Ocho Rios twins with Poland”s Ostrodo
Jul 13, 2018
OCHO RIOS AND POLAND’S OSTRÓDA OFFICIALLY BECOME TWIN TOWNS
Mayor of Ostroda, Czeslaw Najmowicz (left) and Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay, His Worship Michael Belnavis (right), as they display the instrument depicting the twinning of the cities Ostróda in Poland and Ocho Rios in Jamaica
KINGSTON, JAMAICA – July 12, 2018 – The Jamaica Tourist Board recognizes with pride the announcement that Ostróda in Poland has signed a partnership agreement with Ocho Rios in Jamaica, to become twin towns. The agreement was signed at the Ostróda Castle during the official visit of the Jamaican delegation led by Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay and Chairman of the St Ann Municipal Corporation, His Worship Michael Belnavis.
Discussions of the partnership began in 2016, when the organizers of the Ostróda Reggae Festival visited Jamaica and presented the idea to the Polish Honorary Consul, Irena Cousins. The official proposal was presented to the St. Ann Municipal Corporation by Milena ÅÂukasiewicz, Chargé d’Affaires at the Polish Embassy in Caracas.
(L-R) Mayor of Ostroda, Czeslaw Najmowicz, Gregory Shervington, Jamaica Tourist Board’s Regional Director, Continental Europe and Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay, His Worship Michael Belnavis during the ceremony commemorating the twinning of Ostróda and Ocho Rios
“Cultural and tourist exchanges between Ostróda and Ocho Rios will be a wonderful opportunity for Jamaica and Poland to learn more about each other’s cultures and customs,” said Donovan White, Director of Tourism. “One of the elements connecting our diverse destinations is our leading reggae festivals, namely Jamaica’s Reggae Sumfest and Rebel Salute and the Ostróda Reggae Festival. We certainly look forward to other opportunities for cultural cooperation.”
This year marks the 18th edition of the Ostróda Reggae Festival, dubbed the largest reggae party in Central Europe. Over the years, the festival has showcased over 1,000 performers on three stages including hundreds of Jamaican artists as well as welcomed over 100,000 attendees.
Ocho Rios is a popular resort region in Jamaica and the location of the reggae festival, Rebel Salute. Held annually around January 15 for the past 25 years, it is one of Jamaica”s biggest music festivals, known for its focus on roots and conscious music.
The modern concept of town twinning, conceived after the Second World War in 1947, was intended to foster friendship and understanding between different cultures and between former foes as an act of peace and reconciliation, and to encourage trade and tourism. By the 2000s, town twinning became increasingly used to form strategic international business links between member cities.
For more information about Jamaica, please go to www.visitjamaica.com.
About Jamaica Tourist Board
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica’s national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. JTB offices are also located in Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are located in Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam and Mumbai.
TripAdvisor® ranked Jamaica as the #1 Caribbean Destination and #14 Best Destination in the World in 2018. Also this year, the International Council of the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) named Jamaica the Best Destination for Adventure Tourism and TravAlliance Media named the JTB the Best Tourism Board Overall. Additionally, the JTB has been declared the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board by the World Travel Awards (WTA) for eleven consecutive years between 2006 and 2017. In 2017, Jamaica also earned the WTA’s award for the Caribbean’s Leading Wedding Destination and the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination. Jamaica is home to some of the world’s best accommodations, attractions and service providers that have won several awards throughout the years.
For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Jamaica go to the JTB’s Web site at www.visitjamaica.com or call the Jamaica Tourist Board at 1-800-JAMAICA (1-800-526-2422). Follow the JTB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube. View the JTB blog atwww.islandbuzzjamaica.com.
