Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (1 June, 2016) The Ministry of Tourism is inviting applications for the annual Ministry of Tourism Scholarship. For 20 years, this scholarship programme has aided 200 plus Caymanian students in furthering their education both locally and abroad.

This year, for the first time, students that apply to attend Johnston and Wales University can receive up to fifteen thousand dollars towards tuition, based on their grade point average. This opportunity is in addition to the scholarship from the Ministry. The deadline to apply for the scholarships is 30 June 2016.

The annual scholarship is designed for students who wish to pursue a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in an approved tourism or tourism-related discipline and who demonstrate a need for financial assistance in order to achieve this goal. The scholarship programme is an effort on the part of the Ministry of Tourism to increase the number of Caymanians involved in the tourism sector, providing them access to a strong educational foundation which will prepare them for senior level positions.

The Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Moses Kirkconnell, said: “It is essential to the future of this country that we encourage and assist young Caymanians as best we can so that they are positioned to become leaders in Cayman’s tourism industry. This scholarship will ensure that any young Caymanian interested in tourism and the industry’s diverse specialisations, will have the opportunity to become qualified in those areas.”

To be considered for these funding opportunities, candidates must:

• be Caymanian;
• be over 17 years of age;
• have proof of having resided in the Cayman Islands for five years prior to applying for the scholarship;
• have proof of acceptance from an approved institution;
• be studying a programme in a tourism or tourism related field, and
• be in good health and of good character.

The country’s first tourism scholar, Director of Tourism, Mrs. Rosa Harris, knows the importance of having a strong Caymanian workforce in the hospitality industry. “One of the primary goals is to attract a steady stream of skilled and enthusiastic tourism professionals who can actively contribute to the future prosperity of the tourism sector. The Ministry and Department of Tourism continues to work hard to achieve this through the Scholarship Programme and through other initiatives such as the School of Hospitality Studies,” Mrs. Harris said.

Criteria checklists and application forms can be found on www.caymanislands.ky/motscholarship. For further information about the Ministry of Tourism Scholarship, please contact (345) 244 1252 or [email protected]