The Tourism is Key Group, meeting on the grounds of the Tourist Board, has taken a close look at how the hospitality industry serves as an important public and private sector component in the development of Anguilla.
Tourism is key is currently a slogan being used on billboards in various parts of the island to sensitise members of the public about the importance of the industry. It also emphasises their role in promoting and safeguarding tourism for the continued development of Anguilla.
The meeting on July 26 took the form of a public forum. The welcome remarks were delivered by Chairman of the Tourist Board, Eustace Guishard, and introductory remarks were given by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Foster Rogers.
The main presentations were as follows: The Economic Impact of Tourism – Why Tourism is Key by Claudel Romney of KPMG; Tourism and You – What happens if tourism fails by Wilmoth Hodge, President of the Anguilla Taxi Association and Business Consultant, Marcel Fahie; Challenges to survival in a shrinking economy by Delroy Lake, President of the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association; and A brief report on the Sustainable Tourism Master Plan by Jasmin Garraway, Coordinator for the Tourism Sector Development Project.
The final presentation, on the Way Forward, was by member of the Anguilla Tourist Board, Oliver MacDonna.
The presentations were followed by open discussions which attracted much interest among the many persons in attendance. The participants were drawn from the Ministry of Tourism, the Anguilla Hotel and Tourism Association and the general business community.
