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Bartlett elected to UN tourism group
Published: Tuesday | October 6, 2009
Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett - File
WESTERN BUREAU:
Jamaica's tourism minister, Edmund Bartlett, has been elected to the executive council of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the leading international organisation in the field of tourism.
The UNWTO serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how.
The group also plays a central and decisive role in promoting the [COLOR=orange !important][COLOR=orange !important]development[/COLOR][/COLOR] of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, paying particular attention to the interests of developing countries.
Speaking to The Gleaner from Astana, Kazakhstan (near Russia), where he is attending the UNWTO general assembly, which began yesterday and continues until Thursday, Bartlett said Jamaica's appointment means the country will be a party to all critical planning and programme implementation "and will have a strong voice".
He added: "We will be able to access project support for various global activities, including sustainable tourism development."
Conference vice-chairman
Bartlett, who is playing the role of vice-chairman at the conference, is scheduled to address the 150 ministers and heads of national tourism organisations from all over the world during the plenary session on Jamaica's response to the UNWTO Road [COLOR=orange !important][COLOR=orange !important]Map[/COLOR][/COLOR] to Recovery thrust, as well as the air passenger duty (APD) constraints, [COLOR=orange !important][COLOR=orange !important]visa[/COLOR][/COLOR] restrictions "which I feel is a deterrent to accelerating tourism and [COLOR=orange !important][COLOR=orange !important]travel[/COLOR][/COLOR]", and the cost of travel globally.
Elated by the amount of attention Jamaica has been receiving internationally, Bartlett said the response was really heart-warming.
"There is definitely a demand for Jamaica's ideas and programmes," he noted, adding that the country was being viewed positively in terms of its potential for leadership in the global community.
Commenting on the country's appointment on the council, Ambassador Frank Pringle, who served on the UNWTO for several years while he was tourism minister in 1989 and even after he relinquished the post years later, said this was a plus.
"Certain countries are recognised for their input in tourism. Despite being small, Jamaica's Tourist Board (JTB) is recognised globally much more than it is recognised here. We are recognised for our contribution to tourism and one fact is that there are JTB offices throughout the world. A lot of bigger countries don't have that complex of offices," said Ambassador Pringle.
janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com
Published: Tuesday | October 6, 2009
Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett - File
WESTERN BUREAU:
Jamaica's tourism minister, Edmund Bartlett, has been elected to the executive council of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the leading international organisation in the field of tourism.
The UNWTO serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how.
The group also plays a central and decisive role in promoting the [COLOR=orange !important][COLOR=orange !important]development[/COLOR][/COLOR] of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, paying particular attention to the interests of developing countries.
Speaking to The Gleaner from Astana, Kazakhstan (near Russia), where he is attending the UNWTO general assembly, which began yesterday and continues until Thursday, Bartlett said Jamaica's appointment means the country will be a party to all critical planning and programme implementation "and will have a strong voice".
He added: "We will be able to access project support for various global activities, including sustainable tourism development."
Conference vice-chairman
Bartlett, who is playing the role of vice-chairman at the conference, is scheduled to address the 150 ministers and heads of national tourism organisations from all over the world during the plenary session on Jamaica's response to the UNWTO Road [COLOR=orange !important][COLOR=orange !important]Map[/COLOR][/COLOR] to Recovery thrust, as well as the air passenger duty (APD) constraints, [COLOR=orange !important][COLOR=orange !important]visa[/COLOR][/COLOR] restrictions "which I feel is a deterrent to accelerating tourism and [COLOR=orange !important][COLOR=orange !important]travel[/COLOR][/COLOR]", and the cost of travel globally.
Elated by the amount of attention Jamaica has been receiving internationally, Bartlett said the response was really heart-warming.
"There is definitely a demand for Jamaica's ideas and programmes," he noted, adding that the country was being viewed positively in terms of its potential for leadership in the global community.
Commenting on the country's appointment on the council, Ambassador Frank Pringle, who served on the UNWTO for several years while he was tourism minister in 1989 and even after he relinquished the post years later, said this was a plus.
"Certain countries are recognised for their input in tourism. Despite being small, Jamaica's Tourist Board (JTB) is recognised globally much more than it is recognised here. We are recognised for our contribution to tourism and one fact is that there are JTB offices throughout the world. A lot of bigger countries don't have that complex of offices," said Ambassador Pringle.
janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com