Hon. McKeeva Bush,
Minister of Tourism
Themed 'Service Excellence Works' the Cayman Islands Tourism AwarenessWeek will once again be celebrated during 5 to 9 November.
The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT) has planned anumber of activities for this year and they will be highlightedin a Tourism Awareness Week Supplement to be during week of 29October.
The department said the supplement will contain valuable tourisminformation profiling services and programmes offered by the CIDOTand the staff that provide behind-the-scenes work; plus customerservice tips.
Another component of the 2001 Tourism Awareness activities ispresentation of a Tourism Service Person of the Year award. Nominationswill be invited from the tourism industry and wider public forPersons in the Tourism Sector who are models of 'Service Excellence'.Out of these nominations one person from each of the six districtsof the Cayman Islands will be chosen for awards. Consequently,an overall 'Tourism Service Person of the Year' will be selected.These awards are to be presented at the Department of Tourism'sAnnual General Meeting Luncheon.
Following last year's success, the Test Your Tourism Knowledgequiz will once again be included, providing readers the chanceto win two round trip tickets on Cayman Airways.
"Tourism is everybody's business in Cayman, providing manypositive benefits to those of us who live and work here,"says the Minister of Tourism, the Hon. McKeeva Bush. "Itis therefore essential that all persons involved in the tourismsector, whether directly or indirectly, government or privatesector, front of the house or back of the house, understand theimportance of providing a high quality service on a consistentbasis to all visitors. Remember, 'It takes months to find a customerand seconds to lose one'."
A special tourism message from the Minister of Tourism to ouryoung people will be given to all schools to be read during morningassembly on Caribbean Tourism Day, Tuesday 6 November. On thatday as well, the Cayman Brac High School will be holding theircareers day and luncheon, with the meals being prepared by thestudents, under the guidance of teachers. At this luncheon, CIDOT's2001 Customer Service & Housekeeping course participants fromthe Sister Islands will be presented with training certificates.
On Thursday, 8 October, booklets produced by the CIDOT containingTourism information on a wide variety of subjects will be presentedto schools. This valuable learning resource material will be auseful aid to teachers and students, in their research and schoolprojects.
"Given the effects of the tragic events that took place inthe USA on 11 September and the apparent downturn in travel, weare competing against not only other destinations but circumstancesthat are beyond our control. We have to be diligent in the provisionof quality product and services in order to revive our tourismindustry," says Minister Bush. "We will all have towork together to refine the offerings of the Cayman Islands tocreate a sustainable industry for the future. Realizing this Istrongly urge all residents to participate in Tourism Awarenessweek the Ministry and Department of Tourism looks forward to thesupport of the public during this year's activities."
The November dates of the Cayman Islands' tourism week celebrationscoincide with Caribbean Tourism Day, which falls on 6 November.
The overall objectives for this year's programme are:
· To focus the attention of the general public for a specifiedperiod on the importance of tourism in the Cayman Islands;
· To increase awareness and share information on the importanceof offering excellent quality service on a consistent basis toour visitors;
· To promote greater awareness especially among schoolchildren of the wide variety of lucrative and exciting careeropportunities that exist in the tourism sector;
· To foster greater cooperation and communication withthe public and private sectors and their public.
For further information, contact Alma McKenzie or Ishwar Persadat 244 1253/1256.