Grenada is back and alive

Grenada Board of Tourism makes stop in St. Vincent

Thinking of your vacation, wedding, honeymoon or engagement -well “Let’s Go Grenada”.

This is Grenada Board of Tourism’s (GBT) 2006 regional promotion.

After two devastating hurricanes that struck the island back to back in 2004 and 2005, the GBT wants the world to know the spice isle of the Caribbean has recovered and it is the ideal place on earth to be in 2006.{{more}}

On Thursday, March 30, representatives of GBT conducting a regional trade show made a whistle stop at Roy’s Inn, along with hoteliers of the Flamboyant Hotel, Fox Inn, Gem Holiday Beach Resort, Monmot Hotel and Paradise Bay Villas.

Naline Joseph, the GBT’s Head of Marketing, addressing members of the media and travel agents, said it was an honour to represent her country to bring the good news of recovery.

She also noted that it was a privilege on behalf of the GBT to thank the Vincentian media and travel agents for their continued support, as well as convincing their clients that Grenada is back and alive.

Joseph noted that after the passage of Hurricanes Ivan and Emily, Grenada’s Prime Minister Keith Mitchell identified tourism as the main engine to propel the economy out of crisis.

In 2004 the GBT led its marketing campaign by a public relations strategy dubbed “The Spice Lives”. Joseph said that was an opportunity where they gave the media and travel agents an update about Grenada’s progress with regard to utilities, telecommunications, electricity services, and the road network.

Five months later the slogan “Building Back Better” was introduced. Joseph explained this was made possible through government concessions and incentives, and international and regional assistance. During that time the country’s building code and standards were reexamined and as a result more emphasis was placed on greater planning and the resilience of the Grenadian people.

And in October-December 2005 another campaign called “Grenada Back in Action” was launched. This has set the platform for the new campaign “Let’s Go Grenada”

Noni Francis of the Flamboyant Hotel, stating the goal of the trade show, said the GBT was seeking to promote good working relations among Grenadians, hoteliers and the travel trade partners in St.Vincent and the Grenadines to provide warm hospitality, excellent services and the necessary settings to make each visitor’s stay in Grenada a very memorable and lasting one.

Francis said the country now offers a wide range of accommodation facilities, which include hotels up to five star level, seaside and garden resorts, apartments and villas as well as guesthouses and other services that support the tourism industry. She added that many of Grenada’s properties also cater for business travelers, providing conference facilities with modern communication equipment.

“We invite you to make Grenada a second home for yourself and your clients especially since our two islands have so much in common,” said Francis.

And visitors to Grenada were told not to miss the new Fish Friday Festival, taking place every Friday from 5pm until midnight, with cultural entertainment some evenings, in the Fishing Village of Goyave, in the parish of St.John’s.

The ceremony was attended by Minister of Housing, Julian Francis and Jill McIntyre of the St.Vincent and the Grenadines Ministry of Tourism.