By Shelton Daniel
The Ministries of Tourism and National Festivals are closely collaborating to ensure that Antiguans and Barbudans, especially those in the formative stages, develop a better understanding and appreciation of the tourist industry and it critical importance to the country.
The newest way they are attempting to do so is via a multi-part video series titled Our Tourism Classroom.
Director of National Festivals, Petley O’Keiffe-Knight, told us the five video segments are designed to shed some light on the issues surrounding tourism and people’s perception of the industry.
“We came up with a five-part series that focuses on five different areas of tourism,” she explained. “First we cover why our tourist comes and . . . who is a tourist. It reinforces the need that we should not begin to assume that we know what a tourist looks like, and why we should always give the best service.”
O’Keiffe-Knight said no matter where one works, “We cannot afford to have one bad day . . . because that can have such a domino effect on the industry.”
Regardless of the establishment involved, she stressed, there should be unwavering commitment to providing the best possible service. “Don’t take [any] chances, because we don’t know why people actually visit.”
Each of these industry videos is reportedly designed “to hold up a mirror to the community while tackling myths about tourism and who benefits”, she stated, adding that the content also addresses issues of sustainability, entrepreneurship and civic responsibility.
Another of the audiovisual packages is titled “Beyond the Beach” and its focus is to highlight the sustainability of tourism through the numerous examples that exist by way of hospitality investments and projects throughout the twin-island state.
“The fourth one has to do with the blueprint of tourism,” O’Keiffe-Knight continued. “We’re telling Antiguans and Barbudans there’s so much to offer in tourism. You can come up with a business idea and you can make it work for you.”
She based that conviction on a “plethora of individuals who have been very successful in the tourism product, and they’re actually highlighted in the film too.”
The fifth and final video in the series is titled “The Business of Tourism”, featuring several hospitality industry investors and entrepreneurs sharing what has (and hasn’t) worked for them in making a success of their ventures.
The National Festivals’ Director told us the series will be on television and in every classroom; noting that, according to her, this is the first time tourism videos of this type are being produced for Antiguans & Barbudans.
The videos will also be downloadable for free via YouTube, according to Ms. Petley O’Keiffe-Knight.
The Ministries of Tourism and National Festivals are closely collaborating to ensure that Antiguans and Barbudans, especially those in the formative stages, develop a better understanding and appreciation of the tourist industry and it critical importance to the country.
The newest way they are attempting to do so is via a multi-part video series titled Our Tourism Classroom.
Director of National Festivals, Petley O’Keiffe-Knight, told us the five video segments are designed to shed some light on the issues surrounding tourism and people’s perception of the industry.
“We came up with a five-part series that focuses on five different areas of tourism,” she explained. “First we cover why our tourist comes and . . . who is a tourist. It reinforces the need that we should not begin to assume that we know what a tourist looks like, and why we should always give the best service.”
O’Keiffe-Knight said no matter where one works, “We cannot afford to have one bad day . . . because that can have such a domino effect on the industry.”
Regardless of the establishment involved, she stressed, there should be unwavering commitment to providing the best possible service. “Don’t take [any] chances, because we don’t know why people actually visit.”
Each of these industry videos is reportedly designed “to hold up a mirror to the community while tackling myths about tourism and who benefits”, she stated, adding that the content also addresses issues of sustainability, entrepreneurship and civic responsibility.
Another of the audiovisual packages is titled “Beyond the Beach” and its focus is to highlight the sustainability of tourism through the numerous examples that exist by way of hospitality investments and projects throughout the twin-island state.
“The fourth one has to do with the blueprint of tourism,” O’Keiffe-Knight continued. “We’re telling Antiguans and Barbudans there’s so much to offer in tourism. You can come up with a business idea and you can make it work for you.”
She based that conviction on a “plethora of individuals who have been very successful in the tourism product, and they’re actually highlighted in the film too.”
The fifth and final video in the series is titled “The Business of Tourism”, featuring several hospitality industry investors and entrepreneurs sharing what has (and hasn’t) worked for them in making a success of their ventures.
The National Festivals’ Director told us the series will be on television and in every classroom; noting that, according to her, this is the first time tourism videos of this type are being produced for Antiguans & Barbudans.
The videos will also be downloadable for free via YouTube, according to Ms. Petley O’Keiffe-Knight.