CTO State of the Industry Conference Set for this Week

Leaders in the Tourism industry from more than 30 member countries will be in Barbados this week for the annual Caribbean Tourism Organization State of the Industry Conference.

The event is scheduled for Thursday, February 14, at the CTO headquarters, and approximately 300 representatives from various sectors of Tourism and private sector stakeholders will be in attendance.

The last Conference, themed “Developing a Winning Strategy”, was held in St. Kitts, October 10-12, 2012.

Hon. Beverly Nicholson-Doty, Chairman of the CTO, will present the State of the Industry Report outlining the sector’s performance levels in member countries for 2012 and reveal Tourism projections for 2013.

St. Kitts Minister of Tourism and International Transport Hon. Richard Skerritt said 2012 was a banner year for St. Kitts as it relates to recognition by respected travel magazines and websites.

Some of the travel press accolades include St. Kitts being ranked #2 out of 16 for Best Caribbean Vacations by US News & World Report. The same publication also ranked St. Kitts #4 in a list of the 12 Best Islands in the World. In December 2012 PureTravel.com named the island one of the Top 10 Winter Sun Holiday Destinations.

Port Zante made the list of Cruise-Addicts.com “10 Great Caribbean Cruise Ports” and boasted a 70% increase in yacht arrivals in 2012 compared to the previous year.

Skerritt said the government’s substantial investment in its air and sea ports is paying dividends that will redound positively on the island’s economy for years to come.

“In 2006, our Government created a multi-tiered strategic plan aimed to stimulate investment in our tourism infrastructure and a shift to a more targeted visitor. Simultaneously, we began aggressively marketing our destination and focusing on improving our standards and empowering our people in order to reap the maximum benefits from the sector.”

A total of 1,336 private planes and corporate jets landed at RLB Airport in 2012, a figure that is expected to increase upon the completion of the new private jet terminal projected for May, 2013.

Minister Skerritt also informed that plans are being developed for further development of the Port Zante marina, as well as for the modernization of the yacht entry and clearance administration.

Meanwhile Nevis’ new Tourism Minister, Deputy Premier Hon. Mark Brantley, indicated that a new vigor will be injected in the marketing of Nevis as a tourist destination. He vowed the CCM-led administration would pursue Tourism relentlessly.

“We must let the world know that Nevis is back in business and that Nevis provides a high-end authentic, safe, family-oriented experience that visitors can come here and enjoy,” he said.

Brantley posited that he had high hopes of increasing airlift into the island and would make that a priority in his Ministry so that it could be reflected in the tourist arrivals and revenue earned by those who ply their trade in Tourism.

Both Skerritt and Brantley have indicated to The Observer that they will not likely be in attendance at the CTO Conference, however it was not said if any officials from the St. Kitts or Nevis Tourism Authorities would be present.

Source: St. Kitts & Nevis Observer