ACS HOSTS CELAC MEETING OF REGIONAL TOURISM AGENCIES

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (November 6th 2014) - The Association of Caribbean States (ACS), on behalf of the Republic of Costa Rica in the capacity of President Pro-tempore of the Community of Latin America and Caribbean States (CELAC), will host a meeting of Regional Tourism Agencies under the theme Sustainable Tourism: Building Bridges for Co-operation and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean “Promoting Community based Tourism for Diversification and Competitiveness”. This meeting will be held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on November 10th 2014.

The meeting convenes High-Level Representatives of the Regional Tourism Agencies of Latin America and the Caribbean with the aim of enhancing intra-regional dialogue and cooperation, as well as to support the joint execution of projects and activities linked to the sustainable development of tourism, particularly in relation to Community-based initiatives. To this end, discussions will focus on identifying areas for collaboration and developing strategies geared towards the diversification of the regional tourism industry. A principal outcome is to obtain the support and endorsement from the Regional Agencies for the establishment of a Regional Network of Community-based Tourism Initiatives of the Greater Caribbean.

In this regard, the main items tabled on the Agenda include: presentations by the Regional Agencies, dialogue on regional cooperation and discussion on the modalities for future collaboration.

Attending the meeting are representatives from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Central American Tourism Integration Secretariat (SITCA), the Republic of Nicaragua, the Republic of Suriname, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Embassy of Argentina.

Opening Remarks will be delivered by the Representative of CELAC, Mrs. Carmen Gil Erazo, Delegate Assigned for National Coordination of Costa Rica, Embassy of Costa Rica in Trinidad and Tobago, together with Mr. Julio Orozco, Director of Sustainable Tourism of the ACS.