CTO Caribbean fair in New York a great success
The inaugural Caribbean Fair hosted by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) at the historic Bowling Green Park in New York has raised interest among New Yorkers to travel to the Caribbean, Hugh Riley, CTO’s director of marketing for the Americas has said.
“People were teased by the hospitality of the Caribbean in the park to the extent that many felt they wanted to visit the Caribbean for the whole thing,” said Mr. Riley. Elected New York City officials, Caribbean representatives, and hundreds of New Yorkers, visitors and members of the Caribbean American community turned up for the fair in the heart of New York’s financial district.
They were entertained through some lively performances by some top Caribbean artistes from Aruba, Barbados, St. Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, among others. These included the Royal Barbados Police Force Band; Black Stalin, the former calypso king of Trinidad and Tobago and the TCL Skiffle Bunch Steel Band, also of Trinidad and Tobago. The Caribbean countries were also represented with booths, art, food and fashion. Special vacation offers were also available.
“One of the most active booths was the one dealing with distribution of vacation information,” said Mr. Riley. “The countries were running out of brochures and promotional information at an incredible rate.”
The fair was declared open by C. Virginia Fields, Manhattan Borough president during a brief ceremony at which several elected New York City officials delivered address.
In a proclamation declaring Monday June 2, 2003 Caribbean Fair Day, Ms. Fields commended CTO for it role in promoting member countries “not just as a special vacation destination but also for the important presence and contributions of its people to the economy and vitality of New York City.”
“I do hereby commend the Caribbean Tourism Organization for this joyful initiative that enables thousands to share and enjoy the delights of the multi-cultural region,” she said.
A representative of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg also present Mayoral Proclamation to CTO chairman, Obie Wilchcombe, declaring June 1 –7, Caribbean Week.
