Janet Silvera, Senior Tourism Writer

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico:

Aiming to create a single Caribbean airspace, the region's Ministers of Tourism and International Transport have approved a proposal to implement the 'San Juan Accord' by September 30, 2008.

Two of the main components of the accord are a single airspace and a common civil aviation regime. It is aimed at improving the management of international and intraregional air services in order to maintain and improve the vibrancy and competitiveness of the vital tourist sector while promoting greater business as well as social and institutional integration in the region.

The decision was taken at an air transport meeting with civil aviation and tourism officials, regional airline executives and representatives of relevant regional and international institutions last Friday in Puerto Rico. The meeting was chaired by Senator Allen Chastenet of St. Lucia.

The primary rationale for the deliberations was recognition of:

The critical importance of the tourism sector to all Caribbean economies.

The inescapable link between tourism and air transport.

The region's declining global tourism market share.

The escalating cost of regional air travel.

A reduction in intraregional tourist arrivals.

Visa regime

The proposal comes at a time when many of the region's leaders have plans to re-establish the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) visa regime which was implemented by the Caribbean Community Council of Ministers of National Security during the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup.

The CARICOM visa saw the establishment of a single domestic space by nine countries hosting the games, and Dominica. However, this came under extreme criticism from stakeholders in the tourist industry because of their lack of involvement in the decision-making process.

Under the San Juan Accord, the ministers have pledged to work towards the realisation of the following:

Accelerating the revision of the CARICOM Multilateral Air Services Agreement and related liberalization of regional air transport sector, with a view to completion and implementation by September 30, 2008;

Convening of a forum of CTO Tourism ministers and ministers responsible for air transport, national security and other related matters to examine ways and means of harmonizing air transport policy in the context of the sustainability of Caribbean tourism.|

Establishment of a CTO-wide umbrella policy for air transport within the framework of the existing Association of Caribbean States Multilateral Air Transport Agreement or other mechanism taking account of the obligation of CARICOM member states under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas;V. Intensified efforts towards the creation of a single regional air space within sub-regional groupings such as CARICOM by September 3, 2008 and extending this air space to the wider Caribbean, as feasible.

Janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com