Great Bay – St. Maarten was recently represented at the 18th conference of Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) on Sustainable Tourism in St. Lucia.
Among those attending the four-day conference, was Windward Islands Airways International NV (Winair) chairman of the board, Mr. A. Fernando William who had been one of several invited panelists at a forum discussing the state of Caribbean tourism from an airline perspective. The panel consisted of an impressive line up of professionals, including the Honorable Minister of Tourism and Aviation of St. Lucia, Mr. Allen Chastanet.
Topics focused on during Mr. William's presentation were challenges faced by small Caribbean based airlines in an increasingly competitive market, traveler concerns regarding the cost of airfares and how airlines, airport and governments need to work closer together in improving the visitor experience.
Following the presentation, quite a number of questions were posed by the audience in a effort to better understand the aviation industry's policy on the whole as it relates to the environment, fares, sustainability and incentives for the traveler.
Held from December 3rd to December 7th, the event, known as CMEx, was well attended by a cross section of business professionals, media personalities, tourism directors and CTO representatives. Delegates attending came from across the Caribbean, the United States, Latin America and as far as the African continent.
While in St. Lucia, Mr. William, as Chairman of WINAIR, had some exploratory talks about the prospects of WINAIR providing additional airlift to and from that island as well. During recent months the airline which celebrates 48 years of existence, has been asked to consider providing airlift.
Mr. William who has an extensive background in local, regional and international business development as well as in the tourism sector said that he was "very pleased to have been selected to be amongst the distinguished panel of professionals to speak at CMEx. "
Since its inception in October 2001, CMEx has become the premier communications organization promoting sustainable tourism, through media and smart partnerships, to create holistic wealth for all peoples, including those in Latin America, the Caribbean and other Emerging Markets.
CMEx began with the inspiration of Counterpart International to improve the quality of media coverage of sustainable tourism in the Caribbean. Further, it sought to increase the input of the media in the design of sustainable tourism policies, and highlight the necessity of tourism to the economies of small island states.
Extending invitations to members of the media has proven to be one of the quickest ways for CMEx to spread the sustainable tourism message to the masses. The organizers of the conference, (Dr. Basil Springer and Mr. Bevan Springer) promote the mingling of journalists, both Caribbean and international, and members of the hospitality sector, in order that synergies will result for the betterment of island peoples.