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Coordinator's Note : Ja creates history at UNWTO
Jamaica was elected first vice-chair of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Executive Council (EC) for 2013, at their recent meeting in Mexico.
The country has served as second vice-chair, but was elevated following a successful bid during an election at the 94th meeting of the EC.
Stakeholders in the tourist industry understands how critical this position is and how pivotal it is to the decision-making process by the leaders of world tourism.
Having spent the last 25 years growing with the industry, it was a proud moment watching Jamaica's minister of tourism and entertainment, Dr Wykeham McNeill, chairing the meeting.
Dr McNeill is fluent in Spanish, so it was possibly easy for him to communicate with his Hispanic counterparts.
But, Minister McNeill was not speaking to the Hispanic members, he had the ears of a powerful group of decision makers that comprises some 32 nations. The UNWTO itself has a membership of 155 countries from six regions, namely Africa, the Americas, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia.
There are also six associate members and 400 affiliate members representing private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities. Representatives are observers at the council meetings.
Again, Jamaica has proven that it 'lickle but tallawah'!
Up to eight years ago, many people here in the media never even batted an eye when the word 'tourism' was mentioned, because it was unimportant as far as they were concerned. In fact, they didn't understand the importance of the industry and felt it was as foreign as the visitors who land on our shores.
Today, the industry is the largest sector in terms of employment and the second-largest source of net foreign-exchange inflows. Today, Jamaica boasts some of the best resorts, if not the best, and the most diverse attractions in the Caribbean. We have also managed to keep our arrival figures at levels not many in the region can boast of.
What this tells us is that tourism is here to stay. It is part of our lives and is not as fickle as they would have us believe. It affects every fibre of the society, whether you are the harasser on the streets, the housekeeper at a villa, a receptionist at a resort, the taxi man who drives the workers or the lecturer who lectures in tourism management.
So, for a small island nation this size to be chairing some of the most important meetings at the UNWTO, it's really a big deal! The role of the Executive Council includes the governance of the UNWTO - responsibility for ensuring that the UNWTO carries out its policies and work programmes, while adhering to its
Jamaica was elected first vice-chair of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Executive Council (EC) for 2013, at their recent meeting in Mexico.
The country has served as second vice-chair, but was elevated following a successful bid during an election at the 94th meeting of the EC.
Stakeholders in the tourist industry understands how critical this position is and how pivotal it is to the decision-making process by the leaders of world tourism.
Having spent the last 25 years growing with the industry, it was a proud moment watching Jamaica's minister of tourism and entertainment, Dr Wykeham McNeill, chairing the meeting.
Dr McNeill is fluent in Spanish, so it was possibly easy for him to communicate with his Hispanic counterparts.
But, Minister McNeill was not speaking to the Hispanic members, he had the ears of a powerful group of decision makers that comprises some 32 nations. The UNWTO itself has a membership of 155 countries from six regions, namely Africa, the Americas, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia.
There are also six associate members and 400 affiliate members representing private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities. Representatives are observers at the council meetings.
Again, Jamaica has proven that it 'lickle but tallawah'!
Up to eight years ago, many people here in the media never even batted an eye when the word 'tourism' was mentioned, because it was unimportant as far as they were concerned. In fact, they didn't understand the importance of the industry and felt it was as foreign as the visitors who land on our shores.
Today, the industry is the largest sector in terms of employment and the second-largest source of net foreign-exchange inflows. Today, Jamaica boasts some of the best resorts, if not the best, and the most diverse attractions in the Caribbean. We have also managed to keep our arrival figures at levels not many in the region can boast of.
What this tells us is that tourism is here to stay. It is part of our lives and is not as fickle as they would have us believe. It affects every fibre of the society, whether you are the harasser on the streets, the housekeeper at a villa, a receptionist at a resort, the taxi man who drives the workers or the lecturer who lectures in tourism management.
So, for a small island nation this size to be chairing some of the most important meetings at the UNWTO, it's really a big deal! The role of the Executive Council includes the governance of the UNWTO - responsibility for ensuring that the UNWTO carries out its policies and work programmes, while adhering to its
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