DOT Celebrated World Tourism Day 2013

Tourism partners from around the globe, including those here in the Cayman Islands, joined together in a day of celebration to mark World Tourism Day on 27 September.  The theme for this year’s event was: Tourism and Water: Protecting Our Common Future.

Speaking to the theme which is extraordinarily pertinent to the Cayman Islands, Deputy Premier and Minister of Tourism the Hon. Moses Kirkconnell shared: “Our country has a wonderful tourism product that is 100% interwoven with our wondrous oceans and therefore, as a leading destination in the travel market, we must continually do our part in ensuring we protect our waters.  All three islands can directly link so many successes to the splendours of the sea.  From our extensive turtling history to our present excellence in the dive market, the tourism industry—from a government level through to private sector partners—must continually do all possible to protect this natural resource for preservation of our economic success as well as the benefit of future generations.”

Contributing to the global day of celebration, the Department of Tourism hosted the Tourism Speak Off debate.  This event focused on developing youth ambassadors for tourism, crowning the debate winner as the official tourism representative for a one year period and affording him/her opportunities throughout their reign to participate in various tourism related initiatives.  The Ambassador also receives a cash prize, donated by the Cayman Islands Tourism Association.

“It is ever important to the Department of Tourism that we envelope the youth of today in awareness of our unique tourism offerings, including the challenges in ensuring the sustainability of it for the future,” expressed Director of Tourism Shomari Scott.  “Each day we are blessed to welcome visitors from across the globe who are familiar with recycling, water conservation, and other methods of ‘being green’ in their daily lives so it is crucial that these young ambassadors understand the on-going efforts our local tourism industry to conserve and protect our natural assets, including water.”

The Speak Off debate was open to the public and was held at the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort.

Anitha Velusamy of Layman E Scott High School in Cayman Brac won the event. She took the top prize of $1,000 and will represent Cayman as a Tourism Ambassador over the next year.

Grace Christian Academy’s Ryan Burke and Katie Scott took 2nd and 3rd place respectively. Cayman Prep’s Jade Ramnarine was placed fourth.

For more information about World Tourism Day visit wtd.unwto.org.   To learn more about the Tourism Speak Off competition, please contact Coordinator for Tourism Training and Development at the Department of Tourism by emailing [email protected].