opinion

The Greater Caribbean This Week

The ACS Special Committee on Sustainable Tourism met in Nassau, Bahamas on November 10-11, 2004. The participating countries examined important matters regarding the progress made in implementing the Sustainable Tourism Zone of the Greater Caribbean, and among those we can highlight, given its relevance for the future, the agreement adopted by the meeting to commence efforts to create a Sustainable Tourism Program or Center for the Greater Caribbean.

The project to create this Program responds to one of the twelve fundamental strategies established in the ACS Sustainable Tourism Convention signed by the heads of state and/or government in December 2001 in Margarita Island, Venezuela.

It seeks to promote, at the fourth level of education, in other words: post graduate courses, diploma, masters and doctorate courses, training of tourism employees, officials and directors in the various dimensions and disciplines on which sustainable tourism is planned. It is geared toward protecting the environment, coastal ecosystems, culture, community interests, health, education, economic efficiency, employment, tourist safety, heritage, international competitiveness and other tourism-related aspects of the different destinations of the region.

The Dominican Republic, through the Fernando Arturo de Meriño University, in Jarabacoa, presented the project proposal to the countries of the region to host the program, which was approved. The center would have branches or sub-headquarters in all countries that wish to collaborate on the project, whether by offering courses, holding workshops, preparing research, or coordinating a diploma or masters course, etc.

A powerful initial process of international coordination among all governments and interested academic authorities is necessary to identify the experiences being gained in each country in the area of sustainable tourism, as well as those regarding the coordination and compatibility of interests toward achieving regional validation for the qualifications being issued in each type of teaching.

The teaching option has been planned at two levels: on the spot and distance, also seeking to arrive at a combination of both.

Stringent requirements are necessary from the technological, infrastructural and academic perspectives, although there has already been support for the project from several countries and international organizations specializing in the areas of bibliographical and teaching support, equipment, accommodation, etc. in order for courses to commence in 2005.

The ACS Secretariat, in coordination with the tourism and academic authorities of the Dominican Republic is currently drafting the final document on the program, taking into account the aforementioned experiences, so as to present it fully to countries and specialized and financial organizations and accomplish the defined objectives.

The commencement of this project can become a significant achievement for the Caribbean region, not only in the area of tourism education, but also in the knowledge and economic efficiency of tourism itself, which, in its most inclusive sense, cannot be anything else but sustainable tourism.

Education is always the prerequisite for achieving the best and most noble results.


Dr. Zoila González Maicas is the Sustainable Tourism Director 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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