The issue of Multi-Destination Tourism (MDT) is considered one of regional importance in order to be addressed on the upcoming 24th Meeting of the Special Committee on Sustainable Tourism of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).
For over five years, the ACS, through its Directorate of Sustainable Tourism, was engaged within the development of a Multi-Destination Tourism Program which seeks to facilitate dialogue and cooperation one of many regional stakeholders within the tourism and transport sectors. The target is to maintain the “Caribbean” destination market share in extra-regional markets and increase intra-regional tourist flows.
In this regard, the Directorate will inform of advances made inside the organising of Aviation Day Caribbean, pursuant to outreach to the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA). Aviation Day Caribbean will gather the Regional Tourism and Transport Authorities with the airline executives, to facilitate collaboration, networking, and dialogue. This high-level forum is scheduled for November 13, 2013 in Cancun, Mexico, and the ACS would be partnering with both the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and ALTA for the hosting of this event.
This initiative responds to calls from various regional governments in advocating for the region to explore incentives and methods to reinforce regional carriers; enhance intra-regional travel; and thru joint airlift agreements, increase linkages between regional- and international-based airlines as a part of a broad-based technique to boost tourist arrivals.
The advances and way forward on issues along with regional collaboration within the area of sustainable tourism is another topic that occupies equal importance at the agenda. Emphasis can be put on achieving consensus at the way forward inside the project to ascertain the Sustainable Tourism Zone of Greater Caribbean (STZC). The Directorate have been collaborating with the Regional Council of Martinique for the conceptualisation of a regional cooperation mechanism for dialogue, interaction, and engagement of the participating destinations, and Regional Tourism Authorities, in addition to to facilitate consultation with regional cooperation and funding agencies for integrated planning among STZC stakeholders.
This project will facilitate the growth of the Sustainability Indicators Project to incorporate at the least one destination in all of the ACS Member States. Additionally, a domain might be developed to operate as a data, marketing, and resource tool, to support the establishment and promotion of the STZC and the Greater Caribbean Region in international tourism markets. As well as showcasing the region’s destinations, the web site would be equipped with tools for the sustainable management of tourism destinations and data conducive to adopting sustainable tourism practices for destination mangers, regional governments, and the general public at large.
The ACS acknowledges that increasing cooperation among the many countries of the Greater Caribbean Region is necessary in positioning the region as ONE Greater Caribbean Destination. With its proposed initiatives, the ACS has sought to tap into existing and potential synergies by increasing collaboration in crosscutting problems with mutual interest, which are achieved through a means of knowledge exchange, alliances, and partnerships for horizontal cooperation.
The Special Committee on Sustainable Tourism meetings held annually may be chaired by the President of the Martinique Committee on Sustainable Tourism, Mrs. Karine Roy-Camille. High-level officials in attendance include the Minister of Tourism of Trinidad and Tobago, the Honorable Stephen Cadiz; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Mrs. Juliana Johan-Boodram; and Acting CEO of the Tourism Development Company Limited (TDC), Ms. Yolande Selman. As well as participating within the meeting, the Ministry of Tourism and the TDC are collaborating closely with the ACS in hosting the meeting.
Other high-level delegations from ACS Member and Associate Member Countries, in addition representatives from regional organisations, also are expected to be in attendance because the region seeks to pursue a collaborative approach within the advancement of the ACS Sustainable Tourism Work Program.
Recommended