November 1, 2023 – After a hiatus of 5 years, the Caribbean Tourism Group’s (CTO) flagship occasion, the State of the Tourism Trade Convention (SOTIC) kicked off on October 11 at The Shore Membership in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.
Bringing collectively authorities and personal sector tourism leaders from its member nations beneath the theme “Make investments. Innovate. Encourage – A New Mannequin for Caribbean Tourism Progress”, SOTIC gives stakeholders a singular alternative to collaboratively study tourism funding and financing within the Caribbean.
Presiding over the convention for the primary time, Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-Basic and CEO of the intergovernmental physique, invited delegates to share their views on how greatest to invigorate the Caribbean tourism business and set up environment friendly frameworks for affluent public-private partnerships throughout the two-day convention, which adopted two days of vacation spot briefings for members of the media and enterprise conferences.
“Tourism Funding and Financing within the Caribbean” was the main target for the displays and panels happening on Wednesday, October 11, whereas delegates explored “Drivers for Caribbean Tourism Progress” as an overarching subject on Thursday, October 12.
Welcoming travel- and tourism-focused journalists from the Caribbean, Latin America, america, Canada and the UK in addition to native media, Josephine Connolly, Minister of Tourism for the Turks and Caicos Islands, introduced a complete overview of the archipelago’s tourism product, its tradition and historical past, and plans
Following the Turks and Caicos presentation, invited media obtained vacation spot briefings and updates from tourism representatives of different CTO member nations and territories in attendance, together with Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, St. Martin, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Tobago.
This system, on the onset, additionally included a gathering of the CTO Govt Committee, whereas conferences of the CTO Board of Administrators and the Council of Tourism Ministers and Commissioners happened the day following.
Displays and panel discussions at SOTIC addressed matters akin to Sustainable Financing for Caribbean Tourism; Views on Funding Traits, Partnerships and Maximizing Tourism Progress; Methods for Positioning Caribbean Tourism for New Funding Alternatives; Sustainability: The New Device within the Vacation spot Advertising and marketing Combine; Aviation Competitiveness within the Caribbean; Digital Transformation in Tourism – a Roadmap for the Caribbean; Participating the filmed leisure business to advance Caribbean tourism: Alternatives and Challenges; and Stakeholders Communicate Out on the Path In the direction of Tourism Progress within the context of the TCI Expertise.
The convention agenda rolled out a recorded video message from the United Nations World Tourism Group (UNWTO), and a keynote tackle, delivered by Franz Rojas-Ortuste, Director of Water and Sanitation Evaluation Division at CAF – Growth Financial institution of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Along with ministers and commissioners of tourism and different associated ministries; administrators and chief executives of tourism authorities, boards and vacation spot advertising and marketing organizations; and members of the media, SOTIC facilitated the participation of regional and worldwide representatives from funding entities, funding establishments, airways, cruise traces, lodging suppliers, property builders, and academia in significant discussions round main points impacting the event of the area’s tourism sector.
The CTO’s common Caribbean Tourism Youth Congress, which invitations college students between the ages of 14 and 17 from CTO member nations and territories to analysis numerous sides of the tourism sector and share their concepts and imaginative and prescient about future instructions for Caribbean tourism, was held on Friday, October 13, at Seashores Turks and Caicos. Following the coed displays, Naomi Onwufuju of the British Virgin Islands received the title of Regional Junior Minister of Tourism for 2023-2024, which incorporates service as a youth ambassador for her vacation spot and the area for one yr.
SOTIC 2023 concluded with a press convention and wrap-up instantly following the Youth Congress proceedings.
Picture Caption: The Caribbean Tourism Group’s Govt Committee met in Providenciales on Monday. From left are Marie McKenzie (Carnival); CTO Allied Chairman William Griffith; Nicola Madden-Greig (CHTA); Latia Duncombe (Bahamas); CTO Chairman Rosa Harris (Cayman Islands); Trevor Sadler (InterCaribbean Airways); CTO Secretary-Basic Dona Regis-Prosper; Lorine St. Jules (St. Lucia); CTO Director of Finance Neil Walters; and Racquel Brown (Turks and Caicos).
