Tourism, which is the most important activity in the Greater Caribbean, because of the employment and  income it generates and  because of the major changes it promotes, and Globalization, which is a phenomenon of world-wide homogenization, create a major challenge for these community countries whose principles include  maintaining culture and identity as elements of integration.

Since the second half of this century, this new activity has been replacing the primary sector and incipient industry, thus joining the complex world of the international tourism economy , one of the first expressions of planetary globalisation.

Today's complex reality cannot limit the understanding of tourism to that of an activity focused only  on the provision of services, since such an analysis would prevent  an appreciation  of the magnitude and dynamics of this new  industry of the post war era.. Major changes in the occupation of space  and the migratory processes  involved,  rapid generally unplanned urbanization , the reconversion  of infrastructure and equipment, cultural changes and the substantial needs of highly specialized   human resources are some  of the immediate  effects of the new and complex economic model

Tourism is a complex activity involving a great  number of actors  and promoters. Among these, the most notable are the peoples who provide it, and those who receive it. Attempts will be made to sensitise  the  former on Caribbean culture and customs thorough massive dissemination and promotion campaignes abroad. The latter, that is, Caribbean people, will be made aware through programmes for imparting the broad meaning of tourism as well as the Sustainable Tourism Zone of the Caribbean (STZC) strategy.

The Sustainable Tourism Zone of the Caribbean  (STZC), was officially created by the signature of the Convention for Sustainable Tourism, last  December, during the III Summit of Association of Caribbean States, in Margarita, Venezuela. The objective of this Convention is to establish that the Zone is a geographically determined cultural, socio-economic and biologically  rich and diverse unit, in which Tourism development will depend on sustainability and the principles of integration, co-operation and consensus, aimed at facilitating the integrated development of the Greater Caribbean.

The Sustainable Tourism Zone does not mean simply taking care of ecosystems in the strict sense, but what  we must promote is balanced development among our  people to make sustainability possible.  Knowledge  on the part of the receiving society, the people of the STZC  will allow it to perceive new frameworks for attitudes and actions in tourism-oriented societies.  The  main objective should therefore be to promote community participation in decision-making, planning and in general, in the benefits and solution to problems generated by tourism activity.

 The strategy for facing this challenge involves the two main actors in our societies.

·        The States as an agent of management and change, and

·        The Civil Society as a new emerging actor, at this new century in the era of Globalization

It is necessary to adopt, individually and/or collectively, the measures required for developing, coordinating and following   the following strategics:

·        Identity and Culture

·        Community Participation;

·        Environment;

·        Technology for Sustainability

·        Economic Policies and Instruments;

·        Tourist Market

·        Education;

·        Legal Framework;

·        Sustainability Indicators;

·        Air and maritime Transport ;

·        Coordination with the private Sector;

·        Statistics

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So, it will be necessary to develop projects to research, disclose, preserve and disseminate Caribbean culture and Identity so as to strengthen the region¨s image as a tourist destination

The socio-cultural issues must be addressed particularly with clear strategies for poverty reduction and job creation . Another buy-product of poverty is the lack of proper health care and governments and the private sector have to rise to the challenge to invest in health care as part of the antipoverty strategy. The rising incidence of AIDS in the Caribbean region exacerbates this concern. 

It is also extremely important to promote the use of the best technologies for  the preservation and conservation  of  the environment thus creating the proper mechanisms so as to increase the community participation to become  significant actors in the tourist activities.

It is necessary the strengthening of the economic and social infrastructures in the countries of the region, Site planning and building design must be sustainable. Energy management  as well as liquid and solid waste management must be improved. Improvements are also necessary in the disposal of hazadours waste and most control is needed over air pollution.

A considerable effort needs to be made to consolidate the development of the tourist product of the region adding the sun and sand, the cultures and natural attractions found in countries.

Companies and Goverments,  in conjunction with the educational institutions of each country, must promote training for professionals capable of providing solutions to achieve the sustainability being sought.

On the other hand, as it is well known, the Caribbean is facing a serious problem.

Of insufficient transportation, particularly   air transportation. The basic content of this strategic approach is to implement the initiative Uniting the Caribbean by air and sea  that is to promote the development of interregional air and maritime transport systems that would facilitate the transfer of tourist , principally  through the coordination of activities with the  governmental and private sectors.

The creation of sustainability indicators , in addition to a categorization system related  to tourist enterprises and attractions as well as tourist destinations, would  grant consumers a medium and long term guarantee of environmental quality.

The scope of reference for the indicators are:  Environmental, social , economic and cultural approach.

It is also planned   to consider among the activities undertaken in this strategy, to follow the legal  regulatory framework of the Convention of Sustainable Tourism.

The processes   of  Ratification  of the Convention for the different countries  and the legal  process for the perfection of the  Rules Governing the Identification, Approval and Categorization of Destination that constitute the STZC, is one of  the principal tasks  in which the Association of Caribbean States is involve.

In order to address   all the activities which are planned, it is necessary to have instruments ranging from promoting awareness and social participation to internalizing externalities, passing through the integration of policies and eliminating ambiguous property rights, understanding that instruments change with time according to needs and accomplishments.

It seems that what is needed is a sense of urgency to have the treatment of environmental matters placed among the top priorities of national policies through proper implementation and adequate financing

The creation of an Information Center on Tourism is one of the most significant tasks in the near future for the ACS.  The  development  of  the Center will be undoubtedly  the compiling  and analysis of the information   to present to users of the Greater  Caribbean un a simple fashion, as a communication platform for advancements made in this fields.

Extra-regional cooperation and assistance should be integrated into the overall plan of action for sustainable development of tourism in the Caribbean. Extra-regional cooperation can help by studying the problem of poverty and designing effective interventions. It can also help individual countries to design policies and institutional adjustments and to monitor, evaluate, update, and facilitate the implementation of realistic measures by providing technical assistance and financial support  in the development of an integrated tourism development strategy  in the  Greater Caribbean.