Four students from the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) have reached the last stage of a major tourism competition.
Jaedon Hanson, Jevonne Reid, Alicia Faulknor and Khes Hamilton are finalists in the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Regional Nex-Gen Tourism Showcase.
Teams of university and college students in CTO member countries were asked to conduct research aimed at developing a 10-page practical tourism business proposal.
They were also required to create a three-minute video presentation that promotes sustainable development and has the potential to create viable income opportunities for the region.
The UCCI team impressed the judges with their project on dark tourism, which explored the potential and ethical implications of promoting the heritage sites associated with tragedy and historical trauma that shaped Cayman’s culture.
Their research focused on how, when approached respectfully, this could serve as a powerful tool for education, remembrance and sustainable economic development.
The team will be presenting their ideas to a panel at the final in Times Square, New York on 3 June as part of Caribbean Week, which runs from 1 to 5 June.
The competition aims to promote innovation, sustainability, and youth engagement in tourism under the theme, ‘Innovative tourism: Bridging sectors for sustainable growth’.
“It was a lot of sleepless nights, but this opportunity made every sleepless hour worth it,” Alicia said.
Jaedon added: “I’m extremely grateful for this fulfilling and educational experience of working with my teammates and coaches on this project, it has helped me to better work in a collaborative environment.”
The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism said the experience helps to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world applications “as they become more aware and gain more in-depth understanding of sustainable tourism practices in the Caribbean”.
While in New York, the team will also take part in Caribbean Week activities, and educational tours, including a visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
Jaedon and Jevonne both study AAS Hospitality Management, Alicia studies AAS Business Administration and Khes is taking a BSc in Business Administration.
