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PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands; Friday, November 28, 2008 – The organisations that make up the major partners in assisting the Turks and Caicos Islands to 'Sustaining Service Excellence' were on hand to give talk at the 6th annual Tourism Awareness Conference this week.
This is the first year that this segment has been added to the conference, and by all indications, it wont be the last. In respect of tourism, every organisation in the Turks and Caicos has a role to play in helping the TCI manage, develop and market our tourism product. With the nine major partners on board, everyone knowing their rightful roles, no one is in a vacuum - in bringing forth a seamless coordination in keeping the this country 'Beautiful By Nature'.
Taking place on Wednesday, November 26th at the Beaches Resort and Spa on Providenciales, the stakeholder presentations were one of the highlights of the Tourist Board 19th annual Tourism Awareness Week of activities that is taking place throughout the country.
In his presentation: 'Recognising accommodation as a major component to Tourism', Mr. Caesar Campbell, CEO at the TCI Hotel and Tourism Association reminded all how the hotel industry has become the driving force behind the TCI economy. He added that this, in addition of law firms and banks help to make the TCI more attractive to the visitor and investor alike.
Deputy Director of the Department of Environmental Coastal Resources, Miss. Jewell Batchasigh, stated all tourism has the potential to become much more sustainable; and it is imperative that it be done sustainability to ensure that the environment product is protected. Through 'How conservation and presentation enhance the tourism industry', Miss Batchasigh declared that the characteristics of sustainable tourism would be to reduce pollution and degradation of the local environment; tourism that maintains and strengthens biodiversity, and tourism that maintains and enriches a unique and diverse culture.
Kensely Hamblett, Detective Sergeant with the Royal TCI Police Force spoke of the role of the officer in the community with his focus being: 'Prioritising safety as key factor to tourism'. In it, he stated that the security of tourist is a priority, and: "unless the tourist feel safe, they would not be able to enjoy the beauty of the country."
In presenting 'Empowering entrepreneurs through investment and partnership', Business Advisor at TCInvest Mrs. Sophia Thomas encouraged entrepreneurism among the host population; saying that if Turks and Caicos Islanders are owners of tourism related businesses, "they are more apart of what is actually happening in the industry and can help shape the changes that are needed for it."
Mrs. Ethlyn Gibbs-Williams, CEO at the Turks and Caicos National Trust, gave a talk on 'Recognising the contributions of heritage to the industry' and how unique the TCI heritage is. "We are a group of islands, each island different with something minutely different to promote that is unique to the collective heritage of the TCI." She added that heritage tourism provides job opportunities for persons in TCI from farming, fishing through to basket weaving and other artistry.
Alicia Mullings and Kayleen Atkinson's 'Expressing the power of the aesthetic needs of the industry' was a two-pronged presentation on the public health perspective. Miss Mullings focused on the tourism sector and what is aesthetically needed to keep a clean and sanitary environment. Mrs. Atkinson spoke of what the Environmental Health Department is doing in terms of enhancing food safety in the tourism industry and TCI on a whole.
In his rap-up, Mr. Lindsey Musgrove, Director of Tourism gave a summation of the importance of these agencies inter-working relationships, along with the role of the Tourist Board and what it does in promoting the TCI as a product. "The Board promotes the Turks and Caicos Islands as a leisure tourism destination, and to render tourism as a means of enhancement of the reputation of the Islands and a means of improving the national economy to the benefit of both the Government and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands."
He said that this is achieved through a comprehensive program of research, public relations, promotions, advertising and other marketing strategies. However, for this to be achievable, there are four characteristics of services that must be attainable: intangibility (reduce uncertainty - provide information and confidence about the service); inseparability (understanding the service delivery system); variability (product consistency of a high grade); and perishability (efficient management of capacity and demand).
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