Castries, St. Lucia, 29st May 2007:- The impact of HIV/AIDS on the OECS’ Tourism Sector will be among the major items on the agenda of OECS Tourism Ministers as they meet in Grenada this week.

The 5th meeting of the OECS Council of Tourism Ministers from May 31 – June 1, 2007 is booked for the Grenadian by Rex Resorts.

The committee will also review the sub region’s hosting of Cricket World Cup 2007 and post-event measurement of its economic impact. Four OECS member countries namely: Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts-Nevis, and St. Lucia hosted ICC 2007 Cricket World Cup matches.

The OECS Tourism Ministers will also look at Air and Sea Transportation in the OECS, Grenada’s progress in the tourism sector following hurricanes Ivan and Emily and the establishment of an OECS Cruise Tourism Task Force.

Grenada’s new Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Clarice Modeste Curwen, will chair the OECS Council which will also look at the OECS Secretariat’s tourism work programme for 2007 – 2008. Ministers and Directors of tourism from most OECS Member States are expected to be in attendance in addition to representatives from the Caribbean Hotel Association CHA the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank ECCB and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation CTO.

A technical meeting of OECS Directors of Tourism on May 30, 2007 will precede the 5th meeting of the OECS Council of Tourism Ministers.