12th Florida Caribbean Cruise Association Conference and Trade Show Attracts High Level Officials

PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA TO ATTEND OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY OF 12TH FLORIDA-CARIBBEAN CRUISE ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, SEPTEMBER 25TH 2005 (CUOPM) – The President of the Republic of Colombia, His Excellency Alvaro Uribe Velez is scheduled to be among high-level local and regional officials attending the opening session of the 12th Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association Conference and Trade Show at the St. Kitts Marriott Hotel on Wednesday.

The Colombian President will join St. Kitts and Nevis Governor General, His Excellency Dr. Sir Cuthbert Sebastian and Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas, at the formal opening session on Wednesday morning. President Uribe is expected to return to Bogotá after the opening.

The FCCA Conference will also be attended by Governor of the United States Virgin Islands, the Hon. Charles Turnbull and Turks & Caicos Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Michael Missick.

Honourable Ministers of Tourism down to attend are Antigua’s Harold Lowell; the Bahamas’ Obie H. Wilchcombe; the Cayman Charles Clifford, who is accompanied by Minister of Communications, Hon. Arden McLean; Colombia’s Luis Guillermo Plata; Dominica’s Yvor Nassief; Grenada’s Brenda Hood; Honduras’ Thierry de Pierrefeu; Nevis, Malcolm Guishard; St. Kitts’ Richard Skerritt, St. Lucia’s Phillip Pierre and Netherlands Antilles, Ivar Asjes.

Commissioners of Tourism, Burney El Hage of Bonaire; St. Maarten’s Theo Heyliger; and Pamela Richards of the United States Virgin Islands.

Barbados, Martinique, Mexico and Puerto Rico are also sending senior officials.

Carnival Chairman & CEO, Micky Arison; MSC Cruises (USA), President & CEO, Richard Sasso; Royal Caribbean Cruises Chairman & CEO Richard D. Fain and Princess Cruises Executive Vice President for Fleet, Dean Brown W, is sending Parliamentary Secretary are among the top 100 cruise executives down to attend.

The 12th Conference and Trade Show of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) from September 27th to 30th has attracted over 1,000 overseas participants and is the biggest single event hosted by the St. Kitts Marriott and St. Kitts and Nevis.

One highlight is the roundtable discussions, led by an impressive roster of industry experts and guest speakers who are specialists in marketing, sourcing and shore excursions. The Conference represents the spirit of mutual understanding, joint problem solving and increasing the revenue the Caribbean receives from its cruise tourism sector.

The FCCA is a not-for-profit trade organization composed of 13 Member Lines operating more than 100 vessels in Florida, Caribbean and Mexican waters.

Photo # 1 - President of the Republic of Colombia, His Excellency Alvaro Uribe Velez.

Photo # 2 -  Governor of the United States Virgin Islands, the Hon. Charles Turnbull.

(photos provided)