KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) today reported that Dr Andrew Spencer, director and senior lecturer of Tourism and Hospitality Management at the University of the West Indies (UWI), has been appointed as executive director of the agency.

In a notice published in the media, TPDCo said Spencer was considered “to be among the Caribbean’s leading and most sought-after tourism specialists”.

The notice also said that Spencer has previously worked with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) to develop training and student exercises, and played an important role in developing the tourism syllabus for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).

Spencer reportedly holds a PhD from the School of Tourism at Bournemouth University and was the first graduate from that institution’s “eTourism Lab”.

TPDCo said his appoint comes at a time when the agency is looking to put the necessary infrastructure in place to raise standards and maintain integrity in the tourism sector.

The agency did give the date on which Spencer will commence his duties.