Pictured: Prime Minister Perry Christie, right, receives an open letter in support for tourism from the United Nations World Tourism Organization Secretary General Taleb Rifai in a ceremony at Government House during the Small Island Developing States conference held February 19-20, 2014, in Nassau. (BIS Photo/Derek Smith)

The Commonwealth of the Bahamas received an open letter of endorsement and support from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as a regional leader in tourism.

The letter was presented to Prime Minister Perry Christie by UNTWO Secretary General Taleb Rifai in a ceremony at Government House, during the Small Island Developing States conference held earlier in the month in Nassau.

In accepting the letter, the Prime Minister called on the region to continue to share its resources with each other in order to create the feeling of one destination and one Caribbean.

Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe underscored the importance of receiving such an honour at a time when the country is celebrating 50 years of tourism.

“It is an open letter that seeks to endorse The Bahamas and to support all that we do in our number one industry,” he said.

UNWTO Secretary General in presenting the Prime Minister with the open letter said: “An open letter is a letter which we decided to submit to Heads of State and Heads of Government who believe in their hearts that tourism is a force for good and that tourism is a transformative force in social economic development.”

“It’s a recognition to you personally and to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas of how important you are to the international tourism community, in travel and tourism.”