Actress Vivica Fox with 2006 Destination Wedding winners Darryle and Clay Bodie of Long Island. View photos»

It will be Valentine's Day every day during the month of June in Antigua and Barbuda as the country launches Passion in Paradise 2007 promotion on Wednesday.

After the successful launch of the 2006 campaign "Passion in Paradise," The Tourism Office in the United States will launch the 2007 campaign, in conjunction with KISS FM Radio in Atlanta. The promotion will also be featured in several print, radio and on-line media outlets throughout the United States.

A new feature of this year's promotion will be the Diamond Hunt, a contest intended to attract more couples to experience the allure and adventure that the twin island destination has to offer. The promotion, sponsored by Columbian Emeralds, will feature five designated love nests in Antigua and Barbuda - Nelson's Dockyard, Shirley Heights, Wallings Dam, Devil's Bridge and Martello Towers in Barbuda.

These love nests have been cited by residents and visitors alike, as being some of the most romantic respites that help to ignite passions, rekindle relationships and elicit ardent emotions and tender moments. Couples visiting Antigua and Barbuda between March 1 and June 25, 2007 are encouraged to visit one of these five designated love nests and submit a 100-word blog of their romantic experience and a digital photo. A winning couple will be selected from the most romantic story submissions and will receive a diamond band with a retail value of $5,000 USD from Columbian Emeralds..

The highlight of the 2006 “Passion in Paradise” promotion was the Destination Wedding Contest in collaboration with Jolie Magazine. The event which took place at the Occidental Grand Pineapple, received significant media exposure and was attended by actress Vivica Fox, Editor-at-Large for Jolie Magazine. This year's promotion will once again feature a destination wedding contest in conjunction with Jolie Magazine and Vivica Fox has already indicated that she is looking forward to this year's festivities and plans to invite some of her celebrity colleagues.

Director of Tourism in the US Derede Samuel-Whitlock commented, “Last year's promotion was very effective and the destination witnessed a 16% increase in US visitor arrivals during the month June, which has traditionally been a very soft month for the tourism industry. The US Team expects this year's promotion to be even more exciting, as the official opening of the new Mediterranean Village at Sandals is also slated for the month of June.”

In light of the many accolades that the destination has received in the romance category, including "Best Wedding Island," “Highest Marriage Rate,” and Sandals Antigua - “The World's Most Romantic Resort,“ it is the intention of the Ministry of Tourism to brand the destination as the “Romance Capital of the Caribbean.” (Ends)