CTO TO FOCUS ON DIASPORA NEXT WEEK
NEW YORK (June 2, 2011) – To continue its embrace of the influential overseas-based Caribbean community, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is hosting a major Caribbean Diaspora Forum next Wednesday, June 9 at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square.
The meeting, part of Caribbean Week in New York activities, will unveil the results of a survey on the impact of the Diaspora on Caribbean tourism conducted by the Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy and Services of the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies in Barbados.
“Participating in the CTO’s Diaspora Forum affords us the opportunity to share the significant findings of our research on several Caribbean countries and their corresponding global cities, and to further the discussion on crafting a strategic plan for diasporic tourism in the region,” said Dr. Keith Nurse, director of the Shridath Ramphal Centre and Chairman of CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution.
CAPTION: Trinidadian Dr. Keith Nurse.
Revelations on the economic contribution of the Caribbean Diaspora to the region’s leading industry are expected. The CTO reports that in a presentation entitled “Diaspora Tourism: Strategic Opportunities for the Caribbean,” the Centre will demonstrate how improvement in the financial well-being of the Caribbean Diaspora helps make the Caribbean tourism industry more competitive.
Themed “Re-Discovering Home,” the forum brings together ministers, commissioners and directors of tourism and the Caribbean diaspora to exchange information on the unique selling propositions of the various destinations. The forum follows a series of regional meetings CTO communications officer Johnson Johnrose has been having with Diaspora constituents in North America.
Caribbean Week in New York features a series of consumer events and business meetings, showcasing the diversity and vibrancy of the Caribbean to thousands of New Yorkers and visitors to the Big Apple.
Meanwhile, the stage is set for the first CaribbeanTales New York Film Showcase at the Spike Lee Screening Room at Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus in New York on Saturday, June 11.
The inaugural one-day event, which brings Caribbean Week in New York to a close, features a Filmmakers’ Brunch followed by panel discussions, networking and the screening of two riveting films.
The day’s activities include a gala “Rum and Fishcakes” reception and the screening of the documentary “Fire in Babylon”, the inspiring story of how the West Indies cricket side, one of the most gifted teams in sporting history, triumphed over its colonial masters. Earlier in the day, guests will watch “Calypso Dreams,” arguably the best film ever made about calypso, which explores the roots of kaiso in Trinidad & Tobago.
For further information, visit www.caribbeanweekny.com.
ENDS