Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, November 1 st, 2012 – Each year, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) designates November as Caribbean Tourism Month and the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board joins with its regional counterparts in celebrating under the theme One Sea, One Voice and One Caribbean. Locally, and in collaboration with the Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA), the Environmental Health Department and the Department of Environmental and Maritime Affairs (DEMA) the Turks & Caicos Tourist Board is set to kick-off a month long calendar of activities under the theme Beautiful By Nature – Am I Helping?

The rationale for Caribbean Tourism Month centers around the need for all stakeholders to understand the importance of tourism as well as the benefits derived from an industry that represents the commercial engine of the economy. The objectives of Caribbean Tourism Month seeks to create awareness of the importance of tourism in the Caribbean, to enhance the profile of the tourism sector in the marketplace, to attract positive media coverage and to reflect on the invaluable impact of tourism on the economic, social and cultural well-being of the Islands inhabitants.

The calendar of events for TEAM 2012 is as follows:

Monday, November 5 th, 2012 – The official launch of TEAM with a Press Conference to include all media to be held at 11:00a at the TCI Tourist Board office.

November 12 th-16 th, 2012 – Public Awareness Week . TEAM Members will be utilizing various media to publicize the theme: ‘Beautiful BY Nature – Am I helping?’ Testimonials will be aired of individuals and groups in the various communities informing the public what they are doing to keep the TCI, Beautiful by Nature. TEAM members will also utilize popular radio talk shows to highlight the message.

November 19 th-23 rd, 2012 – Education Week. TEAM members will pay visits to Secondary Schools on Providenciales to bring the themes message to the local student population. Schools to be visited include: Clement Howell High, Marantha High and Champions for Christ.

• Tuesday November 20th, 2012 – TEAM members will join the Hospitality Department of the TCI Community College where students will demonstrate their skills and talents by hosting a RUSSIAN SERVICE RESTAURANT. These students will be the future employees of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry.
  
  
• Thursday, November 22 nd, 2012 – TCI Youth Congress. The Tourist Board and LIME will be sponsoring the Inter-High School Speech Competition showcasing students from the 4 th Form in both Public and Private Schools throughout the country. Participants to be judged on articulation, volume and fluency; relevance and accuracy of knowledge; presentation of information; tone and tactfulness; poise and confidence. Speeches will focus on methods of keeping communities clean through community involvement and the benefits that these communities will reap through this participation. Venus will be announced at a later date.
  
  
• Friday November 23rd, 2012 – The official opening of the CAREERS IN TOURISM EXHIBITION which will profile Turks and Caicos Islanders who are working in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry and also those who have worked in the industry for a number of years. The aim of this exhibition is to showcase those persons who continue to do well in the industry and to encourage our young people to ‘Choose a Career in Tourism.’ This exhibition will take place in Providenciales, Grand Turk, South and North Caicos.

November 26 th-30 th, 2012 – Education Week continues

• Wednesday, November 28 th, 2012 –TEAM Members will be visiting the Islands of North and Middle Caicos reaching out to students at Raymond Gardiner High, Adelside Oemler Primary and the Hubert James School. In Middle Caicos TEAM Members will also visit Mary Robinson Primary School.
  
  
• Thursday, November 29 th, 2012 – TEAM Members will be visiting South Caicos to speak to students at Marjorie Basden High, Iris Stubbs Primary and the Calvary Christian School.

December 3rd-7 th, 2012 – TEAM Members will visit the following Primary Schools on Providenciales: Oseta Jolly Primary, Ianthe Pratt Primary, Enid Capron Primary, Richmond Hills Primary, Precious Treasures, BEST Institute, Holy Family Academy, Wesley Methodist, and Mills Institute

• Public Service Drivers Appreciation Day will also take place during the week of December 3rd, 2012. A dialogue will take place with the relevant Tourism stakeholders and the Public Service Drivers in an effort to show these vital components of our tourism product that we appreciate them and we look forward to building lasting relationships with them.

Saturday, December 8 th, 2012 – The month long activities will culminate with a collaborative effort involving partners of the Turks and Caicos Hotel & Tourism Association (TCHTA ) 4 th annual TCI Shine Island Wide Cleanup Campaign and with the Department of Environmental and Maritime Affairs (DEMA) for the first ever under-water cleanup.

Listen to this year's Jingle and download a copy of the lyrics.

Turks And Caicos Tourist Board Announces Tourism Environmental Awareness Month (Team) 2012