(Charlestown, Nevis, MAY 30TH 2007)
Mr. Alastair Yearwood, the Advisor to Tourism in the Nevis Island Administration, will be among OECS Tourism Ministers attending the OECS Tourism meeting being held in Grenada from May 31st to June 1st. Mr Yearwood is attending the meeting in the absence of the Premier of Nevis, the Hon. Joseph Parry, who is off Island attending the Caribbean Development Bank Meeting in Caracas, Venezuela.
Mr. Yearwood will join Ministers and Directors of Tourism from OECS member states as well as representatives from the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).
On the agenda for discussion are the following: The impact of HIV/ AIDS on the Tourism sector, Air and Seaport transportation and the establishment of an OECS Cruise Tourism Task Force.
The Council will also review the sub region’s hosting of Cricket World Cup 2007 and the post-event measurement of its economic impact. Four OECS member countries namely: Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts, and St. Lucia hosted ICC 2007 Cricket World Cup matches while St. Vincent and the Grenadines, staged warm up matches.
Another important issue to be reviewed will be Grenada’s progress in the tourism sector following hurricanes Ivan and Emily.
Minister of Tourism for Grenada, the Honourable Clarice Modeste Curwen, will chair the Council which will also look at the OECS Secretariat’s tourism work programme for 2007 ““ 2008.