INTRODUCTION
As part of our local tourism awareness programme, the Cayman Islands Ministry of Tourism and Ports & Department of Tourism will host the 2023 Tourism Video Competition. The competition is open to students currently enrolled in a Cayman Islands secondary school who are between 14 and 17 years of age.
The winning student will be designated “Tourism Ambassador” for a period of one year, as part of their prize. The “Tourism Ambassador” may be given the opportunity to take part in suitable tourism activities throughout the year including at Ministry of Tourism and/or Department of Tourism-sponsored events. The 2023 Tourism Ambassador will have the opportunity to represent the Cayman Islands and participate in the Caribbean Tourism Organisation's Tourism Youth Congress which will be held in the Turks and Caicos Islands in October 2023.
Target Group: Ages 14-17
Dates/Activities: Year-round events
Registration deadline: 18 September 2023 at 11:59PM
Tourism Ambassador Winner Announcement: World Tourism Day, 27 September 2023
Criteria for submission:
- Must be a student enrolled in a Cayman Islands secondary school
- Must be 14 - 17 years of age as at 8 October 2023
- Actively involved in school debates, general knowledge quizzes, etc
- Knowledgeable of tourism
- Pick one of the topics listed (below) and create a video presentation
- Video presentation must be audible, well-lit, and of good quality
- Video Presentation must be 3 minutes maximum
- Business attire to be worn in video presentation
- Must not have been a past Tourism Video Competition winner or Ambassador
TOPICS
Choose one (1) topic from below to virtually present on:
TOPIC I: PROMOTING MULTI-GENERATIONAL TRAVEL
Some call it “multigenerational travel,” others call it “grand tripping.” The idea of grandparents traveling with their children and grandchildren is very evident today and, for the past 10 years, has been one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry, according to the Travel Industry Association in the U.S.A.
According to travel experts, the most important part of organising a three-generation vacation is to be able to accommodate everyone’s needs.
As Tourism Ambassador in your country, share what advice you would give to your government to facilitate and promote multigenerational travel to your country and how your country’s tourism products and services should cater to the varied needs of the three generations.
TOPIC II: ATTRACTING CAYMAN ISLANDS YOUTH TO CAREERS IN TOURISM
It is said that the Caribbean is the most tourism-dependent region in the world and one in every four persons either directly or indirectly works in tourism in our region.
More countries in the Caribbean are increasingly turning towards tourism as their main economic activity, as their other traditional industries diminish. The Cayman Islands has been developing its tourism industry since the early 1900s and has experienced explosive growth in the past 50 years. Given the substantial numbers of employees recruited from around the world to serve the needs of Cayman Islands visitors, it is clear that the Cayman Islands, as does the region, needs a highly skilled tourism workforce to continue to be competitive globally.
The tourism industry has roles which offer strong wages and salaries, high levels of personal and professional fulfillment for the postholder, varied opportunities in many tourism sub-sectors including accommodation, food and beverage, adventure and recreation, attractions, transportation, tourism services, the travel trade, and numerous entrepreneurial opportunities.
As Tourism Ambassador in your country, share the measures would you recommend be put in place to encourage more young people to seriously consider lending their talents to build and grow Cayman Islands tourism for the betterment of the country.
TOPIC III: SUPPORTING COMMUNITY TOURISM
Community development and tourism development have much in common, including their potential impacts. When properly understood and managed, they can even be combined to great effect ... generating valuable mutual benefits. Credible research studies now also show a surprisingly harmonious overlap of visitor and resident values.
Local Community Values and Growing Trends in Visitor Values
- Authenticity
- Respect for environment
- Concern for community wellbeing
- Managed, sustainable levels of development
- Retain local character / seek distinct local character
Careful integrated tourism planning, marketing and management practices can aim to deliberately reflect and target such trends - as part of a wider strategy to maximise tourism's benefits, while minimizing potential, undesired impacts.
As Tourism Ambassador, share your ideas on how to get local communities to benefit from tourism and allow tourists to benefit from what the local communities have to offer.
For complete competition details and details on the Evaluation Criteria, please click here.