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| (L-R) Mrs Vanessa Webbe-Hendrickson Research and Development Officer in the Ministry of Tourism, Ms Nicole Liburd Chairperson of the Tourism Week and Mr Tyrone OFlaherty Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism on Nevis. |
CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (February 1, 2006) -- The Ministry of Tourism in the Nevis Island Administration says is sending a strong message that tourism is not a stagnant force but instead it is a moving part of an industry for Nevis, through it's Nevis Tourism Week 200 activities.
Chairperson of the Nevis Tourism Week 2006 committee Ms Nicole Liburd, made the comment at a press briefing at Marion Heights on Tuesday, to sensitise the media of the calendar of events slated for the week-long celebration under the theme "Tourism: Bringing Progress and Priority to our People" which is carded for February 19-26.
According to Ms Liburd, the annual event has been tailored to continue to make the public aware of the importance of tourism to the island's economy and to usher in other tourism related events throughout the year.
"Basically it would be a start of events which we will back up with training and the best village contest we will continue things like that we will continue training in the hotels or in the private sector. So it's just a start of a course of events that we want to undertake throughout the years," she said.
Meantime, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism Mr Tyrone O'Flaherty said that the week would also provide the opportunity for visitors to Nevis to participate in aspects of the island's culture.
"The fact that we are able to have these events at this particular time would make a lot more sense to have it at a time when we don't have tourist around but this is not only for our visitors but it is also an opportunity to educate our people and to develop an appreciation which is absolutely necessary for the progress of tourism in Nevis," he said.
Regarding the theme chosen for the week of activities, Mrs Vanessa Webbe-Hendrickson Research and Development Officer in the Ministry of Tourism noted that last November Nevis had celebrated Tourism Day and the theme then was "Tourism the Business of the Caribbean".
We have recognised that tourism has moved this country very far. It has helped us to advance and we want people to recognise that and to give tourism the due recognition that it deserves and so hence the theme.
"We recognise that we have had a lot of upward mobility, when we look back we see agriculture was our primary industry and our country has had much economic growth since the decline of agriculture due to tourism. Tourism is our main sector of the economy and most of the progress and prosperity we have is through tourism hence the theme," Mrs Webbe-Hendrickson explained.
The week of activities will commence with a thanksgiving church service at the Zion Gospel Chapel at 9am and will be followed by horse races at the Indian Castle Race Track from 2pm. On Monday 20th February there will be a radio address to mark the official launch of the week and at 8:55am there will be a number of talks from invited guest speakers at schools throughout the island. There will also be an Open Day at the Botanic Gardens from 9am-12pm and an official opening of the Nevis Arts and Crafts Exhibition at the Nevis Craft House from 1pm. This event will be held daily from 8am-4pm in conjunction with the Small Enterprise Unit of the Ministry of Trade.
On Tuesday there will be a Photo Giveaway by Ms Rosemary Sullivan at the Cotton Ginnery Mall from 9am -1pm which will run for three consecutive days. At10am there will be a Secondary Schools Elocution contest sponsored by the Bank of Nevis on the topic "Sporting events contribute significantly to most countries. What should Nevis be doing to reap significant benefits from sports tourism?" At 2pm the Best Village Contest, which is an ongoing initiative by the Ministry of Tourism to encourage local communities and organisations to keep Nevis clean, will be launched. However the contest will be judged later in the year to allow participants sufficient time to get the areas they want to be judged prepared.
Planned for Wednesday February 22nd is a Primary School's Quiz at the Cultural Centre from 10am. The participants will have three subject areas for question " History, Geography and Caribbean Tourism ". The Quiz will be sponsored by the Nisbet Plantation Beach Club.
On Thursday 23rd will be a one-day seminar at the Mount Nevis Hotel from 9am-4pm under the theme "The Industry and You". The seminar will be an educational session for young adults who are currently working in the tourism industry. Also there will be a cricket match from 1pm between Hotels and Ancillaries.
On Friday 24th will be a food fair at the Charlestown Public Market in Charlestown from 11am-5pm while on Saturday 25th will be an Open Day at the Nevisian Heritage Village from 9am-3pm. >From 9am also will be a House and Garden Tour hosted by the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society and at 8pm there will be a Calypso Extravaganza at the Cultural Complex in Charlestown featuring eight top local calypsonians.
The week of activities climaxes with an international Gospel Explosion with a number of international gospel artists who will be supported by local gospel acts.
However, the Miss Hospitality Pageant which is normally held during the week rescheduled due to unforeseen constraints. The Pageant will be held this year on March 31st at the Cultural Complex in Charlestown.
