Medicinal Marijuana, Tobago Jazz and More in Caribbean travel
By William Doyle-Marshall
The 30 member Caribbean
Tourism Organization has joined in the debate around medicinal marijuana with
the focus on medical and wellness tourism. At its State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) in
the United States Virgin Islands, the notion or reality of marijuana tourism
was discussed. Experts debated issues related to the subject as part of a
broader discussion on medical, health and wellness tourism. St. Kitts-born
Senator Terence Positive Nelson, an advocate for the topic was among
presenters. Since then voters in the USVI approved a proposal at a referendum
designed to introduce legislation in support of medicinal marijuana. In addition
the territory’s legislators have passed a measure to decriminalize marijuana.
“That means lower the penalty from a criminal offence to a civil offence,”
Senator Nelson explained.
Senator Nelson said the trend to decriminalize
marijuana offence is a national matter which stems from the cost of
incarcerating and adjudicating individuals for that infraction. He is pleased
that the Caribbean Tourism Organization is participating in the discussion
because the Caribbean is known for marijuana cultivation. “Our atmosphere, our
culture is accustomed to this and to take advantage of the medicinal approach
since mainstream America and modern medicine and the AMA have accepted the medicinal
value of marijuana, it only makes sense,” the Senator added.
He
wants the Caribbean as a whole to adopt this as a Caribbean commodity. Senator
Nelson sees this as be the revenue source for the infrastructure needed
throughout the Caribbean nations which need the infrastructure to encourage
tourism. “It goes hand in hand. It’s already common in this region and to now
bring it above board and take revenue resources off it to help us with our infrastructure
improvement just makes commonsense and dollars and sense,” Senator Nelson
affirmed..
In other regional developments, St.
Kitts kicked off the New Year by hosting
The Opus Group’s 14th Annual Leadership Summit, a prestigious
business networking event that connects buyers and suppliers together in
an informal environment to foster business development in unique
destinations. The Summit held in early January showcased the island as a
prime location for meeting, incentive, corporate and event travel.
As the global economy continues
its recovery and business travel is increasing as a result, Racquel Brown, CEO
of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority considered it an ideal time to showcase St.
Kitts as a viable and appealing option for this niche market of which cruise
business is an important part.
Earlier in 2014 at the Caribbean Tourism
Organization’s (CTO) 7th Tourism Human Resources Conference in Tobago delegates
were warned if the Caribbean tourism industry is not prepared to cater to
visitors in this new digital age, they will lose business to destinations
capable of doing so. Orville London, Chief Secretary in the Tobago House of
Assembly, issued the warning during the opening ceremony. “We have to train and
sensitize our employees, our stakeholders and our citizens that if we do not
get on board with the technology the ship will sail to another port,” he said.
Over 100 human resources professionals and
tourism industry partners gathered at the Magdalena Grand Beach Resort for the
conference. In addressing the conference theme, ‘Achieving High Performance in
Caribbean Tourism in the New Networked Work Environment’, London also lamented
that many hoteliers and other tourism industry players were yet to implement
online marketing strategies. He challenged delegates to find creative
ways to share the knowledge gained in the conference to inspire others in the
industry to embrace the benefits of these new digital technologies.
Bernard Mitchell,(left) CEO, Eco
Industrial
Development Company of Tobago and John Arnold,
events coordinator in Toronto promoting Tobago
“We have to satisfy the discerning visitor
who wishes to experience all the simple pleasures, all the natural ambience,
all the scenic beauty and the hospitality of our people that we advertise in
our brochures but at the same time is not prepared to be inconvenience by
communication and other challenges,” the Chief Secretary told delegates.
CTO Secretary General, Hugh Riley, suggested
if only tourism developers would unlock their creative capacity they could
create new employment opportunities within the tourism sector and increase the
loyalty among visitors to Caribbean shores.
“Tourism is the business of creating and
delivering memorable experiences to people who have left their own environment
and have gone to great lengths to share our space and break bread with
us. How we manage that is entirely within our control. There is no
limit to the ideas involved in turning those strangers and their friends into
our friends forever,” Riley said.
The CTO’s Secretary General also underscored
the importance of ensuring that persons who work in the Caribbean tourism
sector are made to feel a sense of ownership of the sector and are encouraged
to strive to provide excellent service which surpasses that which is offered by
competitors. This, he said, is one way to sustain the industry.
Current cultural announcements coming from
the industry is the very popular Tobago Jazz Experience – April 18 through
April 26. Some of the world’s well known stars have been contracted to perform
at the week-long affair. Jenifer Hudson, Kool and the Gang and Jill Scott are
among the cast of international and regional superstars for what organizers
boast will be another highly successful Tobago Jazz Experience. Secretary of
Tourism and Transportation, Tracy Davidson-Celestine excited by the quality of
acts planned for the week of activities said this project has the effect of
benefitting ordinary Tobagonians. “The Jazz experience also helps to build
indigenous Tobago businesses and I want to encourage Tobagonians to not be
afraid and take the opportunities to be successful by getting into the business
of tourism,” Mrs. Davidson Celestine added. Her division is encouraging
ordinary Tobagonians to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the tourism
industry.
“When one looks at the people who are
entrepreneurs and are in the tourism business one can see the economic
potential and I urge particularly young Tobagonians to take advantage of the
opportunities offered by the growing sector,” she emphasized.
Meanwhile, the recent
announcement of a change in diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United
States is a welcome opportunity to increase tourist arrivals to the Caribbean,
says CTO. The US is the region’s largest source market, producing nearly half
of our tourism business. Last year we welcomed over 12 million Americans to our
shores. Any opportunity to substantially increase that number will be welcomed.
Cuba is a longstanding
and active CTO member since 1992. The organization engages the destination in its
efforts in Canada, Latin America and Europe and it looks forward to including the
country in our programmes in the United States.
