Culmina encuentro de la Organización de Estados del Caribe Oriental sobre turismo comunitario

OECS participates in community-based tourism project in Jamaica

A 15-member delegation from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has returned home after participating in a week of activities relevant to community-based tourism development in Jamaica.

The St. Lucia-based OECS Secretariat said that the “Study Tour and Conference” which was held in the historic town of Mandeville, was organised by the International Institute of Peace through Tourism (IIPT) Caribbean Chapter, in collaboration with the Countrystyle Community Tourism Network (CCTN) / Villages as Businesses (VAB).

It was held under the theme “Sustaining & Transforming Communities through Tourism Entrepreneurship” and brought together entrepreneurs, academics and visitors from the Eastern Caribbean countries, Jamaica, the United States, and Europe.

The OECS statement said that “participants explored several villages in Jamaica that have successfully developed community-based tourism” and that delegates explored a number of topics including niche marketing for accommodation with communities as well as preparing communities for welcoming visitors.

The OECS said that its delegation included members who participated in national consultations convened by the OECS Secretariat earlier this year “to identify opportunities for niche tourism product development.

The OECS groups the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla and the British Virgin islands.

http://www.antiguaobserver.com/oecs-participates-in-community-based-tourism-project-in-jamaica/