Officials look at sustainable tourism

“New Tourism” is tourism that is sustainable, environmentally and socially responsible and mutually beneficial to visitors and host countries, says Dr Auliana Poon while addressing a one-day seminar on sustainable tourism at Joachim and Associates Headquarters at Murray’s Road on Wednesday. She also said that Governments need to listen to the local communities and the communities need to have informed participation in order for sustainable tourism to work.{{more}}

Tourism Minister Glen Beache in his address, said that St Vincent and the Grenadines has come a long way in the tourism sector but more needs to be done and that there is need for a closer relationship with the Ministry of Tourism, Government and the Private sector. Beache also said that North Leeward is the Tourism Mecca in St Vincent as most of the sites are located there.

Held under the theme “Sustainable Tourism Development and the Role of Local Communities – lessons from Experience”, the event drew participants from various stakeholder groups including the North Leeward Tourism Association (NLTA), the Hotel and Tourism Association (HTA), Hazeco Tours and Coreas and Company among others. Dave Man represented Buccament Resorts.

Implementing Sustainable Tourism in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG): issues, challenges, strategies and solutions was discussed by a panel comprising the TII local team and Ministry officials and was moderated by Dr Poon.

The event was facilitated by Joachim and Associates, a Human Resource and Business Consulting Firm headed by Susan Joachim formerly of the National Investments Promotions Inc (NIPI).

Dr Poon, a Trinidad National was the feature speaker. She is Managing Director and Senior Partner of TII a tourism consulting firm based in Germany. TII won the bid to develop 21 tourism sites in St Vincent and the Grenadines. Financing for the project comes from the European Union.