The Bahamas has been elected to a second consecutive two-year term as chair of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO).
The country’s minister of tourism, Obie Wilchcombe, who assumed the chairmanship in May this year following the Progressive Liberal Party’s election victory, will continue to serve as chairman of the regional body.
“I am honoured and delighted to have an opportunity to serve at this time when we are challenged to reinvent Caribbean tourism,” said Wilchcombe shortly after the election at the 38th meeting of the CTO board of directors late on Sunday.
Wilchcombe promised to create a new spirit of togetherness among CTO member countries in an effort to foster “new and positive developments” in Caribbean tourism.
“We have to look at new ways to do things; to challenge ourselves to find the collective will to strengthen the CTO and to cause positive things to happen in the development of tourism,” the chairman said.
He called on the more successful countries to assist the less flourishing and emerging destinations to reach their potential so the entire region can reap the benefits of tourism.
“Tourism can work for the region,” Wilchcombe said, “but bigger countries have to help smaller countries, particularly in the area of marketing.”
At Sunday’s election, the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), representing the English-speaking Caribbean, was elected first vice-chair; St Martin, representing the French-speaking members, second vice-chair; Curacao (Dutch Caribbean), third vice-chair and Puerto Rico (Spanish Caribbean), fourth vice-chair.
The Executive Committee will be completed with private sector representatives, following their internal elections.
The Jamaica Observer
