Barbados proud to host media forthcoming debate on sustainable tourism

Barbados is bracing itself to welcome regional and international media luminaries to the island for the 5th Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx V) in October, an event that is held biannually since 2001.

President of the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA), Oliver Jordan expressed Barbados´ pride at being able to host the media and tourism talks for the first time. "We think it´s a really positive way of bringing the media and tourism players together to look at the issues we continually face in the industry," said Jordan, who called on regional governments to be more proactive in safeguarding the industry that is their primary source of revenues. Previous editions of CMEx have been held in the Bahamas and Jamaica.

CMEx assembles leading journalists and editors from the Caribbean, as well as Europe and North America, in an environment which encourages the lively exchange of ideas between tourism´s movers and shakers in government and industry.

The next CMEx will draw more than 75 regional and international media and industry officials who will explore the theme: "Tourism and The Media: The Next Generation". Previous conferences have focused on environmental, business, marketing, management and economic aspects of tourism and as a result have generated newspaper articles, radio shows, television features, coral reef restoration initiatives, public-private sector collaboration and other international partnerships.

CMEx is produced by Counterpart International, its Barbados-based partner - Counterpart Caribbean, Caribbean Hotel Association, Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism, Air Jamaica, Caribbean Hotel Association Charitable Trust (Life Needs the Caribbean), EarthVoice and the Caribbean Broadcasting Union.

It is supported by Almond Beach Resorts, American Express, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, Barbados Tourism Authority, Bay Gardens Hotel, Black Entertainment Television, Central Bank of Barbados, Half Moon Montego Bay, Jamaica Pegasus, Ruder Finn, Sandals Resorts, Scotiabank, United Nations Population Fund, and Virgin Atlantic Airways.