Caribbean tourism conference in Havana

Every year the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) organises a Conference on Sustainable Tourism development. Since 2003, the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) has been involved in these efforts to inform and increase regional awareness regarding the Programs and Activities associated with Tourism Sustainability.

The theme of the Conference this year is "Keeping the Right Balance: Land and Sea Encounters" and it will be held in Havana, Cuba, from April 28 - 30.

Most Caribbean states and territories, islands as well as continental countries, focus a considerable portion of their economic activity on coastal areas. The balance that should exist between land and sea ecosystems in the coastal zones of the Caribbean is being affected by various human activities, with the tourism sector being one of the most important for the region.

The conference will examine the ways in which land-based and maritime activities are affecting the sustainability of coastal areas and consequently, the human and natural resources required for tourism development.

The conference will be organised in two Plenary Sessions with four Workshops or Work Groups in each, which will facilitate more specific discussions on matters associated with the general theme of the event.

One day of the event will be dedicated to visits to tourist destinations in Cuba in order to facilitate on site discussions on problems relating to the main theme of the conference.

The themes of the Plenary Sessions are as follows:

* Plenary Session I. Physical Planning: Balancing surface development with marine conservation

* Plenary Session II. Land and sea inhabitants: Establishing strategic alliances for common benefits.

Plans are underway for a Plenary Session to Examine Sustainable Tourism in Cuba and a Plenary Session for "Defining the way forward for Sustainable Tourism in the Caribbean".

A relevant topic for the Conference will be the presentation and analysis of the advancements made in the creation process of the Sustainable Tourism Zone of the Caribbean (STZC), as well as the rules and indicators developed for measuring the effectiveness of its implementation.

It is our hope that these activities would result in optimum coordinated efforts for those interested in developing Sustainability and would also provide the suitable context for the Caribbean Tourism Ministers Meeting scheduled to take place on April 30 in the framework of the Conference.

Dr. Zoila González Maicas is Director of Sustainable Tourism of the Association of Caribbean States. The views expressed are not necessarily the official views of the ACS. Feedback can be sent to mail@acs-aec.org.

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