The final version of the Caribbean`s Regional Tourism Strategic Plan will be submitted to Caricom (Caribbean Community) heads of government by July 31.


The plan will be used regionally and nationally “as a guide to further action for the Caribbean Tourism Organization, the private sector and funding agencies,” said Jean Holder, CTO secretary general.

A draft of the plan, which proposed raising money for Caribbean tourism through a sustainable fund, was submitted to Caricom at its recent summit in Georgetown, Guyana.

Critical issues facing the region`s tourism sector, according to the report, include the competitiveness of the product; the region`s image and effectiveness in the marketplace; air and sea access; use of information technology in tourism; and protection of the environment.

Holder said that the plan`s objectives include:

? An increase in annual tourism expenditures by 5% per year over the next 10 years;


? An increase in stayover arrivals by at least 1% above the world average growth, as estimated by the World Tourism Organization (WTO);


? An increase in the conversion of cruise tourists to stayover tourists;

? An increase in employment opportunities for Caribbean nationals and more tourism education and training;

? Improvements in the quality of service on all levels.

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