Friday, January 13, 2023
Approximately 200 persons have been invited to physically attend the inaugural Global Tourism Resilience Conference, slated for February 15 to 17 at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Regional Headquarters in St. Andrew.
Other participants will be able to register at no cost and join virtually.
This was announced by Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, during the Conference’s launch at the Jamaica Tourist Board in Kingston, on Thursday (January 12).
Among those expected to attend are aficionados and technical teams, theoreticians, academics, ministers of government, investment gurus and other stakeholders involved in the tourism industry from the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean.
This is an earth-breaking international event.
Minister Bartlett said that they are excited that Jamaica is hosting this very important global activity and we invite you all to share with us as together we chart a new path as we recover better and stronger in tourism from COVID-19.
He informed that the conference will focus on sustainability and investment, as well as the varied areas that are part of the mosaic of connectivity that enables tourism.
The inclusion of an investment component in the conference, along with a discussion on the future of employment in the tourism sector, are critical factors, as they underpin the very resilience that we seek to build for tourism against global shocks, Mr. Bartlett added.
He pointed out that natural disasters, climate-change impacts and biodiversity loss, food insecurity, political instability and conflicts, the threat of terror attacks, cybercrime and cybersecurity issues, economic recession, epidemics and pandemics are among the disruptive events that lead to global shocks affecting travel and tourism.
Mr. Bartlett further informed that the three-day conference will include 40 international speakers, who will bring insight on various topics.
Mr. Bartlett indicated that a major highlight at the conference will be the African-Caribbean component.
Additionally, Mr. Bartlett said there will be a series of panel discussions with the ministers and leaders of Africa and the Caribbean.
The Minister of International Affairs from Saudi Arabia is also expected to participate in the conference, as the discussion on the Middle East will be infused in the general discourse.
Minister Bartlett said a key component of the conference will be a discussion on the Labour Market Arrangements in Tourism.
Meanwhile, Chairman, Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and Minister of Tourism and Transport for the Cayman Islands, Hon. Kenneth Bryan, is encouraging all regional ministers and directors of tourism and other stakeholders involved in the industry to attend the conference.
The conference is being jointly organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC), CTO, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), International Tourism Investment Conference, Jacobs Media and the World Travel Awards.
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