The Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), have signed an agreement with the Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States (CARIFORUM), to implement an 8 million
public/private sector tourism program in the region. 

The program for the development of the Caribbean Tourism Industry is funded by the European Union under the 8th European Development Fund (EDF). A third beneficiary is the Pontifical Catholic University Madre y Maestra
(PUCMM), based in the Dominican Republic.

3 million of the total funding has been allocated to CHA, marking the first time that the European Union provides funding to the Caribbean`s hotel private sector. 

“For the past five years, CHA has worked diligently, with the support of the London-based Caribbean Council, to secure a private sector component in the European Union`s development programs. We look forward to CHA`s new role as a private sector partner in the development of Caribbean Tourism in the years ahead,” said Simón Suárez, president of CHA. The funds will be directed to initiatives in the areas of human resource development, product improvement, industry research, and the environment. 

CHA and CTO have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate on the implementation of the project, in order to maximize the funding by avoiding the duplication of efforts.
CHA, CTO and PUCMM
will be submitting work plans to CARIFORUM
by the end of May, with a target starting date of September 2003.
CARIFORUM is a grouping of Caribbean States of which the majority signed the Lomé IV Convention and Cotonou Agreement. The Lomé Convention and the Cotonou Agreement are international aid and trade agreements between the ACP States and the European Union.

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