2024 News

Caribbean Tourism and Health Sectors Continue Successful Collaboration: New Crisis Communications Tools Launched

BARBADOS (July 17, 2024) – The Caribbean region will benefit from a pioneering initiative aimed at expanding the tourism industry’s use of innovative tools and resources to enhance the health and safety of visitors, residents, and all tourism stakeholders.

As the region has experienced, health pandemics like COVID-19 and natural disasters such as hurricanes can negatively impact public health and safety in the tourism sector, threatening socioeconomic development and the capacity to sustain tourism and business operations.

To help mitigate this reality, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) collaborated on the “Regional Tourism Health Capacity Enhancement and Digitization Project: Advancing Caribbean Travelers’ Health” with funding and technical assistance from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

A key result of the project was the development of comprehensive communications and social media plans, along with a Health and Tourism Crisis Communications Toolkit to support Healthier Safer Tourism in the Caribbean. The toolkit is designed for tourism partners in the public and private sectors.

On June 11, project participants teamed with experts from the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology & Hydrology during a webinar to share the latest insights on the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season forecast, ahead of Hurricane Beryl’s recent transit of the region. Participants also received information on training, sensitization, and awareness of the crisis communications toolkit, along with health safety tips and resources from CARPHA to protect employees and guests during extreme weather conditions.

The Crisis Communications Toolkit comprises five components that provide access to information on preparedness and response to public health threats.

• Regional Tools of the Tourism and Health Program (THP), which offers information on the nine CARPHA-developed regional THP tools

• Promotional Tools and Resources to engage travelers, and health and tourism partners

• Media Relations materials, including press release, media advisory and media pitch examples

• Social Media Guide to support consumer and personal handles

• Resources such as correspondence templates that can be used to establish and sustain the Tourism and Health Program in each country

The online toolkit’s components were developed based on feedback from tourism authorities in both the private and public sectors of pilot countries Barbados, Belize, and The Bahamas, as well as input from CARPHA, CHTA and CTO stakeholders. These resources will be accessible online to CTO and CHTA members.

Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General and CEO of CTO, remarked, “The availability of these tools is timely during this year’s hurricane season. Collaboration and communication with our guests and internally with our stakeholders are essential to mitigate the effects of the global climate crisis.”

Dr. Lisa Indar, Ad Interim Executive Director of CARPHA and head of the THP, stated, “The tools would not only facilitate healthier safer tourism, but healthier safer populations as well. In the aftermath of hurricanes, as some member states are currently experiencing, increased cases of communicable diseases such as gastroenteritis, leptospirosis and dengue fever are highly likely. These additional tools would further enhance our efforts to mitigate against these health threats and protect both residents and visitors,” she added.

“As we’ve already witnessed, the earliest arrival of a Category 5 hurricane on record, it is essential that we support one another and uphold strong planning and collaboration at the company and destination levels,” emphasized Vanessa Ledesma, Acting CEO and Director General of CHTA.

“We reaffirm our dedication to strengthening our preparedness and response efforts through the implementation of these new tools: the crisis communication tool, online training modules, and the regional visitor information management system,” she concluded.

Additional components of the project include “The Technology Enhancement and Digitalization of Regional Visitor Information Management Systems” and “Capacity Development, Training, and Promotion”, which includes the development of 16 online courses which will roll out shortly.

About the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA)

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is the regional public health agency for the Caribbean. It was legally established in July 2011 by an Intergovernmental Agreement signed by Caribbean Member States and began operation in January 2013. The Agency is the Caribbean region’s collective response to strengthening and reorienting its health system approach so that it is equipped to address the changing nature of public health challenges. The approach is people-centered and evidence-informed. For more information visit www.carpha.org.

CTO Chairman Calls for Preparedness and Solidarity during Hurricane Season

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (July 2, 2024) – Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Kenneth Bryan, has issued a strong call to all Caribbean people to continue exercising vigilance during this hurricane season by preparing for storms, while also being ready to respond and recover swiftly.

“Even as we protect life and property here in the western Caribbean, we stand in solidarity with the people of St. Vincent and the islands of the Grenadines who have been severely impacted by Hurricane Beryl,” said Bryan, Minister of Tourism and Ports of the Cayman Islands. “Their pain is our pain, and their struggles are felt across our entire region,” said the CTO Chairman, who noted that “when one member of our Caribbean family is affected, we all feel the impact. But together, we must unite and support each other through these challenging times”.

The CTO is committed to working closely with relief organizations to ensure a coordinated and effective response to hurricane impacts.

“We recognize the critical importance of preparedness. As hurricanes become more frequent and intense due to climate change, we urge all residents and businesses to take necessary precautions. Secure your homes, stock up on essential supplies, and have a clear plan in place. At the same time, we must be ready to support our neighbors and contribute to swift recovery efforts,” Chairman Bryan emphasized.

“Climate change poses a significant threat to our region, and we must be proactive in our response. This hurricane season, let us demonstrate the strength of our Caribbean spirit by preparing diligently and standing in solidarity. Our collective efforts will make a difference and ensure that we emerge stronger and more resilient,” Chairman Bryan added.

Chairman Bryan also called on the international community to assist the region with rebuilding infrastructure, restoring essential services, and helping communities get back on their feet. “We contribute the least to and suffer the most from the changing climate, so we need the global community to help provide resources for improved building standards, better communication systems, and more resilient infrastructure to mitigate future hurricane impacts.”