(Press Release)
Tourism Officials took time out this week to recognise and applaud the efforts of the youth of the nation who did remarkably well in the 2017 edition of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association’s (FCCA) Children’s essay contest.
This year Antigua and Barbuda walked away with the 2nd place position in the junior category from within the region, the first time in the history of the competition. The winning essay came from Giovanni Gomez from the St. Anthony’s Secondary School who won the local leg of the contest.
During the formal prize giving ceremony held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Tourism, Tourism Consultant Ms. Shirlene Nibbs, took the opportunity to inform the winning students that their future roles in society will contribute towards the nation’s tourism economy in some tangible way because of the trickle-down effect, hence the time is now to learn about the various aspects of a very dynamic industry.
This year special focus was placed on the importance of the Cruise Tourism sector and this was reflected in the topic for the essay which was “What will cruise passengers learn about my country? What will they remember most and hold with them?” A topic deemed particularly timely as this year Antigua and Barbuda will experience a bumper Cruise season.
2016/2017 Junior Minister of Tourism Ms. Darshanie Singh during her brief remarks noted that “it is by initiatives like these that we are better able to engage our youth within the Tourism Sector of Antigua and Barbuda.” She continued that, “this essay competition enabled our youth to tap into the Cruise sector where the participants were able to choose and area/s of interest, expand on it and showcase a part of Antigua and Barbuda.
Winning students and schools were presented with certificates, plaques and prize monies on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism and the FCCA.
Manager of Tourism Education, Training and Awareness within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tourism and Immigration, Mrs. Petley Knight urges all Principals of local private and public primary and secondary to encourage students to enter into the annual essay contest as it augers well not just for the students’ development in the language arts but for the expansion of tourism awareness studies within our nations’ schools.
