Minister Attending Caribbean Tourism Conference
Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport Owen Darrell is attending the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s conference in the Cayman Islands.
A Government spokesperson said, “The contribution of tourism to Bermuda’s economy and aggressively promoting the island as a business and leisure destination are some of the topics of focus when the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Sen. the Hon. Owen K. Darrell, JP, attends the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s [CTO] State of the Tourism Industry Conference [SOTIC].
“Taking place September 2 – 6, in the Cayman Islands, this year’s theme, “Caribbean Tourism: Fuelling our Lifeblood,” will explore the industry’s evolving dynamics and highlight strategies for a sustainable, resilient future.
“The SOTIC is the Caribbean’s foremost platform for addressing critical issues shaping the region’s tourism sector. It gathers a diverse array of regional and global leaders, thought leaders, decision-makers, and influencers to discuss competitiveness and sustainable growth within the industry.
“While at the conference, Minister Darrell will provide an overview of Bermuda’s tourism performance to date and share some of the latest visitor stats.”
Minister Darrell said, “I am pleased to be representing Bermuda once again at the CTO’s gathering and equally excited to be joining key industry leaders at this year’s conference.
“Bermuda has had a brisk tourism season so far. During the SOTIC there is a comprehensive briefing for all member countries. I look forward to updating on our progress by sharing such performance led contributions as:
- An 11.4% increase in air arrivals and a 6.1% increase in business travel for the first half of the year;
- Bermuda welcomed 234,790 cruise passengers, up 12.3% from last year for the first half of the year;
- Bermuda’s yacht arrivals almost doubled, with 725 yachts visiting between January and June; and
- The fact that this latest quarter saw tourism contribute $132.3 million to the local economy.”
The spokesperson added, “Also while at the meeting, Minister Darrell will meet with other regional Tourism Ministers, including the current and outgoing CTO chairman, Minister of Tourism and Ports of the Cayman Islands, the Hon. Kenneth Bryan.
“The public will note that Mr. Bryan recently visited the island for the Bermuda Day festivities in May of this year for a regional cultural exchange. Minister Bryan is completing his term as CTO Chair, and the membership will elect a new chairman during this week’s meeting.
The Minister concluded, “Valuable insights on the future of tourism investment, leveraging innovation, economic development and sustainability in the region will be discussed at these meetings, and it’s beneficial that Bermuda is present. This is a great opportunity for all stakeholders to share ideas and network to find common solutions to ensure that we all thrive.”
The Minister returns to Bermuda on Thursday.
Total waste of money and time. Bermuda is not the Caribbean and cannot compete with what the Caribbean offers. Bermuda has to market itself as being different, as it was when it was viewed as part of “old England’. The problem these days is to identify what Bermuda has to offer as a destination as it has lost its way trying to be like everywhere else, aided by political ideology.
Visit the Caribbean and you are greeted by and looked after by locals. Visit Bermuda and you can barely understand what the Maitre D or wait staff are saying.
Bermuda has to decide what product it is selling, not trying to persuade visitors to buy something that doesn’t exist. 35km speed limit being a prime example as deceptive marketing.
“Bermuda has to market itself as being different, as it was when it was viewed as part of “old England’.”
That is not going to happen. The PLP Government hates everything British (except the trinkets).
Life saving vaccinations for free, those are hardly trinkets. Assistance if we are ever invaded ( close proximity to US so a wonderful target for Russia. Russia very much like invading countries and are trying to orchestrate a new world order with Belarus, China, Mongolia, Iran, some African countries and India… I think protection from that is priceless. Britain would defend Bermuda, see Falklands Malvinas.
Safe travels, Minister
What did he get those gawd awful-looking shoes to wear with that expensive-looking suit?
What is happening with the Southampton Princess, when is the hotel fully opening?
“September 2020: The Fairmont Southampton’s closure for renovations, projected to last 18 months, is announced. More than 700 employees will be made redundant.
February 2022:Burt says investors plan to inject more than $200 million into the project and tells MPs the hotel will reopen by summer 2023, or in time to accommodate large conferences by October.
“or in time to accommodate large conferences by October”
Did he say which October?
When CCTV was recently introduced to Bermuda , the people here were not to happy about that, claiming a loss of their privacy also being treated as criminals not a very pleasant feeling to live with .
So Give over. !
Bermuda as a country and no the only one having Sun , Sandy beaches and Gormet food .
Bermuda is also being watched by our competition .
Not such a pleasant feeling either .
The government and the people want something new but dont realy know what they want.
Get real !
We are what we are, an up market destination. we are very special and need keep it that way.
As the new generation come along they will need to fit in with what works , sorry guys it is the way it is .
Let me give you an example the young Digicel staff are exceptional in what they do and courtiouse.
This is not about what we want, it is about what our visitors who are seasoned visitors expecting as a vacation to be remembered , if not they are not coming back .
From us they are looking for, its called service with a smile unfortuately no body is smiling for two reasons.
Dont ask !
Bermuda and its Big Shots need a turn their act around from its negative thinking or we are done for.
95% of our tourist accomadation are foreign owned and they are not about to be dictared too,so 95% of our tourist income also leave the island.
I have said before “we are living of the skin of the rice pudding ”
as the winners grabs all.
The out cry is Bermuda is too expensive caused by tax over load.
We have to face up to global warming and change our season better still eliminate the season all together because it is restrictive we are shooting our selve in the foot .
The latest buck pass was creating a new tourist departnment they are an escape goat.
Many will say , What can i do about that the answer is simple .Not a thing !
Do not ingnore the people.
The Police know who the criminals are and what they are up to ,after all, Bermuda is not that big and every body know one another and who the buyers and sellers are.
We also know when Bermuda took a down turn and a giant leap backwards, some 25 years ago .
So long as we barely exist as a devided nation all the prayers living in lost hope will get us absolutely no where.
Owen …. good buddy no more trips
Be at the airport to shake the hand of every visitor come here.
We must never forget that :-
“We have to give to get ”
What is wrong with the NEW AIRPORT. is it a dead city ?