DoT pays consultants $68K to make new plan
(CNS Business): The Department of Tourism has turned to a Washington-based consultant company to deliver a new National Tourism Plan for the Cayman Islands that officials say will chart a sustainable course for the sector over the next five years. The contract worth CI$67,937.52 was awarded to Solimar International following an open competitive tender process earlier this year, which is expected to result in completed plan before the election next year.
In a release Monday, the DoT described the consultants as “experienced professionals” who have a “vision of how sustainable tourism can stimulate economic growth while conserving natural resources and cultural heritage”.
Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell said the new plan would provide a framework for tourism development and management.
“Sustainable tourism development will be the foundation of the NTP, which will take into account global tourism trends and market opportunities. All these considerations now are critically important; the decisions made will form as a catalyst of purposeful growth and success for future generations,” he said.
Tourism officials noted that the plan will provide recommendations on the way forward for the advancement of the Cayman Islands’ tourism industry beyond the current tourism development plans.
It will cover the period 2017 -2021 and focus on the market potential for growth, industry capacity and sustainability an a national vision.
Director of Tourism Rosa Harris said she was committed to an open and transparent partnership with stakeholders throughout the industry and is hopeful that the industry will participate in the development of this new plan.
“There will be a range of public consultation opportunities as we advance the drafting of the NTP,” Harris stated. “As an industry we must conduct a multi-sectorial approach to ensure the process is comprehensive and focused on maximising value. Ultimately, the goal is to provide a tool to manage the tourism industry and propel our success through providing a distinctive high quality product and promoting it effectively.”
Consultants from Solimar International will be visiting Cayman throughout the contract life, beginning later this month, in order to deliver the new NTP by the first quarter of 2017, the DoT said.
Category: Sustainable Tourism, Tourism
I am not impressed. But then this is not unique to the DoT. The central government and the HSA are also guilty of the same practice. If the CEOs of these organizations keep outsourcing their job by hiring “consultants” to tell everyone what to so, then what are they needed for?