Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 16, 2016 (SKNIS): The Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Hotel and Tourism Association (HTA) decided that it was important to dedicate the entire month of November as Tourism Awareness Month 2016, as the aim is for all to be fully aware about the tourism sector in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, while at the same time placing great focus on youth.
“We all agree that tourism is the major engine of growth and social development in the Federation. We employ about 25 percent of the workforce and because of these important factors it is important for us to sensitize the public about tourism and how we can protect the industry so that future generations can benefit from it,” said Alistair Williams, Chairman of Tourism Awareness Month Committee, while appearing on Wednesday’s (November 16) edition of “Working for You”. “This year, however, we have decided to focus our attention on our youth because we feel that they are the keepers of our patrimony, they are the ones who will help to develop and sustain the industry for future generations.”
He further added that the decision was made to focus on the youth so that they in return can better understand what tourism is all about, the importance of tourism to the Federation and how they can protect it.
“The protection is very important, but in order for us to do that, we must first understand it,” he said. “And so our drive this month is to reach out to our communities, reach out to the public at large as to what are some of the developments in tourism and opportunities that are also available in tourism as well. Because the whole idea is for us to accept visitors as they come here in our country, but at the same time they spend money and that money is used to develop and create livelihoods for most of our people.”
He reiterated that it is the Ministry’s hope to sensitize the public in general about what tourism means to all, how one can better understand the visitors that come to the shores of St. Kitts and Nevis, and how one can help to sustain the industry so that future generations can also enjoy the benefits of tourism.
