Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Tourism Conference

The Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will hold a two day tourism conference for Americas Small Island Developing States in Nassau, February 19 – 20, 2014 entitled “Tourism as a Key Sector for Development in Island States”.

The conference will address a range of relevant tourism issues impacting island destinations, from competitiveness, regional integration, sustainability challenges to air connectivity, risk management, travel facilitation, mechanisms to maximize benefits for local communities as well as examples of good practices will be introduced.

The gathering will also provide an opportunity for National Tourism Authorities, relevant stakeholders and the international community to give input to a conclusion document that will be developed and forwarded to the organizers of the Third International Conference on SIDS scheduled to commence in September 2014 in Samoa, called for by the United Nations.

The conference will also coordinate a closed session with Ministers of Tourism, Transport, Airline and Aviation Executives from the region to discuss and offer solutions to the vexing issues of air connectivity.

This tourism conference is expected to attract a number of regional and international experts who will share their insights regarding challenges impacting the regions premier economic sector.

The meeting is organized to encourage dialogue between speakers/experts and conference participants.

The Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Dr. Taleb Rifai is expected to attend this conference, his very first visit to The Bahamas. Mr. Hugh Riley, Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization and a strategic partner for the closed meeting to discuss air connectivity will also be in attendance. Other participating partners include: United Nations Environment Program and other regional and international funding agencies.

Source: The Bahamas Weekly