BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Public sector agencies in Cariforum involved in tourism planning and development will discuss the development of tourism standards and guidelines at a three-day workshop on sustainable tourism policy development in St. Lucia next week.
The March 21 – 23 workshop will also explore issues related to trade in tourism services, environmental management, and product development.
This Regional Sustainable Tourism Policy Development and Intersectoral Planning Workshop is the second of two being organised by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), as part of an eight million euro Caribbean Regional Sustainable Tourism Development Programme (CRSTDP), funded by the European Union.
It is intended to assist in the development of a regional sustainable tourism policy framework, through consultation and feedback, Mareba Scott, CTO’s sustainable tourism product specialist, said.
“The workshop will enhance national tourism policies, while fostering sustainable tourism strategies, promoting linkages within the region and facilitating the transfer of policy-making and implementation know-how,” Ms. Scott said.
A regional sustainable tourism policy framework is meant to assist National Tourism Organizations in adapting their national strategies and in setting their own sustainable tourism standards.
Additionally, it aims to harmonize national policies and ensure the transfer of knowledge, skills and experience among the more and less developed states within the region.
Dr. James Hospedales, the director of the Caribbean Epidemeology Centre (CAREC) will make a presentation on quality tourism for the Caribbean at the St. Lucia workshop, while Ramesh Chaitoo of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM) will deal with trade in tourism services.
Other presenters include Franklin Mc Donald of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), Ms. Scott and Luis Chaves, a CRSTDP consultant attached to CTO.
The Second Regional Sustainable Tourism Policy Development and Intersectoral Planning Workshop will be held at the Cara Suites Hotel, St. Lucia.
