BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (25th May, 2009) More than forty (40) travel agents from North America are expected to attend the First Annual Travel Agent Symposium, which will be jointly hosted by the St. Kitts Tourism Authority and the Nevis Tourism Authority.

Chief Executive Officer, Rosecita Jeffers, of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, said the symposium is an important event in marketing the destination and in ensuring that the North American travel agent community is familiarized  with St.Kitts and Nevis.

“We are expecting top-producing travel agents from key locations in North America,” Jeffers said. “This is a very exciting period for the destination as it symbolizes our commitment to continuous destination awareness and marketing during these difficult economic times.  While on island, the agents will be educated on the different elements of the tourism product with the aim of building destination awareness in order to increase their effectiveness in selling the destination”.

Travel agents will represent agencies from various locations in Canada, and also agencies from the United States from specific locations such as California, Florida, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Virginia.

The symposium will take place from Wednesday 27th to Sunday 31st May, and will include training workshops, networking sessions, inspection of properties, an exploration of the sister island of Nevis and leisure activities for the travel agents to experience the tourism product of the Federation.

“Local tourism stakeholders have been extremely   supportive of this initiative, and has partnered with the Tourism Authority in ensuring that the on-island experience for the travel agents is a memorable one,” Jeffers said.

Minister of State, Ricky Skerritt, in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports is expected to address the travel agents at a welcome ceremony on Wednesday.

The agents will also be presented with certificates at an awards ceremony on Saturday.