KINGSTON, Jamaica – Given the challenges facing the global tourist industry, sector leaders will converge on Jamaica’s tourist capital Montego Bay for the second annual Tourism Outlook Seminar on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at the Ritz Carlton Rose Hall Hotel to examine the way forward for this key industry in Jamaica.
This year’s event builds on the inaugural seminar held in Kingston last year where local and international stakeholders within the tourist industry gathered to discuss issues critical to Jamaica’s development and devise strategies to move the industry forward.
The one-day event, which will involve the participation of several stakeholders from various sections of the local industry, has also attracted a number of international participants. The issues to be addressed relate to the impact of the economic crisis on the global industry, status of the regional marketing strategy, developments in the cruise industry, challenges facing the accommodation sector, airlift, emerging markets and Jamaica’s vision for the sustainability of the industry.
Honorable Edmund Bartlett
According to Minister of Tourism, the Honorable Edmund Bartlett, “The Annual Tourism Outlook Seminar represents a wonderful opportunity where persons in the industry can come together to critically assess the state of tourism and collectively discuss how the industry can move forward”.
With tourism being the main source of foreign exchange for Jamaica’s economy, the Tourism Minister noted that significant strides have been made as government seeks to ensure tourism is treated as an export industry and accorded its rightful place in the national accounts.
Director of Tourism, John Lynch believes that despite the challenges facing tourism worldwide, the prospect for Jamaica’s tourism is encouraging, adding that an aggressive advertising strategy supported by strong public relations is being pursued. “The event affords a greater level of cooperation and consensus among the various players, which is vital to the continued and sustained growth of Jamaica’s industry,” he explains.
A distinguished list of speakers has again been invited including Director General and CEO of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, Alec Sanguinetti; Executive Director of the Caribbean Council in the UK, David Jessop; Interim Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, Hugh Riley; Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), Mr. Bill Maloney; Professor of Tourism Management and Director of the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute COTRI Dr. Wolfgang Arlt; Vice President of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association Adam Cesarano and Secretary General ad Interim of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Taleb Rifai.
To register for the seminar, visit www.visitjamaica/tourismseminar or call (876) 908-5242/5.
