The workshop was attended by ACS Member Countries, the Ministry of Tourism of Trinidad and Tobago, the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) and a considerable number of local stakeholders, and the Manual for Trainers prepared by the ACS experts was presented during said event, for use by countries in the evaluation process of the sustainability levels of their tourist destinations.

In addition, the WTO technicians presented the book of indicators prepared by the WTO on Sustainable Development Indicators for Tourist Destinations, which includes the work undertaken by the ACS in this respect.

What were the fundamental achievements of this Workshop?

It is our belief that Academics, specialists in Tourism, Environment and other areas associated with Tourism Sustainability analysis and development, of all the Greater Caribbean countries, including Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Central America and the Island Caribbean, assembled in Chaguaramas to examine particular problems of this Tourist Destination, as well as its specific potentialities achieved in this regard.

The core of the analysis was not only focused on the possible application of the indicators outlined in the Manual, but also on the meeting held among those directly and indirectly involved in the tourism industry in that destination.

The focus on the key aspects that play a positive and negative role in the efficient and competitive development of Chaguaramas and the tourist destinations of the Greater Caribbean in general was an undeniable result of this Workshop.

The analysis and drafting of a proposal of activities to be developed for the success and promotion of the destination are among the immediate objectives to be accomplished in a task coordinated with the WTO, the CDA, the ACS and the Ministry of Tourism of Trinidad and Tobago.

The holding of other similar Workshops at the location, as well as continued efforts to train those responsible for carrying out this task, is therefore among the fundamental objectives of this joint effort.

We must bear in mind that Indicators are not an end in themselves, but rather tools that allow trends to be identified and objectives fulfilled, presenting the possibility of intervening opportunely and thus allowing well-founded decision making. When these indicators are well formulated, the changes continue throughout the entire lifecycle of the project and are crucial for effective and successful management, also transforming themselves into teaching and promotion mechanisms for achieving sustainability. Moreover, they assist in decision-making with respect to planning and determining the implications of development within the site itself in order to promote sustainability. They also allow economic, social and environmental impacts to be controlled at all levels.

We thank the Ministry of Tourism of Trinidad and Tobago, the Chaguaramas Development Authority and its local stakeholders, as well as the World Tourism Organisation, for the excellent work done and support given, confident that this Workshop represents a crucial milestone in the implementation of the Sustainable Tourism Zone of the Greater Caribbean.

Dr. Zoila González Maicas. Sustainable Tourism Director 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

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19 October, 2004