Symposium on challenges and lessons in the response to HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean tourism sector

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Challenges encountered and lessons learnt by the tourism sector in its implementation of programs and projects related to HIV and AIDS will come under the microscope next Wednesday, March 11.

This will be discussed when the Barbados Ministry of Tourism, under its Management, Prevention and Control Project, hosts a one-day symposium for its stakeholders on

HIV/AIDS, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Two Mile Hill, from 8:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

The key aims of the symposium are to address issues of HIV/AIDS as they relate to the visitor and to examine the impact of the disease on the human resources in the tourism sector.

The symposium will fullfill part of the National HIV/AIDS Policy, which, in part seeks to ensure that all tourism stakeholders receive the tools necessary to aid in preventing the transmission of HIV/AIDS and to manage and diminish the impact of HIV.

Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy, will deliver the feature address at 9:00 a.m. Tourism Development Officer, with responsibility for the Management, Prevention and Control Project for HIV/AIDS, Madge Dalrymple, will provide an overview on the challenges and lessons learnt in Barbados, while Professor Ian Boxill of the University of the West Indies will address the issue of Tourism and HIV/AIDS in Jamaica and the Bahamas.

Preliminary findings from the Barbados local survey “The 4th “S” – A Survey of Tourists Sexual Attitudes and Behaviour When Visiting Barbados” will also be revealed by Dr. Joan Phillips.

Barbados’ surveillance report, done by the Ministry of Health, will also be shared with participants.