Continuing its initiative from last year, Jamaica will host the second edition of Global Tourism Resilience Conference to coincide with the 2nd Global Tourism Resilience Day on February 17.

Jamaica has announced its plans for hosting the second edition of the Global Tourism Resilience Conference that would be held at Montego Bay over a two-day period in February.

According to a press statement, the Global Tourism Resilience Conference, that will coincide with the Tourism Resilience Day on February 17 will include panel discussions, networking opportunities, presentations and lively debates on matters of building resilience in tourism. This group of experts in their collective fields will gather to collaboratively discuss issues that are central to future-proofing travel and tourism to various disruptions moving forward.

‘‘At the conference, the issue of global tourism resilience will once again take centre stage with key experts on building resilience in the industry. As tourism destinations continue to recover, it is critical that tenacity is a focus of planning and development to future proof the industry from any potential shock,” says Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism of Jamaica and Founder of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC).

According to the statement, some of the topics that will be discussed include ‘Building Tourism Digital Resilience’, ‘Building Tourism Infrastructure Resilience’, and ‘Women in Tourism Resilience’ among other critical areas surrounding the theme. Among the speakers will be Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness and Secretary-General of UN Tourism Zurab Pololikashvili.

As part of the conference agenda, on February 17, Global Tourism Resilience Day will be celebrated for the second time, recognising the official adoption by the United Nations on February 6 2023, of the resolution to observe the day each year. There will also be a tourism resilience awards gala to recognise individuals and organisations that have contributed to strengthening tourism 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 adaptability is even more urgent, and we must act on this,” says Executive Director of the GTRCMC Lloyd Waller.

The statement adds that over 200 delegates from across the globe are expected to be in attendance in the conference.

“We are preparing to give attendees a warm Jamaican welcome which will leave an indelible mark. There is truly no better backdrop than Jamaica to host this mega conference,” says Donovan White, Director of Tourism.