Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation.

The Caribbean region's top tourism body has given the thumbs up to the innovative Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx). After 13 workshops in less than five years, CMEx, a lively and effective forum for the exchange of ideas and views between the media and major players in the Caribbean tourism industry, has attracted strong encouragement from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), the region's tourism development agency which comprises a membership of 32 governments and a myriad of private sector entities.

CTO Secretary General and CEO, Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, recognised that the popular media exchanges have paid dividends, elevating tourism from the "social pages to the business sections" through the years. "Ten years ago, I could never imagine the kind of coverage that tourism now receives all across the Caribbean due in no small part to CMEx programs which lead to the very broad education of journalists about the industry," said the former Bahamas director general of Tourism as he congratulated Counterpart International and Counterpart Caribbean for encouraging serious dialogue between the industry and media operatives.

enhancing sustainable tourism development

The 14th CMEx in five years, to be held in St. Lucia, October 12 to 16, 2006, will examine the enhancement of sustainable tourism development through the lens of 'Chic Communications Concepts', discussing culinary, cultural, health, sports, and village tourism linkages over four days in Castries. The conference will also focus on HIV/AIDS and what's needed to mitigate the impact of the disease on regional populations.

"In order for the people of the Caribbean to fully embrace tourism as a means of improving the quality of life and the sustainable development of communities, the media must play a critical role," implored CTO communications specialist and journalist, Johnson Johnrose. "And media that is not totally aware of and familiar with the principles of sustainable tourism cannot effectively educate tourism stakeholders about the importance of sustainable tourism principles and practices. It also cannot help local communities understand the opportunities for development and job creation that tourism can bring to the region," added Johnson, who notes that CMEx is an important event in the calendar of journalists.

President of Counterpart International, Lelei LeLaulu, thanked CTO for its friendship and partnership. "We would like to personally thank Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, a shining world-class champion of sustainable tourism, for his support and that also of the Islands of the Bahamas which helped us creep through the developmental stages of this concept," he said.

CMEx St. Lucia, produced by Counterpart International, is sponsored and/or supported by Air Jamaica, Almond Resorts, Association of Caribbean Media Workers, Bay Gardens Hotel, Black Entertainment Television (BET J), Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism, Caribbean Broadcasting Union, Caribbean Hotel Association, Caribbean Tourism Organisation, Caribbean World News Network, Coco Resorts, Counterpart Caribbean, Destiny Group of Companies, Ruder Finn, Scotiabank, St. Lucia Tourist Board, St. Lucia Ministry of Tourism, the Tourism Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago and the United Nations Development Programme.