Members of the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board recently travelled to South Caicos for school visits, as well as to commence the ‘Hello Tourist’ programme, part of Tourism Environmental Awareness Month (TEAM).
The team from the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board began the day visiting Calvary Christian School, Iris Stubbs Primary School, as well as Marjorie Basden High School, and provided presentations on tourism – articulating why the industry is so valuable to the Turks and Caicos Islands and how students can get involved.
“It was a pleasure visiting my home island of South Caicos and speaking to our youth who are the future of our tourism industry. During our presentations, we encouraged the students of South Caicos to ‘rediscover South Caicos,” said TCI Tourist Board’s Training Manager and Coordinator of TEAM, Blythe Clare.
“By familiarizing or even refamiliarizing themselves with their home and what it has to offer, our young people will not only build a greater appreciation for our most significant industry, but they will also become so equipped with knowledge that they will be major assets that will contribute to its success,” added Clare.
Following the school visits, the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board brought five honour-roll sixth graders from the Iris Stubbs Primary School to Sailrock Resort to begin the ‘Hello Tourist’ programme. This programme is in collaboration with the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) and is intended to provide the youth of the Turks and Caicos Islands with greater insights into the tourism industry by facilitating them experiencing being a tourist. The sixth graders were greeted in the lobby with welcome drinks before being given a tour of the Ridgetop Suites, Beachfront Villas, and other resort facilities. After the tour, the Iris Stubbs Primary Students enjoyed a meal with their Principal, Earleen Elliott, and the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board team at The Cove Restaurant, which overlooks the Caicos Bank.
“It was a very rewarding experience for us to be able to speak with the students of South Caicos about our various roles in tourism and accompany them during the ‘Hello Tourist’ programme,” said TCI Tourist Board’s Senior Public Relations Officer, Gabriel Saunders.
“The sixth graders from Iris Stubbs Primary School were particularly inquisitive and eager to learn more about the industry. With the level of excitement shown, the future of tourism in South Caicos should be in great hands,” added Saunders.
