NIA-CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS (February 3^RD, 2011) — Chairman of Tourism Week 2011 Mr. Carl Williams is calling on employees within the tourism industry to demonstrate pride by “parading” with the Ministry of Tourism during Friday’s [Feb. 4] cultural parade.

“To the hotels, restaurants, bars, anyone who would like to be a part of the parade, come on out. If you work in a hotel or restaurant or you have a worker off on that day, you can dress them in the uniform of the institution and let them parade along with us. Let us make it one big family for tourism week,” Mr. Williams said.

His plea, made at last Thursday’s [Jan. 27] tourism press conference, sought to “ensure that last year will be looking [like] an ordinary parade as to this year” as the Nevis Island Administration’s Ministry of Tourism craves full participation from the island’s residents.

The parade, which is expected to begin at 3:30pm at the Administration Building in Charlestown, is the premier event in the Ministry of Tourism’s week of activities and will lead to the official launching ceremony at the Nevisian Artisan Village.

The ceremony will feature speeches by Nevis’ top tourism officials including Premier and Minister of Tourism the Honourable Joseph Parry and his Permanent Secretary Mr. Tyrone O’Flaherty.

Just as the cultural parade and official launch are expected to raise awareness on the importance of tourism to Nevis, so will next Friday’s [Feb. 11] awards and dinner at the Old Manor Hotel.

The awards ceremony, according to Chairman Williams, “is geared towards celebrating and recognising those persons who would have contributed to the industry over the years.”

“We would be having persons who would be recognised in long service: taxi operators, allied partners, all of these persons would be recognised. Those persons who have been recognised in the past will not be recognised again this year. We are hoping that new persons can come onboard so that everyone can feel a part of the industry,” he explained.

The awardees, he added, will be selected based on submissions made by their employers.

“We are encouraging persons to come on out and buy tickets. We are also encouraging business places to buy a table of at least six so you can support the industry and really lend your support to the Ministry of Tourism as it strives to develop the tourism product on the island of Nevis,” he said.

The final activity for the Tourism Week observance is the Cultural Presentation and Food Fair at the newly renovated Gingerland Public Market which Senior Officer in the Research and Documentation Department at the Ministry of Tourism Ms. Vanessa Webbe says will “showcase our local talent.”

“This is for all of Nevis to come on out and have a grand time for the closing of [the] tourism week activities. We want it to be a grand event. We are going to have a packed day of activities for the people to enjoy,” Ms. Webbe said.

Tourism Week 2011 is being organised by the Nevis Island Administration’s Ministry of Tourism.