PM to Address Tourism Issues at Regional Media Conference
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PM to Address Tourism Issues at Regional Media Conference |
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Contact: Earl Bousquet Prime Minister Dr Kenny D. Anthony has accepted an invitation to address regional journalists and tourism officials when they gather here later this month for a major conference. The Caribbean media exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx) is a twice-yearly gathering of media and tourism officials which began in 2001. Five such exchanges have taken place at venues in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Barbados and the sixth will be held from June 24 to 28 at the Bay Gardens Hotel at Rodney Bay. CMEx VI will be held under the theme “Exploring Tourism: Widening the Boundaries of Caribbean Sustainability” and Prime Minister Anthony, who is also chairman of the OECS Authority, is expected to address the gathering on topical issues affecting the sustainability of Caribbean tourism today. The St. Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association (SLHTA), which is assisting in coordination of the event, says preparations are in place and that scores of participants are expected from almost all Caribbean countries, as well as from the Caribbean Disapora. CMEx began with the inspiration of Counterpart International to improve the quality of media coverage of sustainable tourism in the Caribbean. Further, it sought to increase the input of the media in the design of sustainable tourism policies and to highlight the importance of tourism to the economies of the small island states. The organizers say that after five CMEx gatherings, that objective has been accomplished. Building on previous themes, CMEx VI will concentrate on wide-ranging tourism issues, such as: tourism linkages, trade, renewable energy, youth perspectives on tourism, sports tourism (including the Cricket World Cup 2007), investment, regional branding, partnerships and governance, tourism trends, cruise tourism and the impact of AIDS/HIV on sustainable tourism. At CMEx conferences, presenters are expected to deliver bold and provocative messages to stimulate lively, interactive debates and discussions on issues affecting the region’s largest industry. Among the sponsors of CMEx are: Counterpart International, Counterpart Caribbean, the Caribbean Hotels Association (CHA), the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST), Coco Kreole, Air Jamaica, the CHA Charitable Trust, Earth Voice, the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) and the Barbara Pyle Foundation. Prime Minister Anthony, who is also St. Lucia’s Minister of Information, has urged local media houses to participate in CMEx VI by assigning representatives, not only to participate in the conference, but also to provide the necessary ongoing coverage. |
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