TRADE SHOW REVIEW CARIBBEAN
CCSTD goes green
The 14th Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development (April 15-18) was held in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago. Mark Stratton rounds up the news
Sell green to build sales
FOR the third time in the show's 14-year existence, Trinidad hosted the Caribbean Tourism
Organization’s (CTO) Conference on Sustainable
annual Tourism
Development in Port of Spain. Delegates assembling at the Hyatt Regency included Caribbean heads of state, tourist boards, tour operators, and green business owners. During two days of lively presentations
and workshops the overarching theme of the conference was laid out in its title: “Keeping the right balance: enhancing destination sustainability
through
products, partnerships, and profitability”. . Speakers explained that not only are the
Caribbean’s natural resources fragile and need to be used sustainably but selling green made economic sense for tour operators wanting to capture a growing market of environmentally savvy travellers. Dr Martha Honey of the American Centre
for Responsible Travel explained evidence strongly linked sustainable travel as being: “good for the economic bottom line”. She highlighted a 2012 study by market- researchers Nielsen that found 66% of consumers globally prefer to buy products and services from companies enriching local communities. Delegates were presented with
examples of good practice and the presentations ranged from larger resort destinations such as the environmental award-winning Puntacana Resort & Club in the Dominican Republic to smaller community initiatives as at Bluefields Bay
IN BRIEF Tobago Responds to Virgin pullout:
Conceding Virgin’s recent decision to abandon its direct Gatwick-Tobago summer service would hurt tourism, Carol-Ann Birchwood-James, Director of Trinidad & Tobago’s Tourism Development Co, said an alternative Caribbean Airlines' Barbados/Tobago flight "is possible".
Gotrinidadandtobago.com
Green Guyana triumphs: Guyana
scooped three of six awards at STC-14’s CTO-TravelMole Sustainable Tourism Awards, confirming its status as a leading green destination. Guyanese winners included the Amazonian-located Karanambu Lodge, The National Trust of Guyana, and the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society.
Guyana-tourism.com
Trinidad WTM re-launch: Trinidad &
Tobago is to launch a major re-branding and marketing campaign at November's WTM in London.
“It’s the first time
Trinidad and Tobago is embarking on a global marketing initiative,” said Minister of Tourism, Stephen Cadiz. “In the past we have
not been aggressive
Gotrinidadandtobago.com
CTO UPDATES From the show fl oor...
“DISCERNING travellers are seeking a "sense of place" – encompassing how a
in Jamaica, where local fishermens’
protection of their marine resources has attracted eco-travellers. Delegates also experienced the highlights of this oil-rich Caribbean nation during a series of study tours built into the conference schedule. Home of steelpan music, Trinidad & Tobago is an emerging destination with many
examples of
sustainable tourism products. This was reflected in study days that included
Matura Beach where leatherback turtle conservation is delivering local economic benefits and a visit to Brasso Seco, which promotes agro-tourism based around its high-value cocoa growing industry. Other issues discussed at the conference included the continuing iniquity of the Britain’s APD tax and poor regional airlift between Caribbean islands; both considered to be harming regional tourism.
caribbeanstc.com
destination cares for its environment and its people. They feel the quality of their stay is linked to a destination's commitment to sustainable tourism.” Beverly Nicholson-Doty Tourism Commissioner, US Virgin Islands
“UK operators shouldn’t
only look at hotel rooms but should consider packaging
the stories behind a destination and look harder for cultural
authenticity because
that’s what modern travellers want.” Hugh Riley, Secretary-General C.T.O
SANDALS new 231-roomed LaSource Grenada Resort & Spa will open in December 2013.
Sandals.co.uk/Grenada
VIRGIN Airlines will resume its suspended London Gatwick to Tobago Island service from mid-October 2013.
Virgin-atlantic.com
enough."
TRINIDAD Carnival will take place March 3-4 in 2014.
Gotrinidadandtobago.com
“WITHOUT CONCERNS FOR SUSTAINABILITY, TOURISM CAN HAVE DETRIMENTAL IMPACTS”
CARLOS VOGELER WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION
www.sellinglonghaul.com
June 2013 17
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