KINGSTOWN, St Vincent — The Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development (STC2019), held this year on the 26-29 August at the Beachcombers Hotel in St Vincent and the Grenadines, offered a regional forum for information exchange on the successes and pitfalls of national, regional and international initiatives.
STC2019, organised by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) in partnership with St Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority, featured the Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Awards, which celebrated entities from the CTO member countries that embrace environmental sustainability across various tourism development and related disciplines.
Three Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), member States topped the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s 2019 Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Awards winning five of the eight prestigious tourism honours.
Entities from Grenada, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda and Martinique receive recognition.
Five OECS award winners were selected out of a total of 38 entries:
- True Blue Bay Boutique Resort in Grenada
Winner of the Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award, which recognises a product or initiative that contributes to a better quality of life in the destination and provides a unique visitor experience.
- Kido Foundation in Carriacou, Grenada
Winner of the Nature Conservation Award, which commends any group, organisation, tourism business or attraction working towards the protection of natural and/or marine resources.
- Jus’ Sail in Saint Lucia
Winner of the Community Benefit Award, which honours an entity that manages tourism well for the long-term benefit of the destination, local people and visitors.
- Maroon and String Band Music Festival Committee in Carriacou, Grenada
Winner of the Culture and Heritage Protection Award, which honours a tourism organisation or initiative making a significant contribution to protect and promote heritage.
- Richmond Vale Academy in St Vincent and the Grenadines
Winner of the Tourism Social Enterprise, a special award recognising an initiative by an individual or group/association which addresses social problems by applying innovative tourism development ideas.
Maria Fowell, tourism specialist at the OECS Commission stressed the OECS Commission’s dedication to supporting the implementation of sustainable tourism policies and programmes in its member States.
“The OECS Commission remains committed to sustainable tourism development and balanced growth through tourism as we strive to achieve the OECS vision of a better quality of life for our people. The dedication of our member States is without a doubt reflected in the outstanding OECS representation amongst the winners of this year’s STC2019 Awards,” Fowell said.
CTO’s sustainable tourism specialist, Amanda Charles, noted the high level of interest and commitment to sustainable tourism development exhibited by the region’s public and private tourism industry stakeholders, making the region “a world leader in responsible travel and tourism.”
