Travis Robinson of C R Walker Secondary School will serve as Junior Minister of Tourism over the next year, after winning the annual Junior Minister of Tourism Speech Competition at Breezes Resort on April 11.
Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe will mentor Robinson, personally educating him on the industry and giving life lessons to assist in his career development. Just before announcing Robinson as winner, Minister Wilchcombe congratulated all the contestants who represented 14 islands. He said he took notes on their speeches about whether the Bahamas is keeping stride with tourism because he understands the competition that the Bahamas faces.
The day before, Minister Wilchcombe met with cruise industry representatives in Miami, who told him about several developments around the world.
“They did say that in the Caribbean, the Bahamas continues to lead in cruise and that is because of all that you spoke about today that we have,” Minister Wilchcombe said. “A survey just released last week showed that of all the countries in the Caribbean, the most desired destination where 67 percent of people who earn more than $125,000 would wish to come is the Bahamas. So it tells you that we have it all here.”
For his win, Robinson received a scholarship to the College of The Bahamas worth close to $20,000 from the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association. He also received a laptop computer from Micronet Limited and Bahamas gift items from the Bahamas Logo Store.
Second Place went to Audrey Culmer of Exuma’s LN Coakley High School. She received a mini laptop computer from Micronet Limited and Bahamas logo gifts from the Bahamas Logo Store. Third place finisher Ryan Rolle of Preston Albury Senior High School, Eleuthera, received a digital camera or Ipod from Micronet Limited.
Related:
Four of Eleuthera’s High Schools participated in a local competition on March 5th, to determine the Jr. Tourism Rep for the island to go on to the national competition. Mr. Ryan Rolle of Preston H. Albury High School was adjudged winner of the local competition. The local participants are pictured above at the Resource Center in Savannah Sound (L-R): Lucy Pierre (HIAAS), Tatiana Knowles (CEHS), Eleuthera winner – Ryan Rolle (PHAHS), Eleuthera organizer with the Ministry of Tourism, Teri Sands-Bonnette, Cenize Louissaint (CEHS), Nameka Forbes (WHS), and Eleuthera runner-up Kendisha Forbes (PHAHS).
