KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – Tourism Minister Saboto Caesar returns to the country on today, Sept. 7, after completing an official visit to the Taiwan.
While in Taipei, Caesar discussed with Foreign Affairs Minister Timothy C.T Yang means through which both nations can work together to enhance the tourism sector in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“This country’s tourism sector may soon stand to benefit significantly, if we are able to tap into the Taiwanese Diaspora resident in the United States of America and Europe as a niche non-traditional source market,” Caesar said, according to a press statement from his ministry on Tuesday.
The statement said Caesar stressed that the international airport being built at Argyle is key to harnessing such possibilities.
According to the release, Caesar, in his presentation in Taipei, stressed the opportunities for further creatively strengthening the bonds between the two countries through tourism.
The Tourism Minister is optimistic that the relevant governmental apparatuses in both countries can work together to set out the appropriate strategic framework that can cause more persons from Taiwan to want to vacation in SVG.
He added that once successful, this initiative could trigger exponential growth in the country’s tourist arrival figures as early as 2014.
Caesar was grateful to the government and people of Taiwan for their assistance in the construction of the Argyle International Airport and for the projected resultant benefits that the project will have on the tourism sector and, by extension, the national economy.
He also held consultations with the government of Taiwan’s Small and Medium Enterprise Administration in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Tourism Bureau, and the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund.
Caesar also visited the Taichung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, the Changhua Christian Hospital and the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Site, in central Taiwan.
Minister Caesar said that the visit was a success and that he looks forward to the continued excellent working relations between the two governments.