Tourism and Health Stakeholders Address Issues for a Safer and Healthier Caribbean

Recognizing the need for cross sectional action to address health and economic issues in the region, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has convened a Regional Tourism and Health Stakeholders Workshop on October 4-5, 2017 in Miami, to address the vulnerability of the Caribbean region to health, safety and environmental sanitation (HSE) threats.

Travel and tourism is the business of the Caribbean; however, outbreaks of communicable diseases and other health threats can result in closure of hotels and cruise ports, and significant losses in revenue.  These threats impact the health and safety of visitors and locals, and the sustainability of Caribbean tourism.

CHTA’s CEO Mr. Frank Comito was a featured speaker, along with Dr. Lisa Indar, Head, Foodborne Diseases and Tourism and Health Program, CARPHA; Mr. Ian Ho-A-Shu, Senior Health Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank; Ms. Amanda Charles, Sustainable Tourism Specialist, Caribbean Tourism Organization; Dr. C James Hospedales, Executive Director, CARPHA.

This landmark high level Tourism and Health  workshop is expected to produce regional agreements on CARPHA’s Tourism and Health program’s (THP) early warning and response systems and standardised regional guidelines to mitigate against and respond to tourism based health crises, tourism and health partnerships, recognition tools and other mechanisms for promoting the health and safety of visitors and locals and thereby enhance the quality, competitiveness and reputation of Caribbean tourism.