In a time of global unease, Jamaica Tourism is looking to send out some positivity with a new Spotify playlist aimed at helping to lift our spirits. 

It’s called, fittingly, “Every Little Thing Is Gonna Be Alright,” and it features a broad spectrum of Jamaican classics, from fresh artists like recent Reggae Grammy-award winner Koffee and Tessanne Chin to music icons like Bob Marley, Burning Spear and Big Youth, among others. 

The “Irie Vibes” playlist of course gets its name from the lyric of the Bob Marley song “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright.”

All of Jamaica’s musical greatness is here, whether you like dancehall, ska, roots reggae or conscious reggae or a little bit of everything. 

“The island of Jamaica hopes to ease your worries and virtually transport you to Jamaica with a specially curated Spotify playlist with best of the island’s musical legends,” the Jamaica Tourist Board said in a statement this week. “It reminds us to keep our heads high and attitude bright with melodies from Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Beenie Man and many more.”

With many of us staying in our homes and distancing ourselves, it’s a refreshing dose of escapism, something we all need a bit of right now. 

And it’s a reminder of why the Caribbean is more than a destination — it’s an idea, and a dream, and even if you can’t get there right now, you can take a journey there in spirit. 

For more, visit the Jamaica Spotify Playlist. 

Caribbean Journal will be regularly highlighting must-listen Spotify playlists featuring music from across the wider Caribbean region as we all work to get through the Coronavirus situation. 

Do you have a favorite Caribbean spotify playlist? Have you created one?

Send it to news@caribjournal.com with Caribbean Playlist in the subject line and we could feature it in an issue of CJ. 

— CJ

The post Jamaica Has a New Spotify Playlist for the “Irie Vibes” We Need appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Turks and Caicos has named a new director of tourism, the British Overseas Territory’s Tourist Board announced this week. 

Turks and Caicos has tapped Pamela Ewing for the role, effective April 1, according to a statement. 

Ewing had served as regional marketing manager for Turks and Caicos for the United States market since 2004. 

“The Ministry of Tourism welcomes the appointment of Pamela Ewing as Director of Tourism and as Minister I am confident that she will continue to be an excellent brand ambassador for the destination,” said Turks and Caicos Minister of Tourism, Ralph Higgs. “Her track record and standing throughout the industry and among our travel partners is exemplary and the TCI stands to benefit tremendously from her leadership in one of the most important sectors in our country. The entire country is pulling for you.”

Adelphine Pitter. chairman of the TCI Tourist Board, said Ewing had been chosen from a pool of 15 applicants for the post. 

“We look forward to working with [Ewing] to execute strategic plans to promote and position the Turks and Caicos Islands as the premier vacation destination in the Caribbean,” Pitter said. 

— CJ

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Aruba, one of the Caribbean’s most popular destinations, has launched a series of aggressive measures to contain and prevent the spread of the novel Coronavirus. 

The Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba has officially restricted all non-residents of Aruba from entering the island (although non-residents have been allowed to leave the island). 

On Thursday, Aruba stepped up its Coronavirus fight, mandating that all establishments close at 8 PM every day through March 31, 2020. 

That includes exceptions for restaurants offering drive-through or delivery, both of which will also close at 10 PM. 

Dining rooms will close at 8 PM. 

On March 19, all of Aruba’s casinos, movie theaters and gyms will have been closed, while all group sporting events will also have been canceled. 

“We understand this causes disruption to your travel plans, but your safety and the wellbeing of our locals continues to be our number one priority,” the Aruba Tourism Authority said in a statement. 

It’s a strong move by the destination both to help contain the spread of the coronavirus. 

More and more Caribbean destinations have been implementing aggressive measures, including similarly popular destinations like the Cayman Islands and Guadeloupe and, more recently, the region’s most-visited destination, the Dominican Republic, which has shut down its borders for a 15-day period. 

“As you can imagine, this decision does not come without serious consideration as tourism is the lifeline of the Aruban people,” the Aruba Tourism Authority said on its Web site. “However, our highest priority is the health and well-being of our people and our visitors.”

While the situation has put many hotels in the region in a difficult position, Aruba’s top hotel, the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, has launched a clever program to “bring” Aruba to travelers. 

It’s called #bringingbucutitoyou, and the aim is to “remind everyone of the beauty of Aruba and where they may travel to next.”

“Aruba is an island population completely dependent upon the tourism industry and at present, tourism is halted,” said Ewald Biemans, owner and CEO of Bucuti. “Please visit us as soon as you can and until then, enjoy our social media posts of our associates, who are sending the message that they are missing you.”  

The post Aruba Launches Aggressive Measures Against Coronavirus appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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It’s not been easy for destinations to address the uncertainty posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but one Caribbean country’s tourism authority has put out an important message. 

Balancing both the need to address the current situation and ensure that travelers keep the destination top of mind for the future, Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority CEO Colin C. James released a statement Thursday on COVID-19. 

“The safety and health of our citizens and visitors like you are of great importance to us,” James began. 

The ABTA has collaborated with the Ministry of Health and all relevant governmental departments and partners to ensure that measures are in place to both detect and prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus on the island, James said. 

Antigua and Barbuda has activated its health protocols and enacted the relevant travel advisories, he said. 

James said that if travelers’ plans had been affected, “we encourage you to contact your travel advisor, hotel or airline representative to reschedule your trip for a future date when we will all be ready for that much-needed getaway.”

In a strong message by one of the Caribbean’s leading tourism directors, James addressed both the destination’s efforts to address the pandemic and an important message about the future. 

It’s an important exemplar for other Caribbean tourism boards to follow: address the current uncertainty but also remind travelers that the Caribbean isn’t going anywhere. 

“We want you to have the utmost confidence that the two most beautiful islands in the world, Antigua and Barbuda, and our warm friendly people, will still be here and ready to welcome you as soon as you’re ready to travel again.”

Watch the full address below.

For more, visit Antigua and Barbuda. 

— CJ

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