The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism are preparing to welcome over 1,000 delegates to the 26th Annual Caribbean Tourism Conference (CTC-26) and Ministerial business meetings, taking place Oct. 13-18, 2003 at the Marriott Frenchmanå‘s Reef in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
This year, CTO, along with the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, will host tourism industry officials, representing Caribbean governments, hotels, airlines, cruise lines, travel agents, tour operators, allied members and media representatives from around the world.
CTO is in the process of finalising a program for the conference, which will include a roster of dynamic speakers and will focus on marketing the region over the next four years.
Travel agents and press are encouraged to arrive in St. Thomas on Oct. 14, as their official conference program is scheduled to start on Oct. 15. The successful “Media Day,” an event which is exclusive to CTO Member Countries and the press, returns to the schedule after receiving positive reviews at CTC-25 and will take place throughout the entire day of Oct. 15.

The travel agents product tour is also scheduled to take place on that day.
A series of business meetings is being planned to precede the official conference opening. These CTO business meetings take place Oct. 13-15 and include meetings of the Ministers of Tourism, the Directors of Tourism, CTO’s Board of Directors and Chapter Presidents. The conference officially kicks-off with a keynote address on the morning of Oct. 16.
The Marketing Committee, Sustainable Tourism Development Committee, Blue Flag Committee, Human Resource Development Committee, Executive Committee and the Aviation Committee will also hold meetings ahead of the official opening.
Related Story on Caribbean-Weekly
CTO Ministers to Address Pressing Regional Tourism Issues at Caribbean Week NY

——-