The Bahamas is the new chair of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, following the election of Bahamian Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe at the State of the Industry Conference this week.

Wilchcombe succeeds Barbados Tourism Minister Richard Sealy, and will serve a two-year term.

Wilchcombe had previously served as chairman in 2002.

“I intend to build upon what [Richard Sealy] began and I also intend to build on the relationship with the private sector,” Wilchcombe said in a statement following his election. “I’ve always thought that CTO is the body that provides equity and we can; and the way is to speak with the same voice. We also have to deal with the issue of inter-regional travel.”

The new Caribbean Tourism Organization Chair will soon name his appointment for the post of chairman of the CTO Board of Directors.

This year’s SOTIC conference is being held at the Hilton Barbados Resort in St. Michael.