Basseterre, St. Kitts (October 18, 2006): Minister of State with responsibility for Tourism Hon. Richard Skerritt is expressing thanks participants, stakeholders and supporters for making Tourism Week 2006 a success.
Tourism Week was observed from October 08 to 14 and featured activities such as a church service, day fair, youth congress, school quizzes, awards banquet and t-shirt day. Emphasis was placed on including more youth in this year's event as a means of promoting sustainable tourism.
"Tourism represents the biggest part of the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis and I think the young people of our country need to take part ownership of the tourism industry,' Minister Skerritt explained in an earlier SKNIS report. "We got the young people involved to try to indicate the strength of the future of tourism and to bring more awareness to young people that tourism is about everybody."
Profound gratitude was expressed to the private and public sector agencies which collaborated closely with the organizing ministry. Special mention was made of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CIC) and the Hotel and Tourism Association (HTA) as well as the Ministries of Education and Agriculture.
~~Adz:Right~~He paid tribute to those institutions which allowed high school students to experience various aspects of actual work in the industry under the "Tourism Work Programme."
About 150, 14 and 15 year old students, spent the day at a number of companies under this programme which was one of the new initiatives of the week long event.
The hundreds of participants, particularly the youth, were congratulated for recognizing the importance of tourism to the development of St. Kitts and Nevis and supporting related events.
The security forces, Craft Association, pastor and congregation of the New Birth Gospel Tabernacle " which hosted the church service ' and the media were also thanked for their contributions.
~~Adz:Left~~Locals are encouraged to keep the spirit of Tourism Week as the new cruise season begins. With new ships visiting this season such as the Disney Wonder, which brought 2,600 visitors late last month, persons are expected to continue extending a warm and courteous welcome that Kittitian and Nevisians are renowned for.
