Regional tourism youth congress is back

by Aug 28, 2022Pulse

After a COVID-19-forced two-year break, the Regional Tourism Youth Congress will be staged in the Cayman Islands on September 15. To date, 11 countries have confirmed their participation. This is the 18th year the congress is being held.

It will be part of Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) events and Caribbean Aviation Day being staged from September 12-15. Turks & Caicos, the winner of the last Youth Congress staged in Antigua and Barbuda in 2019, is set to chair this year’s Congress.

It is being organised by the CTO, in collaboration with the Cayman Islands Ministry and Department of Tourism.

After two years of inactivity, there is already great enthusiasm surrounding this year’s event.

“The Caribbean Tourism Organization is thrilled about the return of the Regional Tourism Youth Congress and despite the break, we as organisers are already envisioning a successful delivery of the event,” said CTO’s Director of Resource Mobilization and Development, Sharon Banfield-Bovell.

“Over the years, the Regional Tourism Youth Congress has been a fundamental part of the region’s tourism development landscape, helping to shape future industry leaders. Therefore, its resumption this year is of special importance, particularly for the region’s young people who annually look forward to participating in this forum and using its platform to incite and inspire change, through their presentations on issues relevant to the growth and sustainability of the tourism sector. CTO is therefore grateful to its member countries and partners for their support and for making another Tourism Youth Congress a reality,” she added.

Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, The Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Tobago and Turks & Caicos will join the Cayman Islands as the countries confirmed for this year’s event.

“I am excited to be hosting the Regional Tourism Youth Congress as the event reinforces the Cayman Islands Government’s commitment to the development of the next generation of tourism leaders,” said Cayman Islands Minister of Tourism and Transport, Kenneth Bryan.

“The past two years have not only affected tourism, they have also had an unmistakable impact on the youth, especially in areas of education and employment. It is therefore imperative that we come together to ensure the continued growth of the future men and women who will ultimately work to improve our collective tourism products,” he added.

The first Regional Tourism Youth Congress was staged in Barbados in the year 2000, and was conceived with the objective of stimulating a greater awareness among the region’s young people about the tourism sector and its importance. Participants are between the ages of 14-17 and assume the role of Junior Ministers/Commissioners of Tourism, representing their respective CTO member country.

CTO Business Meetings and Caribbean Aviation Day, mark the first major in-person gathering for the CTO since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

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