Jamaica to stage second tourism resilience conference in Montego Bay in Feb.

Plans are underway for the second staging of the Global Tourism Resilience Conference in Montego Bay, Jamaica. 

Taking place February 16 and 17, the conference will include panel discussions, networking opportunities, presentations and debates on matters of building resilience in tourism. 

Experts will collaboratively discuss issues that are central to future-proofing travel and tourism to disruptions, according to a news release. 

READ MORE: On Location - Resilience, Sandals updates & exploring Kingston, Jamaica at GTRC

“Global tourism resilience will once again take center stage with key experts speaking about building resilience in the industry. As tourism destinations continue to recover, it is critical that resilience be a focus of planning and development to future-proof the industry from any potential shock,” said Edmund Bartlett, founder of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) and Minister of Tourism, Jamaica.

The conference was born out of the urgent need to protect tourism-dependent countries from catastrophic disruptors, as PAX learned while covering last year's inaugural event, which was held at the University of the West Indies in Kingston. 

Some of the topics that will be discussed this year include ‘Building Tourism Digital Resilience,’ ‘Building Tourism Infrastructure Resilience,’ and ‘Women in Tourism Resilience’ along with other critical topics, a press release says. 

Among the speakers will be Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, and HE. Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the UNWTO.

As part of the conference agenda, on Feb. 17, Global Tourism Resilience Day will be celebrated for the second time, recognizing the official adoption by the United Nations on Feb. 6, 2023, of the resolution to observe the day each year. 

There will also be a tourism resilience awards gala to recognize individuals and organizations that have contributed to building tourism resilience globally.

“I am truly pleased that tourism resilience will be top of mind over the two-day period where we will get more insights into how destinations can better equip themselves in the face of disruptions. COVID-19 proved that tourism resilience is even more urgent, and we must act on this,” said Professor Lloyd Waller, executive director of the GTRCMC.

It is anticipated that more than 200 delegates from across the globe will be in attendance. 

“We are preparing to give attendees a warm Jamaican welcome which will leave a lasting positive impression, said Donovan White, director of tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board. “There is truly no better backdrop than Jamaica to host this mega conference.”

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