CASTRIES, St. Lucia – A leading airline executive lauded the upcoming Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx) – slated for St. Lucia December 6 to 10, 2007 – stating the “continued ventilation of ideas about the Caribbean’s economic bedrock – tourism – between the media, the youth and tourism stakeholders is important for airlines and for the industry.”
“Journalists and editors tell the stories of our nations and in so doing contribute to our personal and corporate development,” said Air Jamaica’s Vice President of Sales, George deMercado, who added, “Air Jamaica thought it was important to support the convening of CMEx as a professional development workshop for media and tourism stakeholders alike.”
George deMercado of Air Jamaica (right) with St. Lucia’s Minister of Tourism, Senator Allen Chastanet, and hotelier Berthia Parle of St. Lucia’s Bay Gardens Resorts
Recognizing the geographic pull of the media exchange, the airline executive said “We are honoured to have such a mutually rewarding relationship with the media at home in Jamaica, St. Lucia and the wider Caribbean, and abroad in North America and Europe.”
With additional flights to St. Lucia in place for the busy holiday season, Caribbean carrier Air Jamaica has pledged strong support for the key media event on the “Simply Beautiful” island. “Air Jamaica is committed to the use of sustainable tourism to enhance the lives, health, wealth and culture of destinations we serve and CMEx is a unique forum for us to promote and develop these goals,” he asserted.
Thanking Air Jamaica for its generous support, Lelei LeLaulu, president of Counterpart International – producers of CMEx – said the St. Lucia meeting, had attracted participants from across the English, French, Dutch and Spanish Caribbean along with some major international media representatives. “This will be another thought-provoking session which among other things looks at the international ranking of island destinations,” he said.
The environment, Caribbean marketing, public relations, tourism linkages, economic development, and the concerns of the youth also will be highlighted during the conference which includes a practical look at what Destination St. Lucia is doing to foster sustainable tourism development.
