The Caribbean will take centre stage on November 27, the first day of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Government of Jamaica, World Bank Group and Inter-American Development Bank Global Conference on Jobs and Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St. James.
T
he Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) are sponsors of the day’s activities.

Several highly-anticipated papers will be delivered by eminent tourism luminaries, including world renowned tourism expert, Professor Eduardo Fayos-Solà. He will deliver a paper on “The Future of Tourism in the Caribbean Region” that will be followed by a roundtable discussion incorporating major players in Caribbean Tourism, including Hon. Dionisio D’Aguilar, Bahamas Tourism and Aviation Minister and Chairman, CTO; and Karolin Troubetzkoy, President, CHTA.

Professor Fayos-Solà is a Senior Adviser at the International Institute of Tourism Studies (IITS), George Washington University, and has held several senior posts in the global tourism sector.
In the afternoon, a Special Session is being mounted under the theme Building Resilience: Supporting Caribbean Tourism to Prepare, Manage and Recover -3-from Crises. This consultation will explore potential strategies for the tourism sector the region, to focus on the recovery after Hurricane Irma and discuss a long-term plan for future preparation, management and recovery.

The panelists will include Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica; Mr. Hugh Riley, Secretary General, CTO and other tourism industry leaders.

Minister Bartlett notes, “When we look at the programme, this confluence of political and civil leadership promises to be one of the most complete groupings ever to be held for any tourism conference”.

Another keynote address for day one of the conference will be a lunchtime presentation, “Outlook for Outbound Chinese Tourism in the Caribbean,” to be delivered by Xu Jing, Regional Director, Asia and Pacific, UNWTO.

The first day of the conference will also include four Concurrent Panel Sessions in the morning:

Session 1: Tourism and Sustainability – Threats, Risks, Opportunities and Challenges, moderated by Mr. David Jessop, Consultant, Caribbean Council. Panelists from the Caribbean will address issues such as: Lessons Learned from 50 years of Large Scale Cruise Tourism in the Caribbean and Sustainable Development of Protected Areas for Ecotourism.

Session 2: Current Trends in Indigenous Tourism, moderated by Louis D’Amore, Founder and President, International Institute for Peace through Tourism.

Session 3: Talent Development and Human Capital Trends, led by Mr Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, former Minister of Tourism, Bahamas, and former President, CTO, will include representatives from the Bahamas and Jamaica.

Session 4: Community Tourism will consider the benefits of community tourism and models for rural and urban enterprises.

Three other concurrent afternoon panel sessions on November 27 will include:

Session 5: Tourism Networks: Creating and Reducing Linkages

Session 6: Science, Technology, Innovation in Tourism, and

Session 7: Caribbean Tourism within the Context of the Americas.

Platinum sponsors of the conference are Airbnb, Sandals and AM Resorts. Conference partners are: Government of Jamaica, United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), World Bank Group, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the Jamaica National Group.

Conference collaborators: Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Chemonics International, and George Washington University,
American Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines are the conference Airline Partners.

IMAGES:
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Bartlett – Jamaican Tourism Minister the Honourable Ed Bartlett
Karolin_Troubetzkoy 02.jpg – Ms. Karolin Troubetzkoy, President, Caribbean Hotel and Tourist Association (CHTA).
eduardofayos-Solà – World renowned Tourism Expert, Professor Eduardo Fayos-Solà,
Xu-Jing.png – Mr. Xu Jing, Regional Director, Asia and Pacific, UNWTO.