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News from the Caribbean as of
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BVI Chief Minister to discuss yachting sector security
Friday, October 6, 2006
ROAD TOWN, BVI: Safety and security in the yachting sector is one of the main areas of concern for Chief Minister and Minister for Tourism in the British Virgin Islands Dr Orlando Smith as he attends a meeting of Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) tourism ministers in Caguas, Puerto Rico this week.
The Chief Minister is representing the Territory at the 4th OECS Council of Tourism Ministers Meeting on Thursday and Friday, where safety and security in the yachting sector and a number of other issues affecting tourism in the sub region is being discussed.
“Yachting represents a large part of the BVI’s tourism product and it is important for me to come together with other OECS tourism ministers to determine the most effective ways of preventing problems from arising,” the Chief Minister said ahead of his meeting.
He also noted that safety and security in the yachting sector is a timely agenda item for this week’s OECS meeting in view of last week’s formal launch of the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry, which is mandated to promote safety at sea along with other duties.
Among other things, the Chief Minister will be a participant in talks on the imperatives for harmonising tourism incentives in the OECS; sub regional partnership possibilities with cruise lines; and preparations for the 2007 International Cricket Council’s cricket world cup.
There will also be a status update on joint marketing initiatives in the German market and a report on the status of current OECS tourism statistics initiatives.
On Friday, 6 October, the Chief Minister will attend the formal opening of the OECS tourism office in Puerto Rico which would provide services in trade promotion, tourism investment, and marketing to the British Virgin Islands and other OECS member states.
“Although our Territory has operated a tourism office in Puerto Rico since June 2004, we are still committed to working in support of the OECS office as I am sure there will be numerous avenues for functional cooperation,” the Chief Minister said.
Chairman of the BVI Tourist Board Russell Harrigan is accompanying the Chief Minister to the meeting.
The Chief Minister is joining ministers of tourism from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Anguilla, and St Martin; the Commissioner of Tourism for Saba, St Eustatius, St Barthelemy, and St Maarten; and a representative from Guadeloupe at the meeting.
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