Quality Tourism for the Caribbean (QTC)
A joint venture between
Caribbean Alliance for
Sustainable Tourism
(CAST) |
& |
Caribbean Epidemiology
Centre
(CAREC) |
What's
New | Food Safety Signage
MEETING A HEALTH AND RESOURCE CONSERVATION NEED THROUGH A
PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
ECONOMICS AND TOURISM IN THE CARIBBEAN - BASIC FACTS
 | Provided 2.9 million
jobs in the region, generated US$32.5 billion in economic activity
and was responsible for 31% of the region's GDP in 1998 |
|
Travel & Tourism is expected to generate US$ 37.4 billion of economic
activity (Total Demand) in year 2001.
| |
The Industry is expected to contribute 5.8% to Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) in 2001 (US$ 9.2 billion), rising to US$ 18.7 billion by 2011.
|
* Source: World Travel and Tourism Council
It is clear that the Caribbean is the most tourism dependent
region in the world. However, a profitable hospitality industry and tourism
growth are dependent on healthy and sustainable operating systems.
QUALITY TOURISM FOR THE CARIBBEAN (QTC)
QTC is a three-year programme which seeks to strengthen the
overall quality and competitiveness of the tourism industry in the Caribbean
through the establishment and promotion of quality standards and systems
designed to ensure healthy, safe and environmentally conscious products and
services. The programme consists of two components:
| Development of health, safety and resource conservation standards based
systems and registrations
| | Implementation of marketing, promotion and sustainability strategies
|
Participating countries in the project are: Barbados, the Bahamas, Jamaica,
Trinidad and Tobago, and the 9 countries of the Organization of Eastern
Caribbean States (OECS).
The key activities being undertaken as part of this program are:
| Continuous assessment of the health, safety and resource conservation
needs of the tourism industry and implementation of an ill-health monitoring
system;
|
| Establishment and validation of Caribbean-wide Health, Safety and Resource
Conservation standards;
|
| Training of a core of industry managers, workers and a cadre of auditors
and trainers;
|
| Development and implementation of strategic marketing efforts in order to
build an internationally credible brand identity;
|
| Development of a strategic plan for long-term sustainability
|
THE PARTNERS
QTC is a joint venture between the Caribbean Alliance for
Sustainable Tourism (CAST), the environmental regional subsidiary of the
Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), and the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC),
a specialised agency of the Pan American Health Organization(PAHO).
Both partners in this joint venture enjoy international
credibility and bring to the table some critical strengths. These strengths are
necessary to address the health, hygiene and resource management issues facing
the Caribbean Tourism industry.
The Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST)
CAST’s mission is to enhance the practices of the
region's hotel and tourism operators by providing high-quality education and
training related to sustainable tourism. CAST serves, through its direct
connection with 1,100 Caribbean Hotel Association members and 750 allied
members, as a vital link to all tourism sector stakeholders in the Caribbean
region.
CAST has been successful in promoting the management of
natural resources in the Caribbean region. This dynamic organisation has
assisted hotel and tourism operators in reducing costs and arresting the
degradation of the environment, educating Caribbean hoteliers through
mainstream training and seminars, and providing access to expertise in
sustainable tourism.
The Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC)
CAREC’s mission is to improve the health status of
Caribbean people by advancing the capability of its 21 member countries in
Epidemiology, laboratory technology and related public health disciplines
through Technical cooperation, Service, Training and Research. CAREC has
excellent working relationships with Ministries of Health throughout the region,
borne out of its mandate from Caribbean governments.
MANAGEMENT OF THE PROJECT
A Steering Committee comprising key representatives from the
private and public sectors and nominated jointly by CAST and CAREC has been
established to guide the Project. Its role is to sanction QTC’s work and to
provide third-party verification for the establishment of standards,
certification and the registration process. A Project Execution Unit has been
established and is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the project.
Six members of the PEU are located at the CAREC offices in Trinidad and Tobago
and 1 member in the CAST offices in Puerto Rico.
STEERING COMMITTEE
|
Mr. Alex
Titcombe Director of Product Development and Operations CAST/CHA | |
Dr. James Hospedales
Vice Chair/Director
CAREC | |
Mr. James Samuels
Member, CAST Governing Council | |
Mrs. Karen Ford Warner
Deputy Secretary General, Caribbean Tourism Organization | |
Mr. Jeremy Mac Vean
General Manager, Comfort Suites, Bahamas | |
Dr. Klaus Plentz Medical
Advisor, TUI | | Mr. Keith Richards
Head-Consumer Affairs, Association of British Travel Agents | |
Dr. Deanna Ashley
Principal Medical Officer, Ministry of Health,
Jamaica | |
Mr. George Vincent
Principal Specialist, Organization of American States (OAS) | |
Mr. William Aguiton
Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) Board of
Directors | |
Ms. Veta Brown Caribbean
Program Coordinator,
PAHO | |
Dr. Joth Singh
Director-Technical Services, Caribbean Environmental Health
Institute (CEHI) | |
Ms. Cynthia Simon
Executive Vice President, Antigua Hotels & Tourist Association | |
Mr. Oliver Jordan Ag.
President, Barbados Tourism Authority | |
Dr. Patricia
Prudent-Phillip Functional Cooperation Manager, Organization of
Eastern Caribbean
States |
THE BENEFITS
Benefits for the Tourism Industry
|
The improvement of
Health, Safety and Resource management conditions and practices to
benefit guests and staff in hotels, and food service establishments. | |
Decreased liability and
improved profitability | |
Improved quality of the
regional tourism
product | |
Enhanced reputation of
the Caribbean as a safe and healthy tourism destination |
Benefits for Participating Countries
|
The trickledown impact
on the general population resulting from the dissemination of better
health and hygiene and resource management practices and from the
envisaged improvement in the surveillance capacity of the public
health systems. | |
Improved product quality
leading to increased foreign exchange earnings. |
FUNDING
Under the project a total of US$2.5 million has been provided
with the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF)
contributing US$1.33 million, CAREC/CAST counterpart contributions valued at
US$800,000 and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) contributing US$370,000. The
Project is actively seeking additional funding to include those countries in the
Caribbean that are not now participating in the project.
PARTICIPATION IN QTC
ACTIVITIES
Tourism businesses, including hotels, restaurants, sites and
attractions can participate in QTC activities.
QTC SERVICES
TRAINING COURSES
Food Safety Training
|
National Food Safety
Awareness | |
Introduction to HACCP | |
HACCP Implementation* | |
Advanced Food Safety Train the Trainer Course* | |
Basic Food Safety* | |
Essentials of Food
Safety |
Safety and Security
| Safety at Sites and
Attractions | | Hurricane Preparedness |
Environmental Management
TECHNICAL SERVICES
|
Facilities and Operations Training Assessment | |
HACCP Implementation | |
Risk Assessment – Food Safety & Environmental | |
Environmental Evaluations | |
Rent An Engineer |
*With Certification
CONTACTING US
For further information, please contact:
Mabel Sanabria
Information Specialist
1000 Ponce de Leon Ave. 5th floor
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907
Telephone: 787-725-9139
Fax: 787-725-9108
E-mail: msanabria@caribbeanhotels.org
Or visit our website at www.qtcproject.com
|
