May 8, 2001 – Gov. Charles W. Turnbull flew to Washington, D.C., Tuesday to meet with Interior and Education Department officials over the next three days to discuss matters "pertaining to issues affecting the Virgin Islands," a Government House release stated.
Before departing the territory, the governor issued a proclamation urging residents and organizations to join in the territory's observance of National Tourism Week this week and Tourism Month during all of May.
The main focus of the local observance is on promoting "a broader understanding of travel and tourism as a major industry and to note its impact on the territory," the release stated.
Turnbull noted that the hospitality industry is responsible directly or indirectly for hundreds of businesses and thousands of jobs in the territory and offers young people a variety of rewarding career opportunities. Thus, he said, "it is important that we treat our visitors with great care, ensure that they enjoy their stay [and] leave with a positive image," in hopes that they will come back again.
