribbean Travel Awards 2022.
“Defying the challenges of a global pandemic that dealt a devastating blow to the main revenue-generating industry for Eastern Caribbean countries,” says a statement from the OECS Secretariat, “member-states have had to strategically pivot” their tourism operations “to manoeuver a myriad of challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Thanks to COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, the statement adds, member-states were challenged by “a complete shutdown of the tourism sector, lockdowns, phased-reopenings, strict entry restrictions, limited airlift, and staff shortages are among some of the daunting obstacles for the tourism industry.”
OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules congratulated the winners, noting that “Once again, 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 clear testimony to the resilience, the fortitude of our tourism sector, and the quality of its leadership.”
He adds, “The range of the awards spans national policy, private sector management, and an impressive range of hospitality services.”
Dr. Jules posits that “While our industry still has some way to go before we can recoup our losses, we are encouraged by the drive, standards, and cooperation of our tourism industry partners.”
He says the OECS also “looks forward to building on our successes for the upcoming year as we continue to move to a more sustainable tourism framework.”
Meanwhile, the following are the OECS winners of the 2022 Caribbean Travel Awards:
Caribbean Tourism Minister of the Year: Lindsay FP Grant, St Kitts and Nevis
Culinary Destination of the Year: Grenada
Caribbean Airport of the Year: VC Bird International Airport, Antigua
Caribbean Hotelier of the Year: Sanovnik Destang, Bay Gardens Resorts Saint Lucia
Small Hotel of the Year: Anegada Beach Club, British Virgin Islands
Caribbean All-Inclusive of the Year: Hammock Cove, Antigua
Wellness Hotel of the Year: Zemi Beach House. Anguilla
