CAYMAN ISLANDS: New Tourism Ambassador Named For 2015-16

Justyce Rivers has won this year’s Tourism Speak-Off debate, earning her the title of Cayman’s Tourism Ambassador for 2016. She came out on top of three other finalists chosen based on previously written essay submissions, who debated tourism-related topics in front of a panel of three judges and an audience at the Westin Grand Cayman resort last month.

The Ministry and Department of Tourism host the annual Speak-Off for high school students, with the support of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA), as part of its local tourism-awareness programme. Last year’s winner, Katherine Tatum, was the emcee at the event and spoke about her experiences as Tourism Ambassador. She encouraged this year’s contestants to consider pursuing careers in the tourism industry.

The judges for the debate were Tiffany Dixon-Ebanks, CITA executive director; Wayne Jackson, School of Hospitality Studies director; and Gail Henry, deputy director of tourism product development at the Department of Tourism.

Debate topics included the concept of “voluntourism” as well as film-induced tourism. Dixon-Ebanks pointed out that the judges’ task was not easy. “Everyone did such a great job. It was really difficult to choose the winner,” she said.

Rivers’ prize package includes a place at the Stingray Tourism Awards and participation in other tourism-related events, such as Taste of Cayman in January. She also took home $1,000, with the second-place winner receiving $500.