Meeting this growth in a responsible and sustainable way that preserves the integrity of the tourism product and communities in which tourism operates is a challenge that tourism stakeholders must all face.

Sustainable tourism is still a relatively new concept and the parameters are still in definition. It is based on the realities that unrestricted growth is not sustainable and that there are limits to the numbers of tourists that can be accommodated in one place at a time, limits on the capacity of natural sites and attractions and limits to the patience of host communities.

In real terms the tourism industry in the Greater Caribbean is being challenged in many ways. Increased competition from other tourism regions, falling market share compared to the rest of the world, the lingering effects of the recent onslaught from terrorism, war and health concerns. In addition, there is the over saturation and deterioration of tourist sites, transportation bottlenecks, and reported increases in harassment, victimization and crimes perpetuated against tourists in many destinations.

Much is being demanded of tourism practitioners in the quest for sustainability. There is a call for decisive action about the future development of the industry, but many are uncertain as to how to begin this journey.

What is required primarily is a paradigm shift relative to how the industry operates, and an acceptance that Sustainable Tourism requires collective action from the public and private sector in collaboration with civil society. At the onset it is also essential to turn the concept of Sustainable Tourism into a real and practical exercise.

Following the Rio Summit on Sustainable Development in 1992, three leading international tourism organizations, the World Travel and Tourism Council, the World Tourism Organization and the Earth Council collaborated to develop a global Tourism Industry response.

The Travel and Tourism Industry’s action program provided umbrella guidelines and outlined objectives for governments and industry organizations geared towards achieving sustainability. These included forming strategic partnerships and designing new tourism products with sustainability at their core.

Travel and Tourism companies were mandated to employ measures to protect a key element of the tourism product – the environment – through water minimization, reuse and recycling, energy conservation and the management of the freshwater and wastewater resources.

Many operators in the private sector especially in the hotel Industry have embraced these measures as opportunities to employ sustainable practices, while improving cost effectiveness.

Environmental audits, the use of solar technology and energy management systems, are being employed successfully. While the initial outlay requires increased resources, statistics show that operational costs are reduced in the medium to long term.

There are also other benefits to employing sustainable practices such as competitions with awards bestowed for best environmental practices in the Hospitality Sector. The hotels in turn use these titles to create valuable marketing mileage.

In this journey towards tourism sustainability the proactive role of the Public Sector is vital. Governments are called upon to establish systems and procedures, to incorporate sustainable development considerations at the core of the decision making process, and to ensure that this development respects the international laws protecting the environment.

Collective action by the public and private sectors as well as civil society will facilitate the creation of the Sustainable Tourism Zone of the Caribbean, the ultimate objective of which is to develop a sustainable tourism industry, which meets the needs of the present host regions and visitors while protecting opportunities for future generations.

Ms. Jasmin Garraway is the Sustainable Tourism Adviser 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

(end)

24 August, 2004