The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has joined forces with non-profit Planeterra to support community tourism in its member countries.
The strategic partnership between the tourist board and Canadian foundation aims scale up community tourism throughout the Caribbean to enhance the social, economic and environmental well-being.
The organisations will be seeking funding to build the capacity of enterprises while encouraging community tourism enterprises towards Planeterra’s Global Community Tourism Network training.
“Four years ago the CTO launched a programme to support the continued development of community-based tourism in the Caribbean,” said Neil Walters, acting secretary general.
“This partnership with Planeterra is a further step in our regional tourism development strategy to support entrepreneurship and community development, and is timely in this current environment where we are restarting tourism.
“The participation of local communities in the tourism product is a significant part of distributing the benefits of tourism to all aspects of our societies”.
Planeterra’s Global Community Tourism Network seeks to put communities at the centre of tourism’s efforts to connect them to travel businesses that can help them build back better after the pandemic. It comprises more than 270 community tourism enterprises in 70 countries, all gaining training, mentorship and connection through Planeterra’s online resources and team, as well as market access.
“Planeterra is eager to partner with the CTO to help communities gain access to the resources, community, and mentorship our organisation provides,” said president Jamie Sweeting.
“We are hopeful that this partnership will lead to an increase in support for community tourism in the Caribbean, and will increase the social, economic and environmental benefits that host communities see from the tourism industry.”