PRESS RELEASE - 2011
Montserrat population outnumbered by Facebook fans Montserrat's local population has been truly and decidedly outnumbered by its online fan base PRESS RELEASE - 2011
Brades, Montserrat (April 5, 2011) - The Facebook census is in. The island of Montserrat's local population has been truly and decidedly outnumbered by its online fan base. On-line Facebook fans just passed the 5,477 mark while on-island residents total only 5,039.
'What other country in the world can say they have more Facebook fans than actual residents?'said Ernestine Cassell, Director of Tourism for the Montserrat Tourism Board. 'We believe this is a new first for Facebook: certainly it's notable for Montserrat. We've done this without games or gimmicks or giveaways; it happened the old-fashioned way, with love of a place. And our unique and often quirky little island is easy to love.'
Launched in April 2009, Montserrat's fan page keeps its solid community of followers up to date with events, activities and the latest developments on the island. It also serves as an interactive platform where people share images, post reviews, exchange ideas and get in touch directly with the Montserrat Tourism Board (MTB).
Offering scenic beauty, a laid back atmosphere and old-world Caribbean charm, 40-acre Montserrat also provides thrill-seekers with the added bonus of getting up close and personal with an active volcano. Known as the 'Other Emerald Isle,'the Irish Caribbean island is the only country outside of Ireland to celebrate St. Patrick's Day as a national holiday. Montserrat gets its Irish roots from its early Irish Catholic settlers. There's a touch of Ireland in its looks, sounds and even tastes. The harp and the female figure on the island's flag and official seal are derived from Irish heraldry and the local speech is softly laced with Irish brogue. Even the national dish, Goat Water, a stew made of kid or mutton and spiced with cloves and rum, is of Irish origin.
Famous for being a celebrity hangout during the 1980s, the island was once the home of the world renowned AIR Studios where music greats such as the Rolling Stones, Sting, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Dire Straits and Duran Duran, recorded with legendary Beatles producer, Sir George Martin. After being battered by hurricane Hugo in 1989, Montserrat received another blow when the island's once dormant volcano awoke with a series of eruptions that covered the southern half of the island with ash and mudflows, transformed its capital city, Plymouth into a modern day Pompeii and forced the displacement of more than two thirds of its population overseas.
Today, the destination's remaining residents live in the northernmost third of the island, which has been declared a safe area, where the geological phenomena can still be viewed from a safe distance. As the island continues to steadily grow and develop, it maintains that feeling of 'the way the Caribbean used to be'and attracts travelers from far and wide looking to experience the quintessential island getaway.
About Montserrat
Montserrat, the only country outside of Ireland to celebrate St. Patrick's Day as a national holiday, is a lush green and mountainous island of approximately 39 square miles that lies in the Eastern Caribbean chain of islands. Known fondly as the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean, this pear shaped island is a traveler's paradise for nature lovers, divers, adventurers, family and villa vacationers, and honeymooners. This British overseas territory boasts the spectacular Soufri?re Hills Volcano, a modern day Pompeii in the form of its buried former capital city Plymouth, alongside lush, green mountains, world class nature trails, deserted dark sand beaches, untouched reefs and a quiet friendly charm reminiscent of the way the Caribbean used to be.
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