By Janet Silvera, Freelance WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
MORE THAN 50 Caribbean journalists will arrive in the island today, for the staging of the third Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEX) for Sustainable Tourism to be held at the Half Moon Beach Hotel, Montego Bay.
Slated to take place from October 17-21, the meeting which brings together journalists, hoteliers, policy and decision makers, will focus on 'The Management and Marketing of Tourism,' the lifeblood industry of the region that has been ailing for the past 15 months.
"Every effort to tie the region together is something we must support and it's total fallacy to think it can go any other way," says President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, Josef Forstmayr.
According to Forstmayr, Jamaica's role is integral in this process, "Jamaica must lead this process, being such a strong country in terms of its identity."
For Mr. Forstmayr, tying the region together, means getting the Caribbean to the stage where it becomes the 'bath tub' of North America."
Making reference to the northern Europeans who regard the Mediterranean area as their 'bath tub', he was quick to point out, that, "When the Europeans think holiday, they think of the Mediterranean. When the North Americans think holiday, they should think of the Caribbean in the same light."
The four-day meeting has attracted a number of both regional and international speakers including the likes of Counterpart International President Lelei Lelaulu, whose presentation will tackle the question, 'Luxury and Sustainability: Are they Mutually Exclusive?'
While one of the most exciting part of the meeting is expected to be the segment dubbed, 'Talk Back Live' with Doug Hoyte and Vanderpool Wallace, corporate communications director, Almond Tree Resorts, Barbados and Bahamian Director-General of Tourism, respectively. With topics such as 'Tourism Today: Examining Today's Issues', 'Understanding Perspectives (Media vs. Hospitality Industry), 'Measuring the Impact of Tourism', and 'Innovative Marketing Strategies', high on the four-day agenda, journalists are expected to leave this meeting more informed.
"We aim to help journalists to become more aware and hopefully in turn they will educate and sensitise the public about the importance of the industry, that is our lifeblood" says Lorraine Ortiz, Director of Communications of the Caribbean Hotel Association.
Among the entities collaborating to put the five-day conference together are: the Caribbean Broadcasting Union, Caribbean Hotel Association, Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism, Air Jamaica and Counterpart International.
