Kralendijk (August 30^th, 2017) Last Thursday on August 24^th Tourism Corporation Bonaire (TCB) together with the University of Central Florida (UCF) held a Tourism Summit in order to present the preliminary research findings and based on these results and the feedback received the UCF team will finalize the Tourism Master plan for Bonaire. About 150 attendees among the private sector and the tourism stakeholders attended the Summit.

The intention of this summit was to give insight of the research findings as well as giving the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. Tourism represents 16% of our economy and 20% of all jobs on the island. However, as an island we are far from reaching all of the benefits that tourism can bring for our people. Tourism can help us propel forward and ensure that we broaden the business opportunities by offering better employment for our people.

During the Tourism Summit different insightful information was presented; where we have been and where we are now with tourism, analysis of the product and demand. Other topics presented were product development; what do we sustain, what do we enhance and what do we change and how we generate optimal tourist demand.

“We have collected allot of useful data and have concluded that we have a lot to do to evolve the local community and to raise the awareness and importance of tourism. We are looking forward to the final plan and are extremely excited to finally have a strategic plan for the tourism industry’’ said Director of Tourism, Mr. Maurice Adriaens.

Live streaming of the Tourism Summit can been seen again on the Facebook page of Tourism Corporation Bonaire. The private sector and partners will be receive the slides of the presentation.