Jamaica’s Director General of Tourism to Receive African Diaspora Hall of Fame Award

Carrole Ann Marie Guntley, Director General, in Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture has been nominated to receive a Hall of Fame Tourism Award at the African Diaspora World Tourism Award on April 27, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. The three-day event will be held at the Airport Marriott Hotel April 26-28, 2013.

Kitty Pope, founder and producer of the African Diaspora World Tourism Awards & Travel Expo sets the stage by explaining the reason for the creation of the awards. “An award ceremony of this type is needed because we have shining stars who have worked hard to push forth agendas related to black culture and heritage tourism. There is the annual World Travel Awards that is the 'Oscars' of the travel industry; but because of its uniqueness, I feel that a separate, special event is needed for the culture and heritage contributions of people of African descent.”

The Director General has worked in tourism for over 31 years and has held her current position as Director General in the Ministry of Tourism since 1999. The consummate leader and innovator, she was instrumental in helping to create a sustainable tourism development Master Plan and initiated a policy, which provided short-term incentives for the attractions, villas and apartment sectors.