News Americas, FORTE-DE-FRANCE, Martinique, Fri. Oct. 18, 2013: Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, John P. de Jongh, insists Caribbean regional tourism operators are not competitors going after the same guest, but ‘economic co-conspirators.’
The governor made the analysis today as he addressed delegates of the annual Caribbean Tourism Organization, State of the Industry Conference in Martinique.
“ We may be perceived as competitors going after that same guest, but the fact is that we are ‘economic co-conspirators’ trying to attract that visitor in the region and then keeping them as long as possible,” he said.
De Jongh said, as such, the responsibility to the region and the destination is beyond brand image protection.
Focus he said must be on overall economic development, small business creation/entrepreneurship, private sector capital investment and public sector infrastructure investment.
“Therefore, your job is more than just bringing guests in, and giving them a place to sleep or things to do during the day,” he said. “It has a component that we politicians have to embrace as more universal. Requiring this requires us to deal with issues that are hitting us in the face.”
The State of the Industry conference brings together decision-makers from the public and private sectors, academics, government officials, hoteliers, travel professionals and journalists from the region and around the world annually. It wrapped up on October 18th under the theme, “Perfecting the Experience. Delivering Authenticity.”
The conference was organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) in collaboration with the Martinique Tourism Authority. It was supported by Chanflor, Habitation Saint-Etienne, Colibri, Habitation Clement, Chocolat Elot, Travel Zoo, Royal Fruits of Martinique and Opusseven.
