CHA presents official position on tourism services negotiations

The Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) has presented its comments on the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery Report (CRNM) on "Tourism Services Negotiations: Implications for Cariforum." This official position has now been taken forward to Caribbean negotiators on behalf of CHA, representing the views of the Caribbean tourism private sector.

The CRNM undertook an extensive fact-finding exercise with stakeholders at all levels of the hospitality industry during the second quarter of 2003, in order to identify the most important issues that must be addressed. The resulting report led to the development of an official tourism private sector position to help Caribbean governments and their negotiators to develop a common regional approach.

CHA has presented its position to all stakeholders, including the CRNM, the Caribbean Tourism Organization, CARICOM, the national hotel associations, and government officials. It is expected that it will allow Caribbean negotiators to have a clear understanding of the significance of the tourism industry to the region and the challenges it faces, and factor it all in their trade negotiations on behalf of the Caribbean.

"In the light of the importance of the tourism industry in the Caribbean as a leading source of employment, tax revenue and foreign exchange, it was an essential step for CHA to highlight several negotiating recommendations that are of particular importance to the tourism private sector and the future competitiveness of the industry," said Simón B. Suárez, President of CHA.