TURKS AND CAICOS-TOURISM-BVI youth wins CTO award.

British Virgin Islands Junior Tourism Minister Naomi Onwufuju brought home the winner's plaque at the 19th Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Regional Tourism Youth Congress, held at Beaches Turks and Caicos in Providenciales on Friday.

Kenneth Bryan, Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization congratulates Naomi Onwufuju of the British Virgin Islands

The 16-year-old Onwufuju, competing against students from 13 other Caribbean destinations, skillfully presented three innovative strategies her country could undertake to develop and implement an initiative whereby tourism stakeholders and their allied partners can work together to enhance access, safety, use, and enjoyment of the destination's tourism offerings by visitors with disabilities.

Each Junior Minister made a three-minute presentation on one of the three topics: Wellness Tourism Beyond the Norm, Accessibility Tourism, and Building a Resilient and Sustainable Tourism Workforce.

They were also required to make a one-minute presentation on a 'mystery' question. In this category, the contestants were asked to identify an interesting, unusual or unique place, person, thing, event or activity from their respective destinations which they believed would provide a visitor with a rare and exceptional experience.

'Accessibility is not only a responsible tourism policy but also a moral obligation,' declared Onwufuju, a student of the Elmore Stoutt High School, as she described her vision for increasing accessibility to the islands' beaches, restaurants and other attractions ensuring inclusivity and equity for all visitors, in her 3-minute presentation.

Though happy with her win, Onwufuju was lavish in her praise of her fellow contestants.

'I love my country and I...