Caribbean Tourism SOTIC Conference Underway With Wondrous Entertainment

A parade of flags, rousing and magnificent musical performances and insightful, passionate speeches. The 2018 SOTIC event, the Caribbean Tourism Organization's annual State of the Tourism Industry Conference, got off to a fabulous start at Atlantis, Paradise Island in the Bamahas on Tuesday, Oct. 2. The parade of flags got things underway, followed by a brilliant performance of the Bahamian national anthem, an exuberant singing and dancing act from a group of Bahamian children, a terrific drumming performance and, finally, a loud, colourful and foot-stomping display by a Bahamian junkanoo band. Click here for a video of the junkanoo band's performance.

Caribbean Tourism Organization Secretary General Hugh Riiley delivered a thoughtful speech at the start of SOTIC 2018, the CTO's annual State of the Tourism Industry Conference. Riley a good deal of ink has been spilled in the last year from people writing about the hurricanes that battered parts of the region in 2017. "If there is a good thing about a crisis, it's the resiliency it encourages and the togetherness it engenders," he said. "The rhythm never stops," Riiley said. "Whether it's salsa or soca...dance hall or techno, it's all Caribbean, and nothing can stop it."

Bahamian children performed a truly magical singing and dancing number at the start of this year's SOTIC 2018, the Caribbean Tourism Organization's State of the Tourism Industry Conference. This year's event is being held at Atlantis, Paradise Island.

A young Bahamian boy had the SOTIC 2018 crowd on its feet, with phones on full videotape mode, during the Tuesday, Oct. 2 opening event. The young man is a terrific singer and a great dancer with a bright future.

Bahamian Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis delivered a thoughtful, insightful speech at the start of SOTIC 2018, the Caribbean Tourism Organization's annual State of the Tourism Industry Conference. He called the Caribbean "an archipelago of possibility, an archipelago of opportunity and an opportunity of resiliency." Minnis said the Caribbean's potential remains untapped in so many ways. "No matter where you are in the world or what language you speak, and however you pronounce the word 'Caribbean,' it conjures up delight and awe." The prime minister said the region comes out on top as one of the best tourism spots on earth, but that local Caribbean residents don't always get the full benefits they deserve. MInnis said many global travel brands have hundreds or thousands of employees outside the Caribbean, but that much of their profit depends on doing business in the region. "We must ensure the greater retension of more tourism earnings within our region, and the greater dispersion of wealth within our economies."

Bahamian junkanoo performers get ready for their entrance at SOTIC 2018.

Audience members at SOTIC 2018 burned up a lot of their phone battery power by taping musical performances at the opening ceremony on Oct. 2.

Bahaman junkanoo performers put on a terrific show at SOTIC 2018, with pounding drums and bright, brassy horns.

The raucous and rollicking performance by a Bahamian junkanoo band was a great way to finish off the opening ceremony at SOTIC 2018, the Caribbean Tourism Organization's State of the Tourism Industry Conference.