Saint Lucia has been voted in as chair of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, with the country’s minister of tourism, Dominic Fedee, taking the role of chairman of the organisation.
The move brings to an end the two-year term of the Bahamas, which ascended to the position in Barbados in 2016.
The election took place at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island where the Caribbean Tourism Organisation held its annual general meeting ahead of the official opening of the State of the Tourism Industry Conference.
Following his election, Fedee said he was humbled and proud that his colleagues had placed their trust in him.
The new chairman stated: “We have an opportunity to advance the strength of our collective purpose.
“We have to spare no effort to use our collaboration at the Caribbean Tourism Organisation level to help to advance the wider integration movement and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation can be seen in the same ilk as West Indies cricket and the University of the West Indies as success stories to unite the Caribbean further.
“The Caribbean is one of the strongest and one of the most iconic and aspirational travel brands in the world but also it is the most underutilised and the opportunity exists for us to ensure that we utilise the strength of the brand for the collective good of the destinations of the Caribbean.”
The Saint Lucian minister has named Tiffany Howard, the acting chief executive officer of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, as chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation board of directors, since, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organisation constitution, the board chairman and the chairman of the Council of Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism must come from the same member country.