The Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Heritage & Culture in collaboration with the Ministry of Education welcomed, on 1st May a delegation from the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) namely Ms. Faye Gill, Director of Membership Services and Ms. Bonita Morgan, Director of Resource Mobilization & Development.
The delegation met with Minister of Tourism Hon. Ralph Higgs and Minister of Education Hon. Josephine Connolly, including senior personnel from the Ministries and members of the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board. The primary objective of the meeting was to provide insight and opportunities offered by the CTO and to address avenues of assistance as it relates to the inclusion of tourism subjects in the school’s curriculum.
Minister Higgs commented; “We are indeed grateful for the opportunity to have met with officials from CTO where we were able to discuss ways to advance cooperation and mutual interests with respect to tourism related topics in our schools. The Turks and Caicos for a number of years, has enjoyed a solid relationship with the CTO of which we plan to build on.”
CTO is the regions tourism development agency, whose mission is “To provide to and through its members the services and information necessary for the development of sustainable tourism, for the social and economic benefit of the People of the Caribbean”. There are approximately 28 member countries including the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The CTO recently launched its digital tourism education learning series which includes four e-tourism workbooks, activities and videos designed for use by teachers and students ages 6-11. The aim is to integrate tourism topics in schools curriculum to build greater awareness among young students regarding tourism.
Hon. Josephine Connolly stated; “The tourism and hospitality sector is a major contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Tourism industry provides various employment opportunities within its sector and impacts other business entities relating to tourism services. Development of a curricula for implementation in the high school would give the students the benefit from exposure to the concepts and principles of tourism, and their practical application to the real environment. The global tourism map today is much richer and wider with more destination options than it was three decades ago, so we here in the Turks and Caicos Islands have to protect our destination and prepare our students entering the hospitality environment for competition and service.”
The delegation will depart the country on May 3rd 2017.
