Basseterre, St. Kitts (July 16, 2007): Manager at the Hotel and Tourism Association Michael Head returned from a recently held policy dialogue on Tourist Safety and Security in the greater Caribbean, pleased that effective strategies had been defined for improved visitor security.
The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) collaborated to host the 3-day event geared at establishing a regional network. ~~Adz:Right~~
Items on the agenda included: Regional Tourist Safety and Security Initiatives; The Multi-Dimensions of Tourist Safety; Enhancing Tourist Safety Through Technology; Establishing Tourist Safety Through Technology –Wireless CCTV and Establishing National Networks and Action Plans for Tourist Safety.
Mr. Head explained that the initial part of the July 05 - 07 meeting involved risk assessments on selected hotel and tourism attractions as well as national focus group dialogue. Regional stakeholders convened for the final activity.
Dr. Clifford Griffin, Associate Professor of Political Science of the School of International Affairs at North Carolina State University; delivered the feature address at the opening ceremony. Mr. Head said that Dr Griffin who is from the island of Nevis did the Federation proud with a very in-depth and intriguing presentation and noted that the input from the Federation’s participants was very highly regarded for the entire event.
Representing the Ministry of Tourism and Culture at the event was Permanent Secretary Lloyd Lazar. Other representatives who attended the meeting from the Caribbean region came from chambers of industry, hotel managers, judges and police forces among others.
Mr. Head said the Hotel and Tourism Association would now air a series of public service announcements geared at raising awareness of the importance of a crime free visitor experience on the local economy.
The dialogue was held at the Cascadia Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
