REGIONNAL SYMPOSIUM ON SERVICES

1. REGIONNAL SYMPOSIUM ON SERVICES • STRATEGIC PLAN ON TOURISM SERVICES IN THE CARICOM SINGLE MARKET AND ECONOMY (CSME) • Cecil Miller Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.

2. Importance of Tourism • Contribution to GDP, employment and foreign exchange earnings • Linkages and added value to other economic sectors e.g. agriculture, manufacturing and handicraft • Catalyst for development in several other areas of the economy, including ancillary services and infrastructure - especially air and seaports and roads • Economic rationale for conservation and preservation of local heritage and culture and improvement of product and service standards, especially in the food services industry Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.

3. Tourism Industry Concerns • competitiveness, crime, research, mobilization of investment resources, cost and adequacy of international and intra-regional air transportation, offer of value for money, increase in benefits from cruise tourism, need to diversify tourism markets and threats to the long-term sustainability of the sector Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.

4. Threats to the Tourism Industry • Environmental – climate change and sea level rise, deforestation, bio-diversity loss, pollution of coastal zones and rivers, natural disasters (including hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes) to list a few; • Health – occasional outbreaks of health threats e.g. SARS, bird flu, H1N1 flu virus; • Economic – currency exchange movements, changes in macro-economic indicators of tourist generating countries; • Corporate – failure of major partners/suppliers in the business chain – e.g. airlines, tour operators Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.

5. Legislation, Incentives & Sector Development • New types of accommodation product rely less on incentives as a determining factor for project success • The arrangements which facilitate access to incentives are more important than the actual incentives granted • Incentives must be given to encourage entrepreneurship, innovation and the creation and development of indigenous products and services. Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.

6. Trade Liberalization andof Opportunities for the Tourism Sector • Liberalised trading arrangements offer possibilities for attracting investment, business partners and market access into Europe Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.

7. Pre-Requisites for Sector Growth and Development • Supportive policy framework to stimulate demand and ensure tourism continues to generate employment, foreign exchange and add value to other areas of economic enterprise • Increase and institutionalise training and certification at all levels of the industry • Disseminate, adopt and encourage use of best practices • Attract mentor and groom best and brightest for leadership positions in the industry • Movement of labour within the Regional tourism industry, under the framework of CSME Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.

8. Pre-Requisites for Sector Growth and Development • Destination Management - Monitor and manage product quality, service standards, product-market fit, institutional capacity, supporting tourism infrastructure, physical, social and economic environment and safety and security Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.

9. Challenges, Opportunities and Strategies for Developing the Sector • Prepare Tourism Master Plans that are capable of implementation • Focus on integrated planning, including zoning, adoption of standards and community consultations as part of the planning process • Conduct airline capacity studies to ensure plans for aviation are in consonance with and support plans for expansion in the accommodation sub-sector Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.

10. Product • Promote the adoption of industry product and service standards. • Take action at the national level to support work being done by CROSQ in the development of industry standards; • Further diversify niche products, services and tourism segments – eco, adventure - including climbing, hiking, river rafting, diving, sports, yachting; culinary, health, spiritual, meetings, incentives, convention, events; Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.

11. Product • Re-define the (Caribbean) product, its components and how we can protect and improve them • Encourage and promote the Caribbean look and feel in architecture and other products; • Encourage and promote authenticity in heritage and cultural experiences Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.

12. Marketing • Give further definition to the Caribbean brand; • Pursue strategies to market the Caribbean as a single destination; • Diversify into non-traditional markets – India, China, South America, Diaspora; • Promote and facilitate greater intra-regional travel Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.

13. Research and Development • Encourage and assist countries in the implementation and use of TSA as a tool to improve the measurement of tourism’s contribution to national economic output; • Carry out more targeted research, proactive product development, planning and monitoring Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.

14. Research and Development • CTO to give greater focus to market research and intelligence, sector and market analysis, trend assessments and advice regarding policy options in regard to emerging opportunities, threats, market developments, industry practices and models of best practice; • Collaborate with UWI in carrying out industry research, recording industry best practices and serving as a repository for study reports and other industry publications Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.

15. Air Transportation • Increase dialogue and collaborate with air transport partners for the purpose of securing efficient and adequate air access into the Region; • Develop a regional air transport development strategy giving attention to airline capacity and appropriate route structures Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.

16. Financing • Review and strengthen regulatory framework to support and encourage foreign direct investment in the industry; • Use pension and NIS funds in the financing of the industry. • Create vehicles and instruments for greater local participation in tourism investment Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.

17. HR and Management • Develop centres of excellence in hospitality training to improve service standards, opportunities for career advancement and the promotion of tourism and hospitality training as an export service; • Exploit opportunities for further development and promotion of Pan-Caribbean tourism brands and export of tourism marketing and management services; Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.

18. HR and Management • Facilitate regional planning and sharing of lessons, experiences and ideas by convening a suitable biennium forum for technical industry personnel Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.

19. Information Technology • Promote the use of IT in marketing the Caribbean; • Encourage the adoption and use of e-commerce as a vehicle for facilitating business transactions in tourism Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.

20. Entrepreneurship • Encourage enterprise and innovation – handicraft, culture • Enact and enforce appropriate legislation to protect the intellectual property of innovators of products • Develop value-added products and initiatives e.g. promote the authentic Caribbean experience in all its elements Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.

21. The End Tourism Consultants Int'l Inc.