By Nagra Plunkett, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
THE CARIBBEAN Hotel Association (CHA) is urging Caribbean countries to become fully engaged in tourism and recognise it as the region's leading economic activity and export sector.
Berthia Parle, president of the CHA, said that a study done by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has forecast earnings for the region in 2004 at US$40.3 billion. The figure represents a 10 per cent growth in total travel and tourism demand.
COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH
"I submit that we require a comprehensive approach to the education of our Caribbean people in respect of the management of our destinations. The quality and condition of our island destinations still leaves a lot to be desired," urged the St. Lucian hotelier.
IMPROVEMENT
"I therefore call upon our regional governments, ministers, tourism boards, educators, regional institutions and other public sector partners to collectively work towards the improvement of our tourism destinations as a matter of immediate urgency."
The CHA president was addressing the second annual Educational Symposium and Green Tourism Conference Environmental Awards Luncheon at the Half Moon Conference Centre in Montego Bay on the weekend. She said the WTTC study, which was commissioned by the CHA, also projected 2.4 million tourism jobs representing 15.5 per cent of total regional employment and 4.1 per cent annualised real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth over the next ten years. During the function, some 16 awards were presented to several tourism players in the region for their role in promoting sustainable tourism.
AMBASSADORS
Green Grotto Caves in Discovery Bay, St. Ann, was named the Environmental Ambassadors in the Attractions Sector and was also awarded with the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) Environmental Champion for 2004.
Mrs. Parle noted that the Green Tourism Conference had provided an important forum for the exchange of sustainable tourism issues and ideas on environmental best practices.
