Six million dollar economic boost expected during Rotary Conference

Rotarians slated to visit St Vincent and Grenadines (SVG) in April next year to attend the 2024 Rotary District 7030 Conference are expected to pump over six million Eastern Caribbean (EC) dollars into the local economy.

And some, according to District 7030 Governor Brian Glasgow, are already asking about spill off touristic activities they can take part in, while here.

Glasgow said locals therefore need to show these visitors what we have to offer and immerse them in our culture, in an effort to encourage them to return.

The significant boost to the economy is expected to come from April 18 to 20, 2024, as for the first time ever, the Rotary Clubs of SVG will host the 2024 Rotary District 7030 Conference.

The Conference will see over 450 Rotarians from District 7030 converge on the islands. District 7030 is made up of over 3200 Rotarians from 75 clubs across 17 countries and territories in the Southern Caribbean.

“The economic value of a district conference can be significant. It’s more than just the two or 300 dollars a night that they will be paying at the hotel.

“It’s more than the few hundred dollars they will be paying towards transportation and meals. So many persons who plan to come to the district conference are already asking, ‘Would it be possible to play golf in Canouan?’ Of course, the answer is ‘Yes’, and we are making the appropriate arrangements.

“So apart from the days of the Conference, there will be days when participants can do other things, experience more of what we have to offer as a country,” Glasgow told a media launch of the event recently.

He said an activity called “The Bequia cool off day” is being planned for the Sunday after the conference, and, “you can imagine how many Trinis want to participate in that, that is almost going to be a highlight of the entire conference.”

Glasgow said they are looking to not only satisfy themselves as Rotarians, but to satisfy the country’s economic needs and they are expecting a major economic thrust for SVG.

“We are talking potentially over six or seven million EC dollars in terms of economic benefits,” Glasgow projected.