THE RAINFOREST BOBSLED JAMAICA at Mystic Mountain adventure attraction in Ocho Rios has been named “Best Attraction” by the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association (JHTA) in Jamaica for 2008.  The attraction’s late Director of Marketing, Barbara Lulich Drakulich, was honored with the “The President’s Award” for her contributions in tourism marketing for Brand Jamaica, as well as several local properties and programs.

“We are humbled by the awards, particularly since Mystic Mountain is such a new attraction on the Jamaica tourism landscape,” said Mike Drakulich, Co-owner/Managing Director of Mystic Mountain.  “A lot of effort has been expanded by a team of committed Jamaicans to ensure we developed and run a world-class attraction and this award is a great source of encouragement for us.”

Mr. Drakulich said he was particularly thankful for the honor bestowed on his late wife, Barbara Lulich Drakulich, who died recently. “She loved Jamaica and did everything to position the brand positively in key overseas markets”.

The JHTA hailed Barbara Lulich Drakulich as a stalwart of the industry, commending her significant contribution to the Jamaica Tourist Board and JTHA’s “Passport to Reward” program to boost tourism in light of new regulation requiring all US citizens carry passports when traveling abroad.  Barbara Lulich Drakulich was also praised for her successful launches of the Sunset Resorts Group and Mystic Mountain, as well as notable contributions to Air Jamaica Vacations, and the JTB/JHTA Marketing Committee.

The awards were presented at the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association’s 48th Anniversary Awards Luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort on May 11, 2009. Celebrating service excellence and dedication to hospitality, the awards resulted from nominations and deliberations by JHTA members island-wide.

The 10-month old Mystic Mountain, covering more than 100 acres and is over 700ft above sea level, supports a diverse ecosystem of natural springs, tropical foliage, native trees and a variety of colorful bird species. It features a unique Jamaican aerial tour through lush tropical forest, a chair lift journey over verdant countryside, bobsledding in warm climes, a zip-line canopy adventure through tree tops, an island culture and heritage centre as well as mountain top dining and shopping venues.

Mystic Mountain recently unveiled an Athletics Pavilion, including displays of Jamaica’s sporting legends and personalities, and a Beijing 2008 exhibit celebrating the unprecedented performance of Team Jamaica in China last year, including “world’s fastest man”, Usain Bolt.

The JHTA hailed Mystic Mountain as “a welcomed addition to Jamaica’s menu of attractions, describing it as an “economical, exhilarating, environmentally friendly attraction that has created enormous excitement in the marketplace since its brief inception.”

Of particular note was the developers’ close attention to minimizing environmental impact, evidenced by installation using helicopters to significantly reduce ground disturbance.

ABOUT MYSTIC MOUNTAIN:
Mystic Mountain is situated on over 100 acres of land containing a diverse ecosystem including natural springs, tropical plants, trees and a variety of birds. Mystic Mountain exemplifies the natural, unspoiled beauty of Jamaica; the tours and rides have been carefully designed for minimal impact and the smallest possible physical footprint. During construction, the chairlift foundations were installed by helicopter which significantly reduced disturbance to the environment and eliminated any need for a roadway to transport equipment.  The latest design in chairlift towers – the "F" tower – was also specifically selected to dramatically reduce impact to the forest environment. More than 1000 meters of bobsled track were hand carried through the forest, while the track was laid hugging natural limestone cliffs through the sloping hilly interior. The area can now be considered protected from de-forestation and urban sprawl.