[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he teaching of tourism education in Caribbean primary school just got easier with the launch this week of creative teaching tools by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).
The region’s tourism development agency has introduced its first ever tourism education for the Caribbean digital learning series of four (4) e-workbooks, along with activities, videos and fun facts about the Caribbean designed for use by teachers, and students ages 6-11.
These resources are intended to encourage schools across the Caribbean to:
- Integrate more tourism topics in their curriculum in order to build greater awareness among young students regarding what tourism entails and the significance of tourism to the Caribbean
- demonstrate the importance of taking care of the environment for ourselves and visitors
- inform students on how they can play a role in tourism’s success
- showcase the many career opportunities available to Caribbean nationals
- have fun while exploring the learning materials
“We began by creating a series of physical workbooks and a tourism module for primary schools which were used in the past by many schools throughout the region, but we felt that we needed to refresh and upgrade our materials and present them in a colourful, creative and digital manner that children would enjoy and which would help them to have better recall,” stated Bonita Morgan, director of resource mobilization and development at the CTO.
These audiovisual materials allow students the opportunity to focus on their country and the wider Caribbean, view their country and the region through the eyes of the visitors and take pride in what the region has to offer as tourism destinations.
The learning series was officially launched at the Hillaby Turner’s Hall Primary School in Barbados, the first school to have access to the digital tourism resource materials and was witnessed by the principal, teachers and students.
“We are deeply grateful here at Hillaby/Turner’s to have this opportunity to utilize e-resources in the teaching of our pupils. These e-tourism workbooks will enhance the tourism unit of social studies currently being taught in the Class Threes, the nine and ten year olds”, said Angela Edwards, principle of Hillaby/Turner’s Hall primary school.
To watch a preview video of the learning series, click on the following link: https://vimeo.com/user58929604/tourism-learning-series
The learning series can be purchased directly online at www.onecaribbean.org, or by calling and placing the order via telephone at 1-246-427-5242.
About the Caribbean Tourism Organization
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), with headquarters in Barbados and offices in New York and London, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency comprising membership of the region’s finest countries and territories including Dutch, English, French and Spanish, as well as a myriad of private sector allied members. The CTO’s vision is to position the Caribbean as the most desirable, year round, warm weather destination, and its purpose is Leading Sustainable Tourism – One Sea, One Voice, One Caribbean.
Among the benefits to its members the organization provides specialized support and technical assistance in sustainable tourism development, marketing, communications, advocacy, human resource development, event planning & execution and research & information technology.
In addition the CTO, in partnership with the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, jointly and equally owns the Caribbean Tourism Development Company, a marketing and business development entity dedicated to promoting the Caribbean brand worldwide.
