Additionally, the event will showcase the tourism sector’s commitment to climate action, sustainability, and responsible tourism. Speakers will emphasize the importance of inclusive growth and economic resilience through partnerships for tourism product diversification.
BARBADOS – The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), collaborating with partners from the tourism sector, academia, and regional and international development communities, will jointly host a virtual forum celebrating World Tourism Day 2023.
The event will take place on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ET/AT, exploring the theme “Investing in People, Planet and Prosperity” designated by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
“We look forward to discussing and exchanging insights on such an important theme, which underscores the imperative of critical investments to enable tourism to fulfill its potential as a catalyst for social and economic development while embracing responsible environmental stewardship,” stated CTO Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper.
The webinar will highlight the urgency for the public and private sectors to equip the tourism workforce with the necessary skills to meet evolving market demands influenced by green technologies and Artificial Intelligence.
This year’s forum features an impressive lineup of speakers, including:
- Dr. Sherma Roberts, Chairperson, Senior Tourism Lecturer at the Sagicor Cave Hill School of Business & Management, University of the West Indies (UWI), Barbados
- Kenneth Bryan, CTO Chairman, Minister of Tourism and Ports, Cayman Islands
- Nicola Madden-Greig, President, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), and Group Director of Marketing & Sales, The Courtleigh Hospitality Group in Jamaica.
The event’s highlight will be the feature address delivered by newly appointed CTO Secretary-General Dona Regis-Prosper.
Featured Panel Discussions
The upcoming panel discussions explore diverse yet interconnected topics important to the Caribbean region. With a stellar lineup of moderators and speakers, these sessions will provide fresh insights and valuable perspectives on the theme “Investing in People, Planet and Prosperity”.
Investing in People
The panel will explore People-centered Future Tourism – Education and Skills needed to ensure global competitiveness and long-term sustainability.
Moderator: Sharon Banfield-Bovell, Director of Resource Mobilization & Development, CTO
Speakers: Mariangels Fortuny, Head of Unit (Forestry, Agriculture, Construction & Tourism), International Labor Organization; Dr. Acolla Cameron, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, UWI, Trinidad; and Kenita Henville, student representative, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Investing in the Planet
This session will explore the path to sustainability, growth, and resilience in Caribbean tourism through green investments, best practices in environmental governance, and more.
Moderator: Christine Young, Managing Director, Green Caribe Consulting and a board member with the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST), CHTA’s environmental arm
Speakers: Maria Fowell, Senior Technical Tourism Specialist, Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission; Nancy Foran, President and Founder, ESG Partners; and Lorine Charles-St. Jules, CEO, Saint Lucia Tourism Authority
Investing in Prosperity
An insightful session focused on fostering inclusion, fairness, equality, and greater equity in the pursuit of social and economic growth while meeting the needs of travelers.
Moderator: Anne Brobyn, President/Founder, Hibiscus Tours International Ltd.
Speakers: Roni Weiss, Executive Director, Travel Unity; Richard Campbell, Section Chief (Culture & Tourism), Organization of American States; and Jana Prewitt, Advisor to the Indigenous Collaborative at The George Washington University, International Institute of Tourism Studies
The event will also feature a sustainable tourism showcase video, to be introduced by Sonia Gill, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union.
The virtual forum is a combined initiative of the Caribbean Tourism Organization in collaboration with the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, the University of the West Indies, the Organization of American States, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States Commission, the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, and CTO allied members: the International Institute of Tourism Studies at The George Washington University, and Hibiscus International.
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