Kingston, Jamaica – An impressive cadre of local, regional and international tourism stakeholders will converge in Montego Bay next month to share ideas, examine best practices and discuss strategies for advancing tourism at the Tourism Outlook Seminar (TOS) 2014.
The annual Tourism Outlook Seminar (TOS) will take place from November 20 to 21, 2014, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St. James, under the theme, “Tourism: Enhancing Social and Economic Impact”. The Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment will host a two-day forum. The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) will also be involved. This event is in partnership with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Preparations are in full swing for the much-anticipated event. It will include input from local, regional, and international experts. The event will focus on improving tourism links for social and economic benefits. It will also cover crisis management and enhancing the vacation experience. Additionally, it will explore the local memorabilia sector and partnerships with entertainment and creative industries.
Registration for the seminar is already open. Persons are being encouraged to register online and access additional information at www.visitjamaica.com/.
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, said the Tourism Outlook Seminar will provide an ideal opportunity “to discuss how we plan to overcome the specific challenges affecting the tourism industry locally and in the region in order to enhance the social and economic impact of the sector, improve dialogue among stakeholders within the industry, and examine policies and strategies needed to boost competitiveness.”
“Tourism is one of the island’s major foreign exchange earners and is one of our largest employers of labour. It is therefore important that the full impact and contribution of the tourism industry be examined, understood and harnessed” said Minister McNeill. He also pointed out that the Tourism Outlook Seminar will provide invaluable insight to participating tourism stakeholders on how to further develop and grow the tourism sector.
Featured Speakers
Minister McNeill will give the opening speech at the seminar. The event will include engaging presentations and interactive sessions over two days. Speakers will come from the UNWTO, the United States Department of Justice, and Solimar International. Other speakers will represent several organizations. These include the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), and JAMPRO. They will also represent other local and international groups.
