show report Time to CTO
The 13th annual Sustainable Tourism Conference took place in Georgetown, Guyana, hosted by the Caribbean Tourism Organization. Mark Stratton reports…
“Travellers have become
more sensitive to the ideas of conservation” HUGH RILEY, CTO
Eco-products drive Caribbean sales The 324 delegates who attended this
year’s Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism development were made up of regional tourism ministers, experts on sustainable development, tourist boards, hoteliers and operators. During presentations and workshops,
key themes discussed included promoting the region’s rich diversity, ecotourism, community tourism, and how going green can be a definite positive market advantage for those selling the Caribbean. “The travel industry is embracing
green strategies and becoming more conscious of how their business affects the communities in which they operate,” explained the CTO's general- secretary, Hugh Riley. “But in turn travellers have become more sensitive to the ideas of conservation and begun to expect those ideals in the destinations they visit,” he added. The conference buzz was that Caribbean tourism needs to take a lead in sustainable development to protect its industry from a range of dire environmental consequences such as rising sea levels and to be more proactive sharing economic benefits with local communities. But under the conference’s
From the show floor
DR BHARRAT JAGDEO Politician and eminent environmentalist “On the current path
we are heading for a 4ºC rise in global temperatures. This will kill the Caribbean’s corals and we will lose our beaches to rising sea-levels.”
ALEC SANGUINETTI CEO, Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association
“Sustainable travel is a new future away from simply sun, sea, and sand. Those selling it need to attract a new clientele who are attracted by higher standards of eco-friendly design.”
ANTONIO DEL ROSAL Executive-Director, Rio y Montaña Expediciones (adventure travel operator) “Travel agents should be examining adventure travel options because these clients have a much greater spend than beach holidaymakers.”
subheading, Striking the Right Balance, there was an acceptance Rome wasn’t built in a day. “We’re not telling travel agents to ask
their clients to change the way they holiday,” explained Carol Hay, the CTO’s London-based UK regional boss. “We're saying that if your client is at an all- inclusive beach destination for 10 nights, suggest they spend at least one day to take an excursion that includes visiting a local school and craft market”. “The Caribbean has so many different experiences away from sun, sea, and
sand, such as volunteerism culinary tourism and adventure,” she added. Such diversity was born out during
study tours arranged for delegates across Guyana. With 80% of Guyana swathed in rainforest inhabited by Amerindian communities, the country positions itself as an emerging market ideal for small group high-yield adventure tourism. Delegates were taken to the award-winning Surama Amerindian eco-lodge to wildlife-watch and to the breath-taking 741ft-high Kaieteur Waterfall.
Resentment at Air Passenger Duty issue simmers
The conference’s hot potato remained simmering resentment across the Caribbean at British Air Passenger Duty (APD) increases. Delegates were told early anecdotal
evidence since April’s rise suggests that its already impacting summer sales. It’s not only the rise (£81 per passenger flying Economy) that rankles but also a
14 June 2012 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
perceived injustice of placing the Caribbean in the higher Band C than adjacent North America. The British decision to ignore our
advice that this rise will cost jobs and damage our economies is a slap in the face for the Caribbean,” said Richard Skerritt, Minister of Tourism for St. Kitts and Nevis.
ROUND UP
Several tour-operators, including Intrepid and Kuoni have launched new summer itineraries to Guyana.
www.intrepidtravel.com www.kuoni.co.uk
Low-cost airline REDjet’s
recent demise has dealt a blow to cheap intra-regional travel.
Caribbean Airlines has launched a new four-times- weekly direct service this month (June) between London and Trinidad direct.
The 14th Caribbean
Conference on Sustainable Tourism takes place in Trinidad & Tobago in April 2013.
UK travel agents can contact Caribbean Tourism Organisation at
www.onecaribbean.org
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