About Us
Countrystyle was formed to be a catalyst for sustainable community tourism development in Jamaica and the Caribbean, through the marketing of community experiences and attractions to the world; targeting specifically the nature-culture-adventure traveler and other special interests markets. Countrystyle Community Tours targets travelers who desire an authentic, diverse and meaningful experience in the destination, through a new level of relationship with the people.
We specialize in the ‘Community Experience of Jamaica’; an invitation to experience the ‘many Jamaica’s and the many Jamaicans’. We package tours according to interests and budget, including an all-inclusive community experience. [See tour packages]
Our specialty is providing you with the opportunity to be with the people in their daily lives. We invite our guest not to be tourist, but visitors and life-long friends of Jamaica. Our tour packages have had a track record for providing our guests with a secure, unique and personalized hospitality, which is highly experiential; including experiences which go beyond the beach and into the villages and unique attractions which the regular tourist does not experience. [View Testimonials]
Countrystyle’s history is best tracked in the history of Community Tourism which was pioneered on the South Coast of Jamaica in the 1970’s by Diana McIntyre-Pike and former director of tourism Desmond Henry. [See Community Tourism and Its History]
We go beyond being a destination management company and include a Community Tourism Network, which seeks to build relationships within communities in order to assist in the building and facilitation of a community’s development vision.
The network goes beyond building relationships within communities but extend to building a capacity of local, regional and international partners, organizations and professionals who have a direct intent and purpose to assist and help communities in their sustainable development path.
We believe that the potential and passions of the people within communities hold the key to a nation’s development. Tourism has the power to establish an international image and brand for communities and we look to use that power to sustainably provide the opportunity for entrepreneurs to feed into and piggy back on the collective image/brand of a community.
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Tourism marketing produces ‘people flow’ into an area, and through a responsible and sustainable approach, the entrepreneurship spirit within the community can come to the fore and capitalize on the influx of both domestic and international tourist.
Building a community as a destination involves many steps and stages which involve partnership. However, the key value and step is sensitizing communities about their potential, seeking their buy in, and allowing them to form their own visions based on their own passions, sense of identity and economic desires. At each step we seek to provide whatever support we can and invite others to become a member of our community, which has no borders, but a borderless bountiful presence.
The Countrystyle team is headed by the dynamic leadership of Diana McIntyre-Pike (chairman CEO) and Barry Bonitto (managing director). |
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