Caribbean Tourism Stakes Salvation on Greener Policies

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Apr 24 2013 (IPS) - Tourism, widely regarded as the mainstay of Caribbean economies, is being challenged to remain sustainable in an era of climate change and its impact on beaches, rivers and other attractions.
Carlos Vogeler, regional director for the Americas United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), speaking at a four-day Sustainable Tourism Development conference held here last week, said that World Tourism Day on Sep. 27 will be dedicated to tourism and water.
The goal is to shine a spotlight on water both as an asset and as a resource and on the actions needed to face up to the water challenge.
“Water is one of tourism’s main assets. Each year, millions of people travel around the world to enjoy water destinations both inland and in coastal areas and Caribbean destinations play a key role in this,” Vogeler said.
“Water is also one of tourism’s most precious resources, and as one of the largest economic sectors in the world, it is the responsibility of the tourism industries to take a leadership role and ensure companies and destinations invest in adequate water management throughout the value chain.
“If managed sustainably, tourism can bring benefits to the national and local communities and support water preservation,” Vogeler added.
In his message for World Tourism Day 2012, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recalled that “one of the world’s largest economic sectors, tourism, is especially well-placed to promote environmental sustainability, green growth and our struggle against climate change through its relationship with energy.”

Link: http://www.ipsnews.net/2013/04/caribbean-tourism-stakes-salvation-on-gr…