Caribbean nationals wishing to study tourism or hospitality and language training are being offered the opportunity to secure scholarships from the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).
The region’s tourism development agency, through its scholarship programme, the CTO Foundation, is awarding scholarships of up to US$12,000 to individuals wanting to study tourism or hospitality at the Master’s (post graduate) level, and language training for persons already working in the tourism sector.
In addition, the CTO Foundation is offering study grants of up to US$2,500 to individuals pursing tourism/hospitality studies at the certificate, diploma, associate degree or first degree level. Studies can be pursued both within and outside the Caribbean region.
"The Foundation selects individuals who demonstrate high levels of achievement and leadership both within and outside the classroom and who express a strong interest in making a positive contribution to Caribbean tourism," said Bonita Morgan, CTO’s director of regional human resource development.
In addition, the CTO Foundation offers a scholarship of up to US$2,500 in the name of Arley Sobers, CTO’s former director of research and information management. Mr. Sobers, who passed away in an untimely manner in 2008, dedicated over two decades of his working life in the service of the Caribbean Tourism Organization. This scholarship is for persons working in local tourism organizations such as the ministry of tourism or the board of tourism, who wish to strengthen their skills in the areas of research and statistics.
A scholarship of up to US$7,500 is also being offered in the name of the late Audrey Palmer Hawks, the past director general of the Caribbean Tourism Association, which eventually merged in 1989 with the Caribbean Tourism Research and Development Centre to form the CTO.
Mrs. Hawks was responsible for marketing the Caribbean region as a tourist attraction to travellers in the United States and Canada.
More than 190 Caribbean nationals have benefitted from the CTO scholarship and grants programme to the tune of over US$760,000 since the CTO Foundation was founded in 1997. CTO has also secured over US$250,000 in scholarship funds from Monroe College to assist Caribbean students pursuing further education in tourism –related subjects. The two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding last June through which Monroe College will commit eighty three thousand six hundred dollars (US$83,600) annually to the CTO, to provide scholarships and grants to at least 30 highly qualified Caribbean citizens, who are interested in pursuing full time studies or advancing their careers in the tourism sector.
The CTO Foundation is already accepting applications for the 2013 scholarships and study grants programme and interested persons have until April 15, 2013 to send in their application forms.
The CTO Foundation, set up in 1997, is registered in New York State as a Not-for-Profit Corporation, formed exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. Its main aim is to provide scholarships and study grants to students and industry personnel who are Caribbean nationals, from
CTO-member countries, who wish to pursue studies in the areas of tourism/hospitality and language training. CTO Foundation sponsors include American Express, American Airlines, Interval International, Universal Media, the CTO chapters worldwide and numerous CTO allied members.
Information on how to apply for the CTO Foundation scholarship, as well as a list of scholarship and grant recipients, can be found at www.onecaribbean.org.