The Senate Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Committee's hearing on the state of tourism in the territory, set for Tuesday evening on St. Thomas, was scheduled before Gov. Charles W. Turnbull's announcement on Friday of Rafael Jackson as his new choice for tourism commissioner.
However, Jackson's nomination is likely to heighten interest for lawmakers and the public in the subject being addressed. Jackson said on Saturday that he would be relocating back to the territory from his home on Florida's West Coast in about three weeks. The committee had extended invitations to Monique Sibilly-Hodge, acting commissioner, and Pamela Richards, assistant commissioner for the St. Croix district, to represent the Tourism Department at the hearing.
Also invited to testify are representatives of the hospitality industry on St. Thomas and St. John. The hearing follows a similar session held on St. Croix last December.
Others on the invitation list are Richard Doumeng, president of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association; Beverly Nicholson, executive director of that association; John deJongh Jr., president of the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce; Pam Alvord, supervisor with Ogilvie & Mather, the territory's new national advertising agency; Beverly Petrus, Tourism marketing director; Caswil Callender and Kenneth Blake, executive director and chair, respectively, of the V.I. Carnival Committee; Mabel Maduro, executive director of the V.I. Tourism Advancement Link; Kenneth Hermon, president of the V.I. Taxi Association; and Manny Centeno, director of the Film Promotion Office.
The announced topics to be addressed are the territory's offshore Tourism offices; the marketing of V.I. Carnival and other special events; the territory's advertising outreach; targeted areas of geographic outreach; and overall marketing of the territory this year.
Sen. David Jones, the committee chair, is to convene the hearing at 6 p.m. n the Senate Chambers. "The public is invited to hear first hand what is in store for the tourism industry in the Virgin Islands," a release from Jones's office states.