NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (September 25, 2014) —  The following is a press statement issued by the Ministry of Tourism on Nevis, on the occasion of World Tourism Day on September 27, 2014.

 

 

Under the theme, “Tourism and Community Development”, the Ministry of Tourism on Nevis will join the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), in observing World Tourism Day (WTD) slated for Saturday 27th September, 2014.  Activities to commemorate the event will be held locally on Friday 26th September.

 

 

These activities include presentations in all schools across Nevis on the importance of the theme and the vital contribution tourism makes to community development and how the community can work together to foster sustainable tourism; a radio quiz on VON radio’s morning show, a radio address for World Tourism Day and a victory celebration at the Gingerland Secondary School for Rol-J Williams who recently won the 2014 CTOs Caribbean Tourism Youth Congress, making it a two-peat for Nevis.  The Minister of Tourism Hon. Mark Brantley, will be visiting the school to extend congratulations to the new Caribbean Junior Minister of Tourism.

 

 

Endorsing the theme for World Tourism Day 2014 Hon. Mark Brantley points out that “Tourism remains the main economic engine for the island of Nevis and provides much needed revenue to drive community development. Tourism and community development, therefore, are inextricably linked.

 

 

“Persons at the community level need to take ownership of the industry, become active participants and garner greater socio-economic benefits from tourism.  Further, the Ministry of Tourism is here to give support and guidance to tourism initiatives at the community level and certainly, seek the full support of the community to embrace the Ministry’s agenda, to promote sustainable tourism development.”

 

 

In his address for World Tourism Day 2014, Secretary General of WTO, Taleb Rifai, points out that “Each time we travel, use local transport at a destination or buy products from a local market, we are contributing to a long value chain that creates jobs, provides livelihoods, empowers local communities and ultimately brings in new opportunities for a better future.”

 

 

Rifai underpins the importance of the theme stating, “Tourism and Community Development – brings to the forefront the potential that tourism has to promote new socio-economic opportunities and better livelihoods for communities around the world while highlighting the critical role that community engagement has in advancing sustainable development.”

 

 

World Tourism Day is a thematic event held every year on September 27, underscoring the socio-economic impact of tourism.  According to the UNWTO “This year’s WTD theme is ideally timed to contribute to the debate on tourism’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UN development blueprint after 2015, which places a high priority on local participation.”