FORT LAUDERDALE – As Caribbean locations put together to host main occasions, together with vibrant festivals, carnivals, homecomings, and the extremely anticipated Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) Males’s T20 Cricket World Cup, tourism and public well being stakeholders name on the area to stay diligent whereas reaffirming their dedication to well being security measures.
Amidst the thrill of those upcoming occasions, there’s a unified push to recommit to important well being protocols and practices, making certain the safety of staff and guests alike. A significant aspect of this initiative is the growth of the Caribbean Public Well being Company’s (CARPHA) Tourism Health Information System (THiS) to seize and reply instantly to unfavourable well being occasions. CARPHA can also be constructing capability in international locations to encourage the widespread observe of meals security and to stop and management the unfold of infectious ailments within the hospitality sector.
This transfer builds on a decade of collaboration between well being and tourism officers within the Caribbean. The partnership has laid the groundwork for the area’s swift restoration from the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic declared by the World Well being Group over 4 years in the past. This collaboration was shaped via the Caribbean Tourism and Health Program (THP) in 2014, following a Memorandum of Understanding signed by CARPHA, the Caribbean Tourism Group (CTO), the Caribbean Resort and Tourism Affiliation (CHTA), and the Organisation of Japanese Caribbean States (OECS).
The Caribbean’s profitable navigation of the pandemic, marked by one of many lowest per capita COVID-19 charges and among the many quickest recoveries worldwide in tourism and the financial system, units a powerful basis for rebuilding its occasions and group enterprise segments. With teams and occasions accounting for over 20 % of the area’s tourism enterprise, making certain a wholesome atmosphere is paramount to its success.
Cohesive Regional Cooperation
Nicola Madden Greig, President of CHTA
Nicola Madden Greig, President of CHTA, underscored the significance of “cohesive regional cooperation”, which was superior throughout the pandemic. She mentioned she had full confidence within the unified public-private sector strategy to collaboration: “With the Caribbean being on such a constructive progress trajectory, we can’t be complacent, and our efforts have to be bolstered by a powerful communications strategy to proceed to guard our residents and guests whereas reaping the rewards of our resilient tourism business.”
Remaining Vigilant
Dr. Pleasure St. John, CARPHA Government Director
Dr. Pleasure St. John, Government Director of CARPHA, concurred, asserting, “Globally, we’re witnessing a resurgence of ailments corresponding to measles, dengue fever, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and noroviruses, whereas new COVID-19 variants proceed to develop. As one of many world’s main journey locations, we should stay vigilant to guard our staff and guests.”
Dedication to Well being Requirements
Dona Regis-Prosper
Equally, CTO’s Secretary Common, Dona Regis-Prosper, pressured, “As we proceed to welcome guests to expertise the Caribbean’s breathtaking pure magnificence and vibrant cultural heritage, we should uphold our dedication to making sure a wholesome atmosphere.”
Safer Tourism
Dr. Didacus Jules, Director Common of the OECS, shared his commendation of the relaunch and said, “The OECS is delighted to see the return of main occasions permitting residents and guests to share in our genuine experiences, and is happy to proceed its partnership with CARPHA and different regional tourism organizations in direction of more healthy, safer tourism.”
Assets for The Tourism Business
In help of those targets and response to current well being and security considerations, CARPHA is redoubling its outreach to the tourism business, providing coaching, on-line instruments, and assets to reinforce well being security protocols.
Dr. Lisa Indar, Director of the Surveillance Illness Prevention and Management Division and Head of the Regional Tourism and Well being Program at CARPHA, famous, “This yr, we have now launched a strong outreach effort to induce all Caribbean tourism-related companies to resume their commitments to well being and security, refresh their coaching and protocols, and take part within the extremely efficient Tourism and Well being Data System (THiS), a confidential on-line data, assist middle and reporting system, and different CARPHA trainings, all in direction of advancing a more healthy safer tourism product.”
For extra details about CARPHA’s coaching applications and THiS, go to https://carpha.org.
