Posted by: Editor on Jan 24, 2007 – 09:46 AM
newsandinfo Senior management officials of the Ministry of Tourism in Grand Bahama participated in a thanksgiving service Sunday morning at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Jones Town, Eight Mile Rock, as part of the activities for National Tourism Week.
In New Providence, National Tourism Week officially commenced on Saturday, January 20, with a health fun/run/walk. Ministry officials in New Providence also attended morning worship service Sunday at Mt. Zion Baptist Church on East and Shirley Street.
The week of activities include a performance of the play, “Behind the Yellow Line” by the Grand Bahama Players, and will climax with the prestigious 11th Annual Cacique Awards on Friday, January 26 at the Rainforest Theatre at the Wyndham Nassau Resort.
The awards became synonymous with quality service and long-standing achievement and showcases winners from 18 categories.
There are three finalists from Grand Bahama this year: Bridgette Major Donaldson, who has been nominated in the Human Resources category for The College of The Bahamas; Neil Rolle, of the Westin and Sheraton at Our Lucaya Beach and Golf Resort, a candidate for Chef of the Year; and Brendalee Silver, also of Our Lucaya, who is the nominee in the Employee of the Year category.
The Grand Bahama nominees and former Cacique Award winners also attended yesterday’s Grand Bahama church service.
Pastor of the local congregation, Rev. Lindy Russell was pleased to have the tourism officials attend the morning worship service, to give God thanks for “what he has done and what he is about to do.”
He encouraged those in charge “to continue to trust in the Lord as they strategise avenues to cause visitors to come to The Bahamas, particularly Grand Bahama.”
Russell praised them for their past efforts and encouraged them to continue working hard.
Senior Director of Tourism Jeritzen Outten read the ‘Proclamation’ from the Ministry of Tourism declaring this Tourism Week.
National Tourism Week is geared towards motivating Bahamians on how the tourism industry affects all sectors of the economy.
The theme for the second annual event is “My Bahamas Marketplace” and Ministry of Tourism officials say it is important for Bahamians to know that the industry affects everyone.
The aim during the week of January 20 – 26 is to increase tourism-related linkages and lower the percentage of tourism earnings currently being leaked outside of The Bahamas.
The industry provides 63 percent of all jobs in The Bahamas and constitutes more than 50 percent of the gross domestic product and Director General of Tourism Vernice Walkine is expected to outline the marketing and advertising initiatives which the tourism ministry has engaged in for the islands of The Bahamas.
Source: The Freeport News