The Tribune

The Minister of Tourism and Aviation will lead the Bahamian delegation to the Caribbean Tourism Organisation's (CTO) Caribbean Week event in New York this week.

Dionisio D'Aguilar will be accompanied by Joy Jibrilu, the Ministry's director-general, and other representatives to the CTO's major annual summit, which is being held from June 2-8 at the Wyndham New Yorker hotel.

Tourism officials, industry professionals, media, students and Caribbean consumers will share and receive updates on the state of tourism in the region, and celebrate the sights, sounds, colour and culture of the Caribbean.

Mr D'Aguilar, Mrs Jibrilu and others will join members of the CTO for a Caribbean diaspora forum, student colloquium and a variety of business sessions, conferences, trade shows, marketplaces and workshops discussing topics related to tourism in the Caribbean. The Rum & Rhythm Benefit, which aids the CTO Foundation, and consumer-oriented events will bring together attendees for Caribbean-inspired food, lively entertainment and networking opportunities.

In his final year as CTO chairperson, Mr D'Aguilar will speak to the current state of the travel industry throughout the Caribbean, providing updates on visitors, hurricane relief efforts and new developments for travellers. He will also attend meetings and media engagements on behalf of the Bahamas.

"I look forward to a week of networking, exchanging ideas and celebrating the Caribbean with the industry's best and brightest at this year's Caribbean Week," said Mr D'Aguilar. "It has been an honour to serve as CTO chairperson and represent this beautiful and culturally rich part of the world, and I look forward to returning to the event in my capacity as minister of tourism in the future."

The week of events will finish with the Caribbean Tourism Industry Awards Dinner on June 7. Mrs Jibrilu will receive the esteemed Allied Award, presented to an individual who has done an extraordinary job of contributing, in a tangible way, to the sustainable development of the region. The Bahamas is also nominated in four categories for the Media Awards portion: 'Virtual Visitor Award': Best Feature in an Online Publication; 'Up the Social Ladder': Best Social Media Marketing Campaign by a CTO Member Country; 'Me Too! I Rediscovered Home!' Best Feature by a Diasporan Journalist in US or Caribbean Media; and 'No Anansi Story!' Best Feature by a Caribbean-based journalist (that appeared in Caribbean-based media).