CTO chief invites region to protect our water resources on World Tourism Day

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Sustainable tourism can be a source of competitive advantage for the region as more visitors choose to invest in green vacations, according to the chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Beverly Nicholson-Doty. In a message to mark World Tourism Day today, the CTO chairman challenged regional decision-makers to ensure visitors enjoy […]

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Sustainable tourism can be a source of competitive advantage for the region as more visitors choose to invest in green vacations, according to the chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Beverly Nicholson-Doty.

In a message to mark World Tourism Day today, the CTO chairman challenged regional decision-makers to ensure visitors enjoy a sustainable tourism product.

World Tourism Day, proclaimed by the global tourism body, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), will focus on the worldโ€™s precious water resources, their role in tourism and all that can be done to protect them to the benefit of future generations.

โ€œIncreasingly visitors are becoming conscious of their carbon footprint when they travel. We need to ensure that they view the Caribbean as a desirable location, where they can engage in initiatives such as agro-tourism, educational tours, volunteer opportunities and other sustainable activities while they are on holiday,โ€ Ms. Nicholson-Doty said.

She reiterated the CTOโ€™s commitment to leading sustainable tourism through a number of programs including standard setting and certification; the annual Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC); and the Caribbean Hotel Energy Efficiency Action Program (CHENACT), which the CTO has managed in conjunction with the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) since 2009.

The latter is a public-private sector program sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) that has saved regionโ€™s hotel sector over US$270 million annually in utility costs.

Ms. Nicolson-Doty challenged governments, private sector partners and Caribbean communities to work together to ensure sustainable tourism moves from a theoretical concept to become a part of our daily operational practices.

โ€œWe need a multi-sectorial approach โ€“ combining public policy and incentives; private-sector financing and endorsement; backed by effective community and visitor education and awareness programs,โ€ she said.

World Tourism Day is observed on September 27 each year.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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