Jamaica
News - Real Estate - Tourism (July
27,
2004)
Region's tourism to earn US$40.3b this
yr
The Caribbean will earn
US$40.3 billion from tourism this year, 10 per cent more than it
did in 2003, according to a study conducted by the World Travel
and Tourism Council (WTTC).
The study, which was conducted
on behalf of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) over a year
ago, was released to the industry last month.
In her address during the
environmental awards luncheon on the final day of the Green
Tourism Conference held in Montego Bay last week, CHA president
Berthia Parle encouraged tourism interests to get copies of the
study.
"I recommend that every
Caribbean travel and tourism operator and/or professional -
whether public or private sector-based - access copies of this
study and digest thoroughly its contents," she urged.
Other projections that were
included in the document, she said, are that the industry will
this year account for 2.4 million jobs, representing 15.5 per cent
of total regional employment, and it will provide 4.1 per cent
annualised real GDP growth over the next 10 years.
Turning her attention to Cricket
World Cup 2007, Parle warned that the Caribbean tourism and travel
industry must be ready for the 100,000 tourists expected in the
region during the sporting event.
"The Caribbean travel and
tourism industry must be fully committed and prepared to roll out
its welcome and hospitality to the projected influx of between
60,000 to 100,000 visitors expected during the six-to-eight-week
competition period," she declared.
During the awards section of the
programme, the PA Cup for the JHTA Environmental Champion of the
year went to Fabia Lamm, the manager of the Green Grotto Caves in
St Ann.
The announcement was met with a
standing ovation and loud cheers from the audience.
Beaches Boscobel in Ocho Rios
and Sandals Inn in Montego Bay won the 2004 Green Hotel of the
Year's large and small awards, respectively.
The CHA president lauded the
chairman of the Sandals Group, Gordon "Butch" Stewart,
for his decision to mandate his hotel chain to become Green Globe
certified.
"The decision of my good
friend, Mr "Butch" Stewart. requiring that all members
of his hotel chain - 18 of them - become Green Globe 21 certified,
needs recognition indeed," she said.
Environmental Audits for
Sustainable Tourism's (EAST) project coordinator Hugh Cresser was
also awarded for his outstanding contribution to integrated
environmental management.
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