There have been some successful efforts, in the past, to sensitise children in Anguilla about the island’s tourism industry on which the economy and, to a major extent, the livelihoods of a growing number of Anguillians and their families depend. One such initiative has been the “Hello Tourist” drive mainly for older school children.
Now a brand new initiative is out in the pre-primary and primary schools. It is the Pre-Primary Programme Launch of Me! A Tourist Colouring and Activity Book – the brainchild of Mrs. Candis Niles, the Tourism Education Coordinator. The author, an Anguillian ordained Methodist Minister, launched the book on Monday, October 12, at the Teachers’ Resource Centre.
Mr Timothy Hodge
Minister of Education, Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish Rogers, said in part: “Government’s operations are dependent on tourism. Shops, banks, utilities, the construction industry – to name a few – are all heavily influenced by tourism. If we are an economy, driven by tourism, then, in fact, tourism must be everyone’s business. Everybody must have an understanding and an appreciation of Anguilla’s tourism product.
“The best way to instil this understanding, and appreciation, in our students is to start to inculcate this from a very young age. Me! A Tourist Colouring and Activity Book does just that. The book is targeted at pre-primary school and early primary school students. It will help them to understand our rich history and culture. They will better understand why visitors come to our shores; the experiences Anguilla has to offer; and, very importantly, they will develop a sense of pride and patriotism. Beginning this teaching at an early age establishes the foundation for future learning and development. Whether or not students receive further education or careers in tourism, it is important that they have an appreciation for our culture and our tourism product – and what better place to start than the beginning of the educational journey.
“Me! The tourist is the brainchild of the author, Mrs. Candis Niles, and I would like to say a very special thank you to her for having the vision and making it a reality.”
Minister of Tourism, Mr. Haydn Hughes, said. “Thanks to Mrs. Candis Niles for this awesome production…This is just indicative of what Candis has produced all her career. I have had the distinct privilege and honour to work for the period 2010-2015 when, together, we were able to embark on a number of initiatives, including the ‘Hello Tourist’ Programme. This is very important because tourism is key. It is one of the most resilient industries the world over. No matter what happens in the world – tourism will always bounce back. Whether it is a natural disaster or a man-made disaster or Covid, tourism always comes back. If anyone wants to know how important tourism is to us, just look at the state of the economy today. It is a direct result of Covid-19 which prohibits us from having open borders. That tells you the importance of tourism – and when do we ensure that people understand the importance of tourism? It is from the youth and up.”
Mr. Hughes added: “Before tourism came to Anguilla, what was there? We had seasonal salt production and remittances. But, because of tourism, here we are today with all the facilities and services. No matter what we think about tourism, it will always come back.”
Mrs. Niles gave a detailed account about her work and the just-published Colouring and Activity Book. She told her listeners: “I speak to you as the Tourism Education Coordinator of the Tourism Education Programme that we are pursuing in partnership with the Anguilla Tourism and Hotel Association; the Anguilla Tourist Board; and the Education Department, along with the support of key community sponsors.
“Given that tourism is, and will continue to be, for the foreseeable future, the engine driving our economy, the Department of Education, through the office of the Tourism Education Unit, is seeking to work with all stakeholders. This is to ensure that the students of this nation are given the opportunity to pursue tourism and hospitality education that is meaningful.
“This will be achieved through innovative programming at all levels, beginning from pre-primary through to primary and secondary education. It will equip them with the knowledge, skills and experiences that will complement the natural hospitality of our people, thus creating the desired attitude that leads to excellence in the work place at all levels.”
Mr. Timothy Hodge, Director of Social Security, also spoke. He commended Mrs. Niles for her creativity in producing the book and stressed the importance of collaboration and pride in tourism. He pointed out that “if you do not educate people, and if they do not know the product, then our tourism gets us nowhere.” He spoke about how Mrs. Niles had struggled and persevered with the book and he was pleased that the Social Security Board had assisted her in realising her dream in producing the publication.
Other speakers included Mrs. Juliet Simon, President of the Early Childhood Education Association; and Mr. Bren Romney, Chief Education Officer, both of whom commended Mrs. Niles for her work.
The books were distributed to the various pre-primary and primary schools by Mrs. Niles assisted by Ms. Rosanna Browne, Public Relations Officer with the Anguilla Social Security Board.
