CTO rescheduled the 5th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the government of St. Kitts and Nevis decided to reschedule the 5th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development, initially slated for April 23-26, to September, 9-12, 2003 at the same venue, the St. Kitts Marriott Royal Beach Resort.

“The current global situation has made it difficult for countries and delegates to give their full attention to the conference. We are all facing difficult times right now and no one in the industry has been untouched by this situation,” Dwyer Astaphan, tourism minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, explained.

“The decision to postpone the Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development was taken after much consideration and recognition that the global state of affairs is not optimal for the conference,” added for his part Karen Ford-Warner, deputy secretary general of CTO. “The postponement will give the countries and delegates more time to prepare.”

The 5th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development, when it takes place, will highlight the importance of our cultural and natural heritage in the development of sustainable tourism products.

The subject areas to be covered include:

Planning, Managing and Partnership: Key issues for the balance of our natural and cultural heritage.

Ensuring the quality and authenticity of our heritage tourism products: Standards, Categorization and Certification Schemes.

Standing out through our Heritage: Marketing strategies based on the natural and cultural richness of our region.

Financing heritage-based projects.

Stakeholders speak out: Relevant issues for St. Kitts & Nevis.

Defining the way forward: Relevant issues for the Caribbean on sustainable tourism development.

Conference participants will have an opportunity to meet regional and international tourism specialists and will interact with development experts from the cultural and environmental sectors. They will explore the diversity of St. Kitts & Nevis through exciting tours and make recommendations to the policy and programme developers on how to achieve sustainability in the region.