Climate change effects on tourism industry to be discussed at STC 11

Critical issues relating to sustainability and creative solutions to many of the challenges facing Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) member countries, as well as the effects of climate change, will be discussed when tourism stakeholders gather in Barbados next week.

They are assembling for the annual sustainable tourism conference, and a number of Grenadian stakeholders, including journalists and representatives from civil society, will be contributing to the debate.

This annual conference is part of the information dissemination and regional awareness component of the CTO?s Strategy for Sustainable Tourism. It looks at how member states can design and implement sustainable tourism policies and programs, offering a regional forum for information exchange on the successes and pitfalls of national, regional, and international initiatives.

It will bring together regional and international tourism specialists; ministers of government and directors of tourism; developmental experts from the cultural, environmental, and academic spheres; and the local communities to share their experiences and offer solutions to problems in the development of sustainable tourism.

It is anticipated that this conference will draw in excess of 250 local, regional, and international delegates. ?We are delighted that we are able to once again bring together a wide range of experts and stakeholders to discuss the region?s sustainability,? said Hugh Riley, secretary general of the CTO. ?We thank the government of Barbados for hosting this very important conference in this difficult global economic climate.?

?STC will continue with the focus on how member states can design and incorporate sustainable tourism policies and practices into their regional and international initiatives,? said Gail Henry, the CTO?s sustainable tourism product specialist. ?We recognize that the development of the tourism sector in the Caribbean has to continue on a sustainable path. The Caribbean has an opportunity to lead advancements in this area, while also creating valuable employment opportunities.?

Among the speakers will be Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson and tourism marketing expert, Jean Marc Flambert - a Haitian involved in the tourism industry in the UK. He will present Haiti as a live case study during a presentation on how to turn challenges into opportunities to develop a world class, competitive tourism product.