MONTEGO BAY, St James — Leo Schlesinger, chief executive officer of Tortuga Resorts which recently acquired Hyatt Hotels’ interest in Playa Hotels & Resorts brand, says Jamaica’s greatest competitive tourism advantage is its culture and people — which no other destination can reproduce.

“Many countries have beautiful beaches. Anyone can copy a beach [but] nobody can copy Jamaican culture — that is Jamaica’s true competitive advantage,” Schlesinger told the St James East Central Scholarship and Welfare Fund’s annual tertiary awards at Montego Bay Convention Centre last Thursday.

According to Schlesinger, the warmth, energy, music, food, humour and authenticity associated with Jamaica give the island a distinctive appeal in the global tourism marketplace.