14th CTO Conference kicks off in T&T - Guyana’s land offer for sustainable development institute welcomed
Tourism experts, stakeholders and media operatives from throughout the Caribbean Region and further afield are gathered in the twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago for the 14th Caribbean Conference of Sustainable Tourism Development organised jointly by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Sustainable Tourism Organisation.
The 13th CTO Conference was held in Guyana where the participants were able to sample a different tourism package and Guyana also copped several of the CTO awards.
This year the theme is “Keeping the Right Balance: Enhancing Destination sustainability through Products, Partnerships and Profitability”. Guyana is being represented at the Conference, the opening ceremony which took place on Monday, at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain.
The Guyanese representatives include the Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh and GTA’s Marketing Officer, Ms. Nadine King.
As part of the initial activities of the Conference, Haralsingh and King participated in the 22nd Ordinary meeting of the Sustainable Tourism Development Technical Committee, where the CTO’s Sustainable Tourism Work Program for 2013 and other key developments were discussed.
Key among the issues discussed was Guyana’s proposal and offer of land for the establishment of a Caribbean Sustainable Development Institute which was made to the CTO at the Caribbean Week in New York, last June. The committee welcomed the offer and proposed that feasibility be conducted, while the concept, function and mandate of the proposed Institute are being worked on.
According to Haralsingh, Guyana is the ideal place for such an institute since there is potential to develop and promote agro tourism. Guyana possesses an excellent track record in employing best practices in sustainable development, a solidified position as leaders in climate change and standing forests advocacy.
Recognising Guyana’s successes in promoting sustainable developments on all fronts, the CTO awarded Guyana three of the top tourism awards at the closing of the 13th Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC-13) which was held in Guyana last year.
This year, Guyana has submitted nominations for all categories in this year’s CTO/ TRAVELMOLE Sustainable Tourism Awards which is scheduled to be awarded on Thursday. Guyana has been shortlisted as finalists in the five categories including the Caribbean Excellence in Sustainable Tourism, Destination Stewardship, Sustainable Accommodation, Community Benefit, Heritage Protection and Biodiversity Conservation.
The Minister of Tourism for Trinidad and Tobago, Stephen Cadiz noted that stable tourism investment is no longer a mere clichÉ since over the last decade, there has been a tremendous body of research and discussion regarding conservation and protection of the resources.
“Most stakeholders would have come to realise that it is within our own interest to devise ways and means to correct whatever can still be remedied,” he said. The Caribbean has one of the oldest tourism industries in the world and people have journeyed to the Caribbean for the warm weather, but now people are looking for more ways to enjoy the islands in a different way.
With regards to the relevance of the conference’s theme, Minister Cadiz stressed that it strikes at the basis of what is a very fragile industry. “Countries that have chosen tourism development as one the main pillars for their economic development should by now have come to terms with their own vulnerability…not only is the industry fragile, but it also has ripple effects on all other sectors of the various economies throughout the Caribbean,” he said.
As such the CTO Conference could not have come at a more opportune time as the Caribbean grapples with the impact of the global recession on the Caribbean tourism economy, intense competition for world tourism market shares in European and Asian countries and service quality issues.
“The Caribbean faces many challenges, but I am convinced that any problems we face are followed with great opportunities,” the Minister emphasised. In realising those opportunities, Minister Cadiz called on the Caribbean people to lay aside their differences and forge ahead in the true Caribbean spirit to discuss the issues and come up with joint solutions to the challenges facing the industry.
The Minister expressed his firm belief that Trinidad and Tobago has an enormous opportunity to become a major player in the tourism industry in the Caribbean region. The industry in T &T employs over 60,000 people (directly and indirectly), contributes about 8 percent to the GDP and is a driver of development.
CTO Chairman, Beverley Nicholson-Doty at the opening of her presentation expressed appreciation to Trinidad and Tobago for hosting the STC conference. It is the only country that as hosted the conference on three occasions.
“This demonstrates a commitment to the preservation of the region’s natural resources and speaks volumes for a country whose economy is driven by the energy sector…it is also a very smart decision because figures are now showing that sustainable tourism not only preserves resources for enjoyment of future generations, but it also produces profit,” she said.
Nicholson-Doty explained that other regions with few natural resources have profited from sustainable management and conservation of their resources.
In this regard the theme “is a mouthful but it is fitting as we work together to become more competitive as a united region…we all know the benefits of standing united so we must be innovative in our partnerships,” she said. The Caribbean’s stock of beaches, coral reefs, forests and villas are indications that there are no shortages of natural resources.
“As one of the most tourism dependent regions in the world it is crucial to ensure our constituents fully understand the preservation of these valuable resources determine our success in future,” she explained.
The conference includes activities such as a special presentation by Guyana, a Sustainable Tourism Technical Committee (STTC) meeting, workshops, exhibitions, cultural extravaganza, Travel Mole Sustainable Tourism Awards and Stakeholders’ Speak Out, among others.