reDISCOVER 2005. Minister of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Reginald Farley visited the Rediscover the Caribbean launch yesterday and chatted with (from left) Tracey Hart and Candice Imam of the Tourism Development Company, Adrian Loveridge, organiser of Rediscover the Caribbean and model Michelle Bailey who wears a 2005 costume from the Cheyenne section of the Tribe band. (Picture by Cherie Pitt)

THE FOURTH ANNUAL re-DISCOVER the Caribbean show will be held September 2 and 3 at Sherbourne Conference Centre.

Founder and organiser, Adrian Loveridge said he expects more than 100 exhibitors representing 20 Caribbean destinations to showcase their products and services.

Among them will be national tourism offices and associations, hotels, attractions, activities and airlines.

The re-DISCOVER show is billed as the Caribbean's only event entirely dedicated to building intra-Caribbean travel.

The re-DISCOVER initiative was born post-September 11, when Loveridge, a hotelier, was chairman of the Marketing Committee of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association.

It was anticipated that the short- to medium-term effects of 911 were going to impact negatively on employment and business viability.

Tourism partners (hotels, restaurants, activities and attractions) were encouraged to offer a lower price to Barbadians.

Perhaps among the most spectacular results was Carambola, where 1 692 Barbadians took advantage of a re-DISCOVER dining offer over a 19-week period.

Loveridge said: "There was no doubt the initiative safeguarded a considerable number of jobs in the industry during the latter part of 2001 and first half of 2002 until we started to see the recovery of traditional markets like the US, Canada and United Kingdom." (PR)