Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett has hailed the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) first-ever ‘Responsible Tourism Day’ held in Jamaica as part of the 42nd Caribbean Travel Marketplace on May 23.

The event focused on giving back to the community and environment through specific projects at the Marine Park, Croydon and SOS Children’s Village in Montego Bay.

“Tourism does not operate in a vacuum and requires many resources to operate, starting with our environment. Without our lush vegetation, scenic beaches and verdant mountains, we would not be able to showcase our tourism products and so giving back through our responsible tourism day activities is a great step towards sustainability.

Tourism is the lifeblood of our economy which means we must ensure that it not only survives but thrives, so our country and people continue to benefit from its lucrative value chain,” said Minister Bartlett.

Responsible Tourism Day formed part of the 42nd Caribbean Travel Marketplace which was held in Jamaica at the Montego Bay Convention Centre from May 20-22.

Several delegates including buyers, suppliers and media volunteered to assist in cleanup, painting, planting trees and a farm-to-table experience to highlight the important link between agriculture and tourism and the impact of climate change on the industry.

“This year’s staging of CHTA boasted a series of firsts and Responsible Tourism Day is one of them. We are pleased that we came together to focus on our communities and the strong link with tourism. It was a great learning experience that will support us in taking ownership of the sustainability of this great industry,” said Nicola Madden-Greig, president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.

“The idea to host this day is part of the CHTA’s three pillars, ‘The Business of Tourism’ through the CHTA Travel Forum; the marketing of tourism through the trade show Marketplace and Community and Tourism through the Responsible Tourism Day. This will now be an ongoing feature of CHTA Marketplace as we work to ensure the Caribbean region achieves not only its business goals but continues to focus on the community and the people that make tourism work,” she remarked.

“We recognise that responsible tourism is critical to ensuring the survival of our beloved tourism industry. Jamaica has some of the most breathtaking natural resources and it is our responsibility to protect them as we grow our products and experiences,” said Donovan White, Director of Tourism.

Jamaica welcomed a record 1,200 delegates for the 42nd Caribbean Travel Marketplace with over 12,000 business appointments over the two-day conference.