CTO Partners With Regional Agencies For Caribbean Tourism Recovery Forum

~ The 14-15 Oct virtual event will focus on planning and management of the recovery process for the Caribbean ~

(Caribbean Tourism Organisation) As part of its programme to help the region’s tourism sector rise to the challenges posed by COVID-19, the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) is teaming up with the world’s leading international tourism agency and other influential regional and international organisations for a critical recovery event for the industry.

The United Nations specialised agency for tourism, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), global market research firm Euromonitor International, independent charity, Travel Foundation, and the University of the West Indies are collaborating with the CTO in presenting the Caribbean Tourism Recovery Forum on 14 and 15 October, 2020. The virtual event will focus on planning and management of the recovery process for the Caribbean.

“From the onset of COVID-19, the CTO has sought expertise to assist our members with immediate, short-term and long-term recovery planning as they navigate the path towards rebuilding the regional tourism sector,” said Neil Walters, the CTO’s acting secretary general.  “Through this forum we are again able to capitalise on our close relations with these reputable organisations to provide insights and analyses about the sector, as well as explore some of the key areas that must be addressed to ensure success in the Caribbean’s tourism recovery process.”

The event also incorporates a capacity-building element in the form of a workshop to assist destinations in applying a structured, measurable model to their own national planning.

It will have two distinct segments, with the first segment on 14 October aimed at increasing awareness of steps to planning recovery and improving knowledge of the role of stakeholders in the recovery process. A range of areas will be covered, including the economic impact of COVID-19, travel sentiment and forecast, considerations around a vaccine, best practices for recovery and a model for sustainable tourism post-COVID.

Presenters for this session will include:

• Caroline Bremner, Head of Travel and Tourism Research at Euromonitor International
• Professor Clive Landis, Chairman, University of the West Indies COVID-19 Taskforce
• Alejandro Varela, Deputy Regional Director for the Americas at UNWTO
• Jeremy Sampson, Chief Executive Officer at The Travel Foundation

This segment is open to CTO members and partners in tourism and related fields and will run from 10:00 AM to 1:15 PM.

The second segment on 15 October will target government members of the CTO for a Smart Recovery planning workshop facilitated by The Travel Foundation.  A unique feature of this workshop is that it combines learning and development, and post-implementation assessment. The programme was developed by the teams at The Travel Foundation and City Nation Place and it has been successfully delivered in a number of other destinations as part of their tourism reopening plan.

Participants will gain in depth knowledge of recovery framework and are expected to complete and assess a recovery plan for their respective destinations.

For more information on the Caribbean Tourism Recovery Forum, including how to register, please visit www.onecaribbean.org.

About the Caribbean Tourism Organisation

The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), which is headquartered in Barbados, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency comprising membership of the region’s finest countries and territories including Dutch, English, French and Spanish-speaking, as well as a myriad of private sector allied members. The CTO’s vision is to position the Caribbean as the most desirable, year-round, warm weather destination, and its purpose is Leading Sustainable Tourism – One Sea, One Voice, One Caribbean.

Among the benefits to its members the organisation provides specialised support and technical assistance in sustainable tourism development, marketing, communications, advocacy, human resource development, event planning & execution and research & information technology.

The CTO’s Headquarters is located at Baobab Tower, Warrens, St. Michael, Barbados BB 22026; Tel: (246) 427-5242; Fax: (246) 429-3065; E-mail:CTObarbados@caribtourism.com;

For more information on the Caribbean Tourism Organization, please visit www.OneCaribbean.org and follow CTO on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn to be part of the conversation.

Source: CARICOM TODAY