TOURISM WEEK 2010 KICKS OFF WITH A BANG!

GVP @ Venus Beach
Bethel M. School @ SECAR

GdGraaf School @ Tourist Office

Keynote Speaker Dr. Colmore Christian

Tourism Staff @ Gala Dinner

SDA School @ Sport complex

G. Rock School @ Sport complex

Oranjestad-St.Eustatius, The 4th annual Tourism week which ends with a Gala dinner kicked off at Fort Oranje. Act. Director of Tourism Mr. Charles Lindo officially opened Tourism week at Fort Oranje on Monday September 20 2010 by welcoming everyone present.

The theme for this year is Biodiversity and Tourism. Simply said: What does the Environment and Tourism have in common? Mr. Lindo further informed everyone that this is the fourth year but number 5 is yet to come and there will be some changes. He said there have already been talks with teachers to see how they can change the program for 2011 and to improve on the “tourism week” product.

The programme continued with the singing of the National anthem by Miss k’lah Courtar, speeches by Commissioner of Tourism Mr. Julian Woodley, Public Relations Officer Miss Makeba Mitchell, Manager of Product Development & Research Mrs. Maya Leon-Pandt and the singing of the theme song “Beautiful Statia ” by the students of all the elementary schools on the island coordinated by Mr. Amajan.

After receiving some refreshments the students all got a chance to tour the newly constructed Sports Auditorium at the Cottage Ball Park.
On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday selected students from the four elementary schools on the island went on excursions to the various companies on the island such as N.V. G.E.B.E, EUTEL NV, Nustar Terminal NV, Health Department and Culture Department including a hike to Venus Bay and visits to the Miriam Schmidt Botanical Garden.

Friday September 24 2010 the elementary schools brought their projects- based on Biodiversity and Tourism-to the Tourist Office where they will remain on display for one week. The general public is invited to stop in and see these projects from Monday to Friday between 8:00 am-12:00 noon or 1:00 pm-5:00 pm and see how creative our students really are.

To finalize Tourism week the Tourist Office held their Annual Gala Dinner and Award Ceremony on Saturday September 25 2010. There were awards for Best Dive Shop, Taxi Driver etc. It is very important for the owners of the different hospitality establishments to reward their employees with the opportunity to attend this wonderful event which is specially held in their honor. We all know that as a hospitality worker one does not get much time to pamper oneself.

"This Award Gala Dinner is held to thank each and every one of you for a job well-done and to say thank you for your hard work and dedication to the continued improvement of our Tourism Product" said Mr. Lindo.

The key note speaker for this evening was Dr. Christian S. Colmore PhD.

Dr. Colmore is the assistant professor of Ecology, Forestry and Wildlife at Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, AL. After this everyone enjoyed a delicious meal while being entertained by the sweet sounds of Joey & Friends.

On behalf of the St.Eustatius Tourism Development Foundation, the Act. Deputy Director of Tourism Mr. Charles Lindo and Staff, we say thank you to all the stakeholders involved in the Tourism Sector and the general public for their votes and support.