Airport hosts aviation meeting in June
GREAT BAY – If there is one thing everyone can agree on, it is that airlift is vital to the Caribbean region, Princess Juliana International Airport states in a press release. “Airlift is a common denominator of the aviation and tourism industries that determines the strength of a country’s economy. Even more reason to get all stakeholders together to find solutions for strengthening and improving that lifeline.”
On June 13-15, speakers from twenty countries/territories and 22 nationalities will gather on St. Maarten for the second annual Caribbean Aviation Meetup conference, hosted by Princess Juliana International Airport. Speakers – 26 totals – are coming from as far as Switzerland, Russia and New Zealand. Each speaker contributes to the meetings with expertise and experience. The aim is to offer presentations covering all perspectives of airlift, from the aviation as well as the tourism perception. Each conference participant shall walk away with more knowledge, new ideas and with network extensions.
An example how aviation and tourism can be brought together in a unique tourism product? A seaplane providing sightseeing tours, the press release states. “Taking off from, and landing on the water is an experience for itself. Amphibious planes can perform both water based and runway operations. Cessna, one of the major aircraft manufacturers of private aircraft, will fly in a factory new aircraft on floats all the way from Wichita, Kansas, US for the conference.”
An established seaplane operator from Florida is exploring the prospects of setting up a branch operation in the Caribbean; the location may be determined at the conference. Seaplanes can offer the flexibility and convenience of transporting guests to marinas, beaches, private clubs, and residences or even directly to a yacht.
Each conference presentation is an introduction for a discussion. Town-hall-type sessions by engaging speakers with audience interaction are encouraged. Every discussion is a way to better understand, guidance for finding solutions, and a gateway for cooperation.
Some of the speakers and their subject matter are: What the Caribbean needs to pay attention to, by David Scowsill, President World Tourism Trade Council, London; US immigration pre-clearance at airports, by Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, former Minister of Tourism of the Bahamas; Private aircraft charter and its luxury tourism clientele, by Adam Twidel, CEO of PrivateFly, London; Online hotel promotion and reservations, by Dimitri Canton, Director of Market Management, Expedia; Airport and airline route planning, by Riad Simon, Senior Route Development Manager for seven airports in the Dominican Republic; Inter-island tourism, by Joy Jibrilu, Director General, Ministry of Tourism of the Bahamas; Benefits of air transport to economies worldwide, by Michael Gill, Executive Director, Air Transport Action Group, Geneva, Switzerland.
For a complete line-up of speakers go to www.caribavia.com.
Photo caption: Cessna will fly this seaplane to St. Maarten in June. Photo contributed
