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10th meeting of OECS tourism ministers to focus on economic union

Contact:  rokeiffe@oecs.org

Thursday 14 April 2011 –  At a time when the OECS Secretariat is redirecting its work porgrammes, with a view to bringing the OECS Economic Union into effect, OECS tourism ministers have focused their agenda on the strategic analysis of the single OECS tourism space, within the context of the newly ratified OECS Economic Union treaty.

This is one of the areas under review when tourism ministers across the OECS converge on St. Kitts for the 10^th meeting of the OECS Council of Tourism Ministers next week.

The meeting will be convened under the theme: ‘OECS Economic Union: Strategic Considerations for Tourism’.

The meeting will also include a presentation by consultants tasked with the responsibility of developing a Common Tourism Policy for the OECS.

Related matters to be discussed include the findings of a research project on the feasibility of an OECS marketing and branding strategy, and the establishment of a proposed OECS network of excellence in tourism and hospitality education.

The ministers for tourism will also discuss issues related to intra-regional travel in the OECS.

Programme Officer for Tourism at the OECS Secretariat’s Economic Affairs Division, Dr. Loraine Nicholas, says intra-regional travel is another key item for 10^th session.

“In this regard, ministers will seek to devise innovative, strategic responses to the constraints in the air transportation sector that are inimical to travel within the OECS; as well as consider mechanisms to facilitate seamless intra-regional travel via both land and sea.

“The outcome of these discussions will be used as a platform for establishment of the OECS region as a single tourism economic space, consistent with the ideals underlying the proposed OECS Economic Union.”

The 10^th Meeting of the OECS Council of Tourism Ministers will take place at the St. Kitts Marriott Hotel. Delegates are expected from most OECS Member States, other countries in the Eastern Caribbean region, as well as regional tourism organisations including the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.

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