Minors in Jamaica for Tourism Meeting
The Minister of Business Development and Tourism Patrice Minors, is currently in Jamaica participating in the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s (CTO) Ministers meetings, as well as the Caribbean Hotel Association’s Caribbean Marketplace 2011. The events are taking place from January 16 – 18.
Joining Minister Minors at this weekend’s Montego Bay event are representatives from the Island’s hotels, including the Fairmont Group, Elbow Beach, the Reefs, Cambridge Beaches, Tucker’s Point, Newstead Belmont Hills, Grotto Bay and Coco Reef.
The respective properties have their services and amenities on full display at the event. The Caribbean Marketplace 2011 is an annual event, and considered an important tourism networking event in the Caribbean. The show attracts roughly 3,500 tourism individuals representing hotels, destination management companies, airlines and other transportation outfits, key media and more.
This morning (Jan 16) Minister Minors met with a small group of Bermudian hoteliers and shared Government’s vision and support for the Island’s tourism industry.
The Minister pointed out that she is “keen to acknowledge and celebrate the successes that were shared this morning despite the local and international economic climate”, and was heartened by the passion expressed by the hoteliers to increase the number of visitors in a collective and collaborative matter.
Following the morning meeting, Minister Minors took part in a working lunch for CTO Ministers. There, the Minister discussed plans on growing the business tourism sector both in Bermuda and the Caribbean.
This evening Minister Minors will be hosting an appreciation dinner for the Island’s key business drivers – such as tour operators, travel agents and online travel service sites , such as Expedia.
Minister Minors said today, “This event was a wonderful networking opportunity for us. The Caribbean Marketplace 2011 provides us a great platform in which to showcase what our Island has to offer, such as our hotel properties, restaurants, our golf product and our many other amenities.
“For me it was the first time meeting my fellow Caribbean Ministerial colleagues. And the occasion served as a wonderful opportunity to deliberate and exchange ideas and information about areas of mutual interest in surrounding region.”
In April, Bermuda will welcome many from the region, when the Island hosts the CTO’s 12th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism from April 3-6 at the Fairmont Southampton.
The theme for the conference, which is being jointly planned by the CTO and the Bermuda Department of Tourism, is “Keeping the Right Balance: Rising Above the Numbers”.
The conference is part of the regional awareness component of CTO’s Strategy for Sustainable Tourism. It looks at how member states can design and implement sustainable tourism policies and programmes, offering a regional forum for information exchange on the successes and pitfalls of national, regional and international initiatives.
HOPE YOU LEARN FROM THE MEETINGS!!!
Govt have been attending “Conferences” for years…and what good has it done our tourism industry? If the guy picking up my trash has to take a pay cut, then I think our ministers can do us all a favour and pass on these good-for-nothing expensive conferences. We don’t need these conferences to network and share information.
We do not need to attend any conferences or hire any consultants to tell us what the problem is..Plan and Simple Bermuda has “outpriced” itself for many years now…All the repeat visitors that we had back in the day are up in age or have passed on..the younger generation do not have the funds.therefore they travel to places where they can get more bang for their buck!!!! Bermuda is too EXSPENSIVE…that’s it..that’s the answer!!!!
Co-Sign!!