ANTIGUA & BARBUDA TOURISM AUTHORITY

Antigua and Barbuda’s participation in the 2012 Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Youth Congress, to be held in St. Kitts, on October 10^th, has been secured with the selection of a new Junior Minister of Tourism.
 

Jenell Attidore of the Antigua Girls’ High School (AGHS) will represent the twin island state during the Tourism Youth Congress which will run from October 9^th to 11^th 2012.
 

Jenell was selected based on her performance during a face-off with  her counterpart from the Christ the King High School, Cocher Josiah at the Ministry of Tourism Conference Room last Thursday 20^th September.   
Each had three minutes to make a presentation on their personal selection of one of two tourism topics stipulated by CTO, after which they both had one minute to address a mystery tourism question.
 

The presentation topics were centered on Sports Tourism and its benefits to the country if properly managed and promoted and the use of Social Media to better promote the entire Caribbean region as a premier tourism destination. The mystery question dealt with the importance of quality customer service to a successful tourism industry.
 

The head to head clash was adjudicated by Mrs. Idona George, Education Zone Officer within the Ministry of Education, Ms. Beverly Samuel, Human Resource Manager of Rex Resorts, Antigua and Ms. Vashti Ramsey, Product Development Officer, Ministry of Tourism. Present were staff within the Ministry of Tourism, as well as parents and well-wishers of the participants.

Jenell will be accompanied by Mrs. Cynthia Simon, Manager of Tourism Education, Training and Awareness within the Ministry of Tourism, as well as alternate, Cocher Josiah. The event will take place at St. Kitts Mariott Resort.
 

Over the past five years of Antigua Barbuda’s participation in the CTO Youth Congress, the selected Junior Ministers of Tourism– Andrena Athill (CKHS) - 2006, Kaieron Saunders (AGHS)- 2008, Cassandra Vital (CKHS) – 2011 were all named among the top three participants in the Congress.  
 

The CTO Youth Congress is structured to mirror a CTO Board of Director’s Meeting during which the Junior Ministers/Commissioners of Tourism are expected to put forward their own views and the views of their country on the topics to be discussed.