The Bahamas has just won a bid to host a major tourism conference for the Americas early next year.

Tourism officials made the announcement yesterday that the 2014 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Conference for the Americas will be held in New Providence next February.

This successful bid was just one of the accomplishments officials from the Ministry of Tourism secured while attending the United Nations (UN) World Tourism Organisation (WTO) General Assembly last week.

Ministry of Tourism Permanent Secretary Harrison Thompson said the week-long event is expected to be another boost for the country’s tourism industry as fewer than 300 delegates are set to attend.

“It is expected that during this conference, the secretary general will be visiting The Bahamas for the first time,” he said.

“At that time, he is expected to present an open letter to our right honourable prime minister. This is an initiative that has been previously facilitated by over 50 heads of state globally. These activities over the next year will coincide with the Ministry of Tourism’s 50th anniversary celebrations.”

At the recent general assembly The Bahamas also made history by being elected to two international tourism committees, namely, the Executive Council of 2015-2017 and the Sustainable Tourism Committee.

A poster designed by the Ministry of Tourism’s graphic design team also won the 2013 Rector Gustee prize for best poster.

The poster will be on display at the WTO’s headquarters in Madrid, Spain.