The Virgin Islands Tourism and Advancement Link (VITAAL), headed by Executive Director Mabel Maduro, has received a $150,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Interior for its Virgin Islands 2000 Heritage Tourism and Education Project.
The University of the Virgin Islands and VITAAL have maintained a relationship based on shared goals –– to initiate tourism training and to establish a hospitality school, Maduro said. The University is represented on VITAAL's Board of Directors and has been a resource and ongoing source of support to VITAAL.
The Virgin Islands 2000 Heritage Tourism and Education Project will concentrate on two areas – the Taxi Professional Development Series and the Heritage.com website. The object of the Taxi Professional Development Series is to provide transportation industry workers with the skills needed to make their business successful while increasing the level of customer service they provide their passengers. Accurate information on V.I. heritage, history and culture will also be provided in the training.
The Heritage.com website will be the end result of the collection of materials on the historical, physical and cultural heritage of the territory. The website will serve as a resource for training tourism professionals, a destination marketing tool and an educational tool for school children.
For further information about VITAAL, contact Mabel Maduro at 776-2118.
