The Jamaica Tourist Board was awarded first prize in Das goldene Stadttor (the Golden City Gate) award in the category of TV spot advertisement at the international travel trade conference ITB Berlin, last week.

The award, in its ninth year this year, is part of one of the most prestigious film festivals in Europe, the Grand Prix CIFFT (The International Committee of Tourism Film Festivals). It is organised by Huschert Film + Medien GmBH, considered the ‘Oscars’ of European tourism film and judged by prominent representatives of the German tourism marketing industry, from sectors including media, banking, hotels, tour operators and car rental.

Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett received the award, presented by Wolfgang Jo Huschert, President of Huschert Film + Medien GmBH and chairman of Das goldene Stadttor International Tourism Film Competition, for the most recent campaign starring Usain Bolt.

important market

Minister Bartlett said, “The German market remains enormously important to the Jamaican tourism industry. In 2009, Jamaica saw 20,220 visitors from Germany, representing a 6.6 per cent rise on 2008, showing that even in a recession, the German market is still resilient.

“The tourism industry here in Germany has reacted particularly well to the new commercial. Usain Bolt is a hugely popular figure in the country, following the World Athletics Championships in Berlin in August last year,” said the minister.

Tens of thousands of Germans watched the Jamaican athletics team dominate the games, taking home 13 medals including both men’s and women’s 4×100-metre relays. The world’s fastest man, Jamaica’s very own Usain Bolt, beat his own record, securing a time of 9.58 seconds in the 100 metres.

The award-winning adverts can be viewed at the following links:

‘Speed‘

‘Stop‘

‘Pose‘