TO Teams Up With Cedera For Disaster Mitigation Seminar At Sustainable Tourism Conference

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is teaming up with the region’s disaster response body, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) for a special disaster mitigation exercise at the 8th annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development (STC-8) in Puerto Rico.

The entire first day of the conference will be dedicated to disaster management and preparedness, with CDERA leading the discussion in these areas of critical concern to the region’s tourism industry, the two organisations announced today.

The two regional institutions noted that in the last two years alone, Caribbean and international tourism have been plagued by a number of disasters, including hurricanes and floods and the inability to mitigate or eliminate the consequences of these disasters have resonated strongly in the affected countries.

“Tourism continues to be constrained by the ineffective mobilization and coordination of disaster relief and through this special session, we hope to explore the avenues where governments, the private sector and interest groups can secure more comprehensive and accurate information, employ improved mitigation strategies and establish sustainable disaster response capabilities,” the said in a joint news release.

The programme for the day includes workshops on facilities assessment and contingency planning; a special general session entitled, Towards Sustainable Tourism in the Caribbean – The Disasters/Tourism Interface; and a session on Approaches to Risk Management in the Tourism Sector.

The special general session on disaster management and preparedness will take place on Tuesday 25 April at the Condado Plaza Hotel., the STC-8 host resort.

The 8th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development, organized by CTO in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PTRC), and co-sponsored by the European Union within the framework of the Caribbean Regional Sustainable Tourism Development programme (CRSTDP), will take place from 25-29 April in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency
CDERA is regional inter-governmental agency established in September 1991 by an Agreement of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM to be responsible for disaster management. Its main function is to make an immediate and coordinated response to any disastrous event affecting any Participating State, once the state requests such assistance. Other functions include securing, collating and channeling to interested governmental and non-governmental organizations, comprehensive and reliable information on disasters affecting the region; mitigating or eliminating as far as possible, the consequences of disasters affecting Participating States; establishing and maintaining on a sustainable basis, adequate disaster response capabilities among Participating States; and mobilizing and coordinating disaster relief from governmental and non-governmental organizations for affected Participating States.

Caribbean Regional Sustainable Tourism Development Programme
The CRSTDP is an eight million euro programme to be implemented over a three year period by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) and the Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) as implementing agencies.

It gives the opportunity to have the main Caribbean tourism public and private sector organisations (CTO and CHA) work co-operatively and share responsibilities in programme activities and implementation.

Funded by the European Union, the CRSTDP’s objective is to contribute to making the Caribbean tourism sector more competitive and more sustainable, contributing to economic growth and poverty reduction and to fostering the sustainability and competitiveness of the Caribbean tourism sector through the establishment of a sustainable development policy framework.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is the smallest of the Caribbean Greater Antilles, measuring 100 miles (161 km) long by 35 miles (56.3 km) wide. Also known as the “Island of Enchantment,” it is a vibrant, modern, multicultural society, molded by Spanish, African, Indian and U.S. influences. The island features historic sites and architecture that compliment a dynamic lifestyle of lively music, art centers, shopping and culinary delicacies ranging from traditional to innovative dishes.

The island is a paradise for nature lovers and adventure seekers. Beaches surround the island while a central mountain range, with elevations up to 4,398 feet (1,338 meters), runs throughout its center, creating lush vegetation in the north and arid climate in the south. Puerto Rico is also comprised of four off the coast islands and numerous cays. The country’s unique geography allows for a variety of opportunities, no matter your interest: Nature walks in tropical and dry forests, visits to cave systems, bird-watching, hiking, mountain climbing, diving and snorkeling, swimming in bioluminescent bays, surfing, kayaking, and great diversity for invigorating experiences.

The Caribbean Tourism Organization

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), with headquarters in Barbados and marketing operations in New York, London and Toronto, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency and comprises membership of over 30 member governments and a myriad of private sector entities.

The CTO’s mission is to provide to and through its members, the services and information needed for the development of sustainable tourism for the economic and social benefit of the Caribbean people. The organization provides specialized support and technical assistance to member countries in the areas of marketing, human resource development, research and statistics, information technology and sustainable tourism development. The CTO disseminates information on behalf of its member governments to consumers and the travel trade.

CTO’s New York office is located at 80 Broad Street, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10004, USA; Tel: (212) 635-9530; Fax: (212) 635-9511; E-mail: ctony@caribtourism.com CTO’s London office is located at 22 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, England. Tel: 011 44 208 948 0057; Fax: 011 44 208 948 0067; E-mail: ctolondon@caribtourism.com; CTO Canada is located at 130 Bloor Street West, Suite 301, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1N5, Canada. Tel: (416) 935 0767; Fax: (416) 935 0939. E-mail ctotoronto@caribtourism.com CTO Headquarters is located at One Financial Place, Collymore Rock, St. Michael, Barbados; Tel: (246) 427-5242; Fax: (246) 429-3065; E-mail: ctobarbados@caribtourism.com

For more information, please visit www.doitcaribbean.com or www.onecaribbean.org

February 25, 2006   Posted in: Caribbean