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Statement from the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre on the Passage of Super-Typhoon Hagibis

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The recent passage of Typhoon Hagibis last week was a stark reminder of the urgent need for resilient societies effectively prepared to confront historic storms and extreme weather events.

The consequent loss of over 70 lives and disruption to daily activities with over 5,000 persons in shelters; 230,000 evacuees ahead of the storm; over 9,960 homes flooded, thousands of homes without electricity and water; and cancellation of World Rugby Cup 2019 matches highlight a few of the focus areas for immediate action in crafting resilience policies – energy, water, housing, transportation, health and sports tourism.


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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCM), stands ready to advance on discussions to establish a satellite center of the GTRCM in Japan as both countries have a wealth of expertise, good practices and experiences in effectively managing the aftermath of natural disasters.

In a letter to the Tourism Minister of Japan, Hon. Keiichi Ishii, the Co-Chairman of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, Hon. Edmund Bartlett says, “I express deepest sympathies with you, the people and Government of Japan following the passage of super typhoon Hagibis which has claimed more than 70 lives and caused widespread destruction in its wake.”

The trajectory and intensity of Typhoon Hagibis caused record rainfall in Tokyo with severe flooding as more than twenty rivers in the central and northeastern Japan had burst their banks. The repeated historic records of these natural disasters demand that resilience discussions and efforts be innovative and forward thinking to brace against nature’s exponential increase in intensity and impact.

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The establishment of satellite centers in countries such as Japan which have a track record of effectively responding to and recovering from natural disasters and other disruptions to sustainable development will enhance the growing body of research and innovative solutions to “build back better”.

The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, launched earlier this year, was established to  assist global tourism destinations with destination preparedness, management and recovery from disruptions and/or crises that impact tourism and threaten economies and livelihoods globally, include climate and seismic events.

For more information on Jamaica, click here.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, Corporate Communications, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: 920-4926-30, Fax: 920-4944

Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre to establish 5 Satellite Centers in Africa

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Jamaica Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett has announced that the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCM) will be establishing satellite centers in Kenya, Seychelles, South Africa, Nigeria, and Morocco to expand their reach within the continent.

This agreement emanated from discussions held in the margins of the 23rd session of the UNWTO General Assembly, currently taking place in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The Satellite Centres will focus on regional issues and will share information in Nano time with the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre. They will then function as think tanks to develop possible solutions.

Each Minister has the responsibility of identifying a university in their respective countries, to collaborate with the University of the West Indies and by extension the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre.

Relevant memoranda of understanding are also being finalized to facilitate this agreement, beginning with the satellite Centre in Kenya.

This comes on the heels of President of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta’s assumption as Honorary Co-Chair of the GTRCM for Africa last month.

President Kenyatta joins the esteemed ranks of Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness and Her Excellency, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, former President of Malta, who are also GTRCM honorary co-chairs.

The Governments of Jamaica and the Republic of Kenya also recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to broaden cooperation in tourism. Among the many areas listed in the framework for cooperation are the promotion of safe, ethical and sustainable tourism; collaboration on addressing risk related to tourism resilience and crisis management, through research and development, policy advocacy and communication management, and training and capacity building.

While in Russia, the Minister has been championing the efforts of the GTRCM.  He used his platform to address the General Assembly to speak about the disruptions in the Caribbean, with particular focus on the Bahamas and its recent experience with Hurricane Dorian. His speech was welcomed by the UNWTO General Assembly, which in turn has expressed solidarity with the government and people of the Bahamas.

The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, which was first announced in 2017, operates in a global context that is characterized by not only new challenges, but also new opportunities for tourism in an effort to improve the tourism product as well as to ensure the sustainability of tourism globally. The ultimate purpose of the Centre is to assist destination preparedness, management and recovery from disruptions and/or crises that impact tourism and threaten economies and livelihoods globally.

The Minister and his delegation are expected to return from Russia on September 14, 2019.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, Corporate Communications, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: 920-4926-30, Fax: 920-4944

Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre Developing Broad Coalition to Aid in Great Abaco and Grand Bahama Relief Efforts

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Today, the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCM), one of the first international organizations dedicated to providing resources and support to tourism-dependent nations around the world, announced that it is mobilizing efforts to assist the Bahamas following the devastating effects of Hurricane Dorian.

Former UNWTO Secretary General and GTRCM Co-chair, Dr. Taleb Rifai, stated, “while the damage caused by Hurricane Dorian is truly devastating, the 700 islands that comprise the Commonwealth of the Bahamas are intact and open for business. The GTRCM, along with its partners, will aid in coordination  efforts towards restoring normalcy on the islands of Great Abaco and Grand Bahama, the two islands affected by the hurricane.”

In his discussion with the Minister of Tourism of The Bahamas, the Hon Dionisio D’Aguilar, GTRCM Co-Chair the Hon Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism of Jamaica, and members of the GTRCM board discussed the state of the industry and the nature of help that is required in the Bahamas. He also made contact with regional and international partners who are specifically involved in tourism development, to assist the Bahamas in the redevelopment of the two affected islands.

“We are developing a coalition of partners such as major hotels, airlines and all major tour operators who can provide resource support to enable recovery in Great Abaco and Grand Bahama islands,” said Minister Bartlett.

The Minister noted that one such local partner is the Sandals Resorts International (SRI), which has already, began a response mechanism through their SRI Foundation. In addition, Minister Bartlett noted that, through the efforts of those who have supported the GTRCM thus far, more than US $10,000 worth of water has been donated to those in Abaco, through the Centre’s partner the Bahamian non-profit group HeadKnowles.

Media Contact:

Corporate Communications Division

Fiona Fennell

Ministry of Tourism

64 Knutsford Boulevard

Kingston 5

Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre Responds to Bahamas Crisis….Sandals Foundation to Collaborate

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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says that the Jamaican-based Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre has begun to mobilize resources to assist the Bahamas following the devastating effects of Hurricane Dorian.

Speaking at a media briefing at the Jamaica Tourist Board’s New Kingston office today, the Minister stated that “we have begun the process, from the Centre, to reach out to the global tourism community, to mobilize resources to support the effort of bringing back the economies of our neighbor, as well as, to bring tourism resources.”

He also shared that the Centre has been in touch with Minister of Tourism in Bahamas, the Hon Dionisio D’Aguilar to discuss the state of the industry and the nature of help that is required.

Following this conversation, the Minister has made contact with regional and international partners who are specifically involved in tourism development, to assist the Bahamas in the redevelopment of their tourism industry.

“We are now moving to get in touch with our partners such as major hotels, airlines and all major tour operators who are beneficiaries from tourism and who can in fact provide resource support to enable recovery in countries which are  vulnerable and can be impacted,” said Minister Bartlett.

The Minister noted that one such local partner is the Sandals Resorts International (SRI), which has already, began a response mechanism through their SRI Foundation.

Speaking at the press conference, Deputy Chairman of the SRI, Adam Stewart shared that, “All three of the Sandals properties in the Bahamas have been unaffected which gives us [SRI] the opportunity to focus on recovery and assisting however we can. We are proud to be working with the Government of Jamaica and the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre to help our neighbouring island of the Bahamas who parts of which were badly affects by hurricane Dorian.”

He also shared that “This morning the foundation, through the efforts of those who have supported us thus far, donated US$10,000 worth of water, as a first gesture to those in Abaco, through our partner the Bahamian non-profit group HeadKnowles… A partner of Sandals has also donated US$100,000 worth of cleaning material which we will also be collecting in the next 48 hours.”

First announced during the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Global Conference on Sustainable Tourism in St. James in November 2017, the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre has partners from across the world. These partners include the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO); World Travel and Tourism Council; Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association; Caribbean Tourism Organisation; and the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA).

“The establishment of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre at the University of the West Indies was a direct response to these types of disruptions which will come into our space from time to time and impact our economies. More specifically to find ways and means of building capacity to withstand these disruptions but more so to recover quickly and thrive after the recovery,” explained the Minister.

The overall goal of the Centre is to assess (i.e. research and monitor), plan-for, forecast, mitigate, and manage risks related to tourism Resilience and Crisis Management. This is being achieved through five objectives – Research and Development, Advocacy and Communication, Programme/Project Design and Management, as well as Training and Capacity Building.

During the press briefing, Minister Bartlett also disclosed that he will participate in the 23rd Session of the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) General Assembly in Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation during the period September 9-13, 2019. 

“While in Russia, I will be presenting the case overall for further collaboration with the Centre in relation with dealing with Caribbean vulnerabilities. In the process, I will be supporting the Bahamas in their own recovery efforts.

“I will be partnering with the Minister there to ensure that a full appreciation for the extent of the damage in the area and the extent of support that is required is realised by all of the partners who will be coming from about 120 countries from across the world,” said the Minister.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, Corporate Communications, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: 920-4926-30, Fax: 920-4944

Centara Begins THB 650 Million Room Upgrade at Flagship Bangkok Hotel

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Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, is launching a much-anticipated renovation programme at its five-star flagship, Centara Grand at CentralWorld Bangkok, beginning this month. The company is investing THB 650 million in the room improvement project, which will see a complete floor-to-ceiling renovation of all 505 guestrooms and suites, an undertaking that will happen two floors at a time to avoid disruption to the guest experience.

“This is an exciting project and a significant investment in Centara’s flagship hotel. The renovation programme will enhance the guest experience with fully updated and refreshed guestroom interiors, amenities and advanced technologies, ensuring we will continue to deliver the kind of contemporary luxury experience that customers have come to expect from one of the market’s leading five-star properties said Thirayuth Chirathivat, Centara’s Chief Executive Officer.

Centara is working with leading design firm P49 on the project, who are known for their high quality design solutions for luxury hospitality, residential and retail clients across the globe. The designs for the new room interiors draw inspiration from Thai artisans, textures and patterns and will create a modern and contemporary aesthetic that is in keeping with both the vibrant and international location of the hotel, as well as the brand’s inimitable Thai roots. Guestrooms, including bathrooms and furniture, will be totally redesigned and upgraded and technology and connectivity will be installed at a standard reflecting the demands of today’s sophisticated travellers.

Centara Grand at CentralWorld Bangkok marked its 10-year anniversary earlier this year. Throughout its 10-year history, the 57-storey hotel has been a destination-of-choice among international tourists, business travellers and visitors attending events at the adjoining Bangkok Convention Centre. Along with spectacular views of the city from its guestrooms, restaurants and rooftop bars, and a direct connection to the adjacent CentralWorld mall, the hotel sits in the very heart of Bangkok’s shopping and business district.

Centara Begins THB 650 Million Room Upgrade at Flagship Bangkok Hotel
room upgrade at centara grand at centralworld

The room improvement project is expected to complete in April 2021, and the hotel will be fully operational and carrying out business as usual throughout the project duration. This exciting upgrade will further reaffirm Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld’s position among the pre-eminent leisure and business hotels in Asia.

MEDIA CONTACT: Pornchanok Thongrungrot (Pao), Corporate Public Relations Manager – International, Centara Hotels & Resorts, Tel. +66 (0)2769 1234 Ext. 6733, Email: pr.centara@chr.co.th