Basseterre, St. Kitts (November 11, 2004): A spokesperson from the Ministry of Tourism has revealed that the proceeds from the Tourism Week Awards Dinner will go towards product development again this year.

Funds from last year’s dinner went specifically toward the development of interpretive signs for historic landmarks throughout the Federation. One such sign has been placed at Independence Square, stating its colourful history during the years of its existence.

Other signs will be placed at such sites as the Nevis Bath Springs, the War Memorial, Black Rocks, the Carib Rock Drawings Site and Sir Thomas Warner’s Tomb among others sites where the elements destroyed the signs over the years.

She stated that apart from the feature address by guest speaker Pamela Richards Commissioner of Tourism in the United States Virgin Islands, the main attraction this year is a Chinese auction.

The difference between a Chinese auction as compared with traditional Western auctions is that all bidders are required to contribute the amount they bid during the bidding process.

In relation to prizes, the spokesperson related that there are a number of highly valuable prizes donated by Tourism-related businesses such as the Golden Lemon Inn and Villas, Ocean Terrace Inn, Mount Nevis Hotel, Four Seasons Resort, Oualie Beach Hotel, Timothy Beach Resort and Rawlins Plantation Inn.

She added that airlines such as American Eagle, Winair and Excel Airways also contributed. She added that good cooperate citizens such as the Sugar Bay Club and Marshalls are significant contributors.

Tourism Week 2004 runs from November 14 to 20 under the theme St. Kitts in Splendour, Everyone’s Adventure!