The temporary Chairman of the Board is former United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General Dr. Taleb Rifai. Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett will serve as co-chair.
KINGSTON, JAMAICA – The Global Tourism Resilience & Crisis Management Centre (GTRC) announced the recent developments regarding the launching of the newly established Tourism Resilience Centre in Kingston, Jamaica. Planning is currently underway for the inaugural board meeting to take place in London on November 5, 2018. The GTRC is also working to finalize the structure and formation of the Centre’s Board of Directors.
The temporary Chairman of the Board is former United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General Dr. Taleb Rifai. Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett will serve as co-chair.
Ms. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, the President of Malta, has given her full support of Centre, with further discussions of her role as Honorary President of the Centre to be held in Malta on October 28, between Min. Bartlett and Dr. Rifai.
Additionally, HRH Prince Sultan Bin Salman, President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, a man who commands tremendous respect from the International tourism community has pledged his commitment to fully support the Centre. While not being able himself to join the board, due to time constraints, he is to name a representative from the Commission to the Centre’s Board.
Other Board members of the Centre include:
- Dr. Mario Hardy, Chief Executive Officer, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)
- Mr. Brett Tollman, Chief Executive Officer, The Travel Corporation
- Mr. Lee Miles, Professor of Crisis and Disaster Management, University of Bournemouth, United Kingdom
- Ambassador Dho Young-shim, Chairman, UNWTO Sustainable Tourism – Eliminating Poverty Initiative (ST-EP)
- Mr. Ryoichi Matsuyama, President, Japan National Tourism Organization
- Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies
- Mr. Earl Jarret, Chief Executive Officer, Jamaica National Group
The mission of the Global Tourism Resilience & Crisis Management Centre is to carry out policy-relevant research and analysis on destination preparedness, management and recovery from disruptions or crises that impact tourism and threaten economies and livelihoods globally.
The Centre, which will be sited at the UWI Mona Campus, will be formally launched during the Caribbean Marketplace Expo in Montego Bay, from January 29-31, 2019.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
