OECS tourism ministers set for talks

Tourism ministers from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) will converge on St Kitts next Tuesday for the 10th meeting of the OECS Council of Tourism Ministers.

The meeting will be convened under the theme 'OECS Economic Union: Strategic Considerations for Tourism'.

Director of Economic Affairs at the OECS Secretariat, Randy Cato, said that the ministers meet at a time when the OECS Secretariat is redirecting its work programmes, with a view to bringing the OECS Economic Union into effect.

As a result, he said OECS tourism ministers will focus their agenda on the strategic analysis of the single OECS tourism space, within the context of the newly ratified OECS Economic Union treaty.

"In that regard, one of the highlights of the meeting includes a presentation by the consultants responsible for developing a common tourism policy for the OECS, while the findings of a research project on the feasibility of an OECS marketing and branding strategy will also be discussed," Cato said.

network of excellence

The ministers will also consider the establishment of a proposed OECS network of excellence in tourism and hospitality education, along with issues related to intra-regional travel in the OECS.

Dr Loraine Nicholas, programme officer for tourism at the OECS Secretariat's Economic Affairs Division, says intra-regional travel is another key item for the 10th session.

"In this regard, ministers will seek to devise innovative, strategic responses to the constraints in the air transportation sector that are inimical to travel within the OECS, as well as consider mechanisms to facilitate seamless intra-regional travel via both land and sea."

She said the outcome of these discussions will be used as a platform for establishment of the OECS region as a single tourism economic space, consistent with the ideals underlying the proposed OECS Economic Union.

- CMC