CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (January 29, 2007)
Premier and Minister of Tourism on Nevis the Hon. Joseph Parry said that knowledge of the opportunities available to small businesses and the invaluable role they play in the tourism industry will be the focus of activities surrounding Tourism Week 2007. The event is organised by the Ministry of Tourism under the theme “Tourism is Our Business”.
In a televised address to herald the start of Tourism Week 2007, Mr. Parry said that the week which will end on February 3rd, would seek to emphasise greater awareness of Nevis’ tourism product and would reflect the value attached by the Nevis Reformation Party led Nevis Island Administration (NIA) to partnerships among various sectors of the economy. “Through these events, not only during Tourism Week, but also in the future, we will not only discover more about what various tourist facilities in Nevis have to offer our visitors and what tourists have long loved about Nevis but we will also recognise, for ourselves, the value of tourism as a tool for promoting economic development, creating wealth and alleviating poverty,” he said
The Week’s activities he explained would reinforce tourism awareness and the youths and would seek to impact the community in a positive way.
According to Mr. Parry, the Tourism Industry continued to play critical role in the economy of Nevis and provided employment for 40 percent of the workforce on the island. The sector also made a critical contribution to the Gross Domestic product; created investment and employment opportunities; foreign exchange earnings, infrastructural development and the expansion of the commercial sector.
“Tourism is our business. Make it our business. We can all benefit if we make this vital sector our business. Enjoy and participate in the week of activities and even when the week is ended, be aware of the benefits tourism brings. Be conscious of how you can benefit from tourism. Work hard if you are in the Tourism Sector, be friendly [and] sell your country in a positive way. Be willing to start your own business that will serve the tourists. Come up with something new… Make your business and my business he said.
The Week’s calendar of activities commenced on January 27th with a Church service at the Mannings Seventh Day Adventist Church at Butlers Village and a dramatic presentation by the Nevis Theatre Guild entitled “A case to Remember”. On January 28 there was a football match between Nevis and Tortola and a repeat of the play.
On Monday the official Tourism Week radio address, talks in schools and Open Days throughout the Tourism Sector. On Tuesday January 30th there will be a radio talk show entitled “Tourism is our Business”. A Primary Schools Quiz is slated for the Cultural centre on Wednesday January 31 while a Tourism Food Fair and business market place will take place at a venue to be announced on Thursday February 1st.
The Secondary School Event and the launch of WINDFEST will take place at the Whitehall hard court in Sty. James on Friday February 2nd and On Saturday February 3rd there will be the WINDFEST Food Fair at the Whitehall hard court; the Tourism Week Bike Race at the Waterfront in Charlestown and the 2007 Tourism Awards at the Four Seasons resort. There will be an extended WINDFEST beach event at the Sand Crab Hole at Newcastle Beach on Sunday February 4th.