Inspiring tourism innovation in the EU’s overseas countries and territories - #Anguilla workshop, 11-12 October 2018

Innovation and creativity in the tourism sector can make the European Union Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) more competitive in the international market and more resilient to destructive weather phenomena such as hurricanes. It is theme of a two-day workshop in Anguilla, 11-12 October organized by OCTA Innovation and hosted by the government of Anguilla.  

OCTA Innovation is an EU-funded initiative assisting OCTs in implementing territorial innovation strategies. Its mission is to enhance sustainable development through innovative solutions for economic diversification and to improve the regional and global competitiveness of the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs).

The OCTs are largely small islands states in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, all with unique tourism assets. The event will bring together government officials from: Anguilla, Aruba, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Falkland Islands, French Polynesia, Greenland, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Helena, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, Turks and Caicos Islands and Wallis-and-Futuna.

“Island destinations that have identified and implemented innovative solutions, creative attractions and visitor services tend to be more successful in securing constant growth and overcoming geopolitical issues and natural disasters,” said Milan Jezic von Gesseneck, OCTA Innovation’s Team Leader. “Time has come ask the right questions and find new answers to how OCT governments can best foster innovation in tourism. OCTs should not be copycats for other countries’ innovation policies; OCTs need to find their own way.”

The event’s organization has been guided by the advice of Government of Anguilla Chief Minister Victor Banks and  Vice-President of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA) Tracy Knight.  Anguilla Innovation Manger Bren Romney and his team have also been instrumental in its preparation. A focus will be innovative individual attractions and accommodation in OCTs to enhance the visitor experience. The introduction of the innovations in digital technology to the sector have the potential to attract the expanding millennial market.

Renowned tourism experts Anne-Mette Hjalager and James MacGregor and innovation expert, Milan Jezic von Gesseneck will lead the debate. The ambition is to put forward innovative tourism initiatives which at the same time safeguard natural resources and enable the OCTs to be resilient to forces that can reduce visitor arrivals. They include hurricanes and sea level rise caused by global warming. The workshop also aims is to give rise to innovation activities, methodologies and techniques that will be attractive to both OCTs’ current source markets as well as attracting new market segments. “Collaboratively we will re-think the OCT innovation policies portfolios. We will critically and creatively address the ways that OCT governments can take on the most efficient way the advantages of the unique potentials in the OCTs’,” said Milan Jezic von Gesseneck.

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