– Says Tourism Specialist Auliana Poon
Caribbean Tourism Specialist Auliana Poon is calling on banks in the Caribbean to be more supportive of the Region’s tourism industry as it struggles to maintain business whilst working towards implementing sustainable tourism products. Poon, Managing Director of the Trinidad and Tobago-based Tourism Intelligence International,  believes one of the key hurdles facing  the Region ‘s tourism destinations as they strive to implement sustainable tourism practices is the challenging economic climate resulting from the effects of the global economic downturn.
In addition to financial institutions providing more accessible funding mechanisms for the key foreign exchange earning tourism sector, the Caribbean tourism executive underscored the need for governments to provide better incentives for the sector. In particular, she feels if hotels upgrade in a sustainable manner they should be given duty-free concessions.
Poon also highlighted the need for better incentives to encourage sustainable practices in design, energy and the use of water.
With consumers more savvy and conscious about protecting the environment, Poon feels it cannot be “business as usual” for Caribbean tourism operators.
She said the Region’s hotel industry is facing tough times in terms of business operating costs, with occupancy rates that are not consistent and maintaining staff is a challenge.
One other major challenge in developing a culture of conservation in companies is that often no one is designated as being responsible for overseeing this. She observed that in large companies, there may be an environmental officer but in medium and small-sized tourism operations, this responsibility is either attached to many other duties or not assigned at all.
Poon also noted that while several Caribbean countries have sustainable tourism development policies, what is happening on the ground is not consistent with these.
She also called on national tourism organisations to share best practices. “Sustainability has to be viewed as a way of life,” Poon said in an interview.
The tourism specialist said the hospitality industry has begun recognising that to attract visitors, who have become more cost conscious, they can’t do “same old same old” and have to add more value in tourism packages such as providing spa and wellness products, along with niche activities.
She lauded the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) for hosting the STC, which she said has served as an excellent vehicle for creating awareness of sustainable tourism practices.