[Fwd: CARIBBEAN: ACS Drafts Pact for Historic Tourism Zone in Caribbean]

> 2000/10/12
> ACS drafts pact for historic tourism zone in Caribbean
> Observer Reporter
>
> PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -- A meeting of legal experts of the
> Association of Caribbean States' (ACS') Special Committee on
> Tourism yesterday introduced a draft agreement to establish a
> Sustainable Tourism Zone of the Greater Caribbean, the first of
> its kind in the world.
>
> The new agreement would increase efficiencies in processes like
> rating and certifying tourist facilities and destinations. It
> aims to establish a legal framework that specifies the
> characteristics and minimum standards of sustainability within
> the zone.
>
> The proposal also means the Greater Caribbean would become the
> world's first Sustainable Tourism Zone, using and, in some cases,
> setting international standards.
>
> The document would replace the Memorandum of Understanding signed
> by foreign affairs ministers during the ACS' Second Summit of
> Heads of State and/or Government in Santo Domingo de Guzmán,
> Dominican Republic in April 1999.
>
> The Sustainable Tourism Zone would adopt a similar structure to
> those of international certification and tour operator programmes
> and is expected to make the Greater Caribbean more competitive
> worldwide.
>
> Yesterday, ambassadors and envoys from six ACS member states were
> expected to finalise the draft agreement. The ACS work group is
> comprised of representatives from Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba,
> Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.
>
> Founded in 1994, the Association of Caribbean States comprises 25
> full members and three associate members.
>
> Full members are Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, all Central
> American countries, Caricom member states, the Dominican
> Republic, Cuba and Panama.
>
> The associate members are France (on behalf of its territories --
> French Guiana, Guadeloupe and Martinique), Aruba and the
> Netherlands Antilles.
>
> The ACS' membership represents 71 per cent of all Latin American
> and Caribbean countries. Its population of 227 million people
> represents almost half of the region, and its GDP is near $751
> billion, which is approximately 43 per cent of the total GDP of
> Latin America and the Caribbean.
>
> SOURCE: Jamaica Observer
>
Received on Thu Oct 12 13:44:09 2000