Leaders urged to put tourism on front burner

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Dr Rufus Ewing, Premier of the Turks and Caicos, has echoed a call by T&T’s Tourism Minister Stephen Cadiz for regional leaders to put tourism high on the agenda. Premier Dr Ewing, speaking at the final press briefing on the last day of the 14th Annual Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC-14) on Thursday at the Hyatt Regency, said “tourism has to be led in front by leaders.” He was agreeing with Cadiz who said support from leadership is critical. 
“Tourism should be at the forefront of the Caricom agenda,” he said. Dr Ewing, who also holds the portfolio for tourism, said more leaders should be involved with conferences such as the Sustainable Tourism Conference. Expressing concern about intra-regional travel, Dr Ewing also pledged his support for the One Caribbean concept: “We need to find ways to ensure visitors can move around to get a true Caribbean experience.”