Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association president Emil Lee has called for closer cooperation between the public and private sectors during an address to the Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association.

“Commitment and collaboration between the public and private sectors at an unprecedented level is essential if the Caribbean is to realise the potential which tourism presents in elevating and transforming the economies of the region and generating employment at all levels,” stated Lee.

Lee added: “CHTA believes in the value which National Hotel Associations can bring to the table in helping to drive economies through tourism.

“Our visit to The Bahamas is part of a deliberate effort to learn from the successes and the challenges at the local level as we seek to broaden public-private sector collaboration locally and regionally and identify issues and best and worst practices which can assist public and private stakeholders in our improvement efforts.”

Addressing BHTA members, Lee advised that the foundation for a viable and sustainable public-private sector effort must be grounded in transparency, trust, dialogue, common measurable goals, and a recognition that the currencies which motivate the public and private sectors differ. 

He emphasised that through collaboration the end common goals of building strong and competitive tourism driven economies, creating employment, and increasing tax revenue can be realised.

“The Bahamas has distinguished itself in the region as a model for points of public-private sector collaboration,” according to Lee. 

“CHTA and all of the region’s stakeholders need to learn from one another and our successes and challenges, with CHTA serving as an information and change broker,” he added.

The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association facilitates the full potential of the Caribbean hotel and tourism industry by serving members’ needs and building partnerships in a socially responsible and sustainable manner.

CHTA is the voice of the Caribbean hospitality industry for the development of the region in the highly competitive and sophisticated environment of international tourism.