Tourism Roadshow Targets Students

Details

Tourism News

Wednesday, 07 December 2011 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St John's - The Ministry of Tourism recently staged one of its hallmark activities - its annual Hospitality Industry Careers Roadshow to increase students’ awareness about the benefits and opportunities within the tourism and hospitality industry.

Several secondary schools participated, and this year, the programme was expanded to include primary schools with the involvement of Wesleyan Junior Academy and Bolans Primary School.

A release on the event noted that tourism continues to hold its position as the fastest growing industry in the world. It said according to statistical data, the industry accounts for 10.7 percent of the world’s GDP, and with Antigua & Barbuda as the top tourism-dependent nation in the region, it is imperative to start at the base and create the necessary platforms for the youth to understand the importance of tourism.

They should also learn as much as they can about the industry, to give serious thought to considering a career in tourism and to prepare themselves to contribute to giving the industry that competitive edge.

Cynthia Simon, manager - Tourism Education, Training and Awareness within the Ministry of Tourism said, "Educating our youth on tourism, making them aware of the importance of the industry to our nation state as well as tourism career options, and encouraging them to prepare themselves to contribute to the economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainable development must be at the core of efforts directed to the sustainability of our tourism industry."

Participating secondary schools included All Saints Secondary, Antigua Girls' High School, Clare Hall Secondary, Glanvilles Secondary, Ottos Comprehensive School, Pares Secondary, and St Mary’s School of Excellence. Students of the upper level forms, mainly from 4th and 5th, were chosen to be a part of the programme.

The students were given an overview of the industry by experts within the Ministry of Tourism, while stars within the Tourism & Hospitality Industry shared their firsthand experience. Marketing and Public Relations Officer of  the Antigua & Barbuda Hospitality Training Industry (ABHTI) Roxanne Payne provided students with information about training opportunities.

The sessions were very interactive, and the students reportedly showed great enthusiasm. According to the release, "They embraced the opportunity to increase their knowledge about the industry and learn ways in which they can be directly involved and make their contribution to the growth and development of our nation’s engine of economic growth."

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