CHTA Officials Meet with European Union on EPA; Mr. de Marchena Kaluche Emphasizes Importance for Tourism

Enrique de Marchena Kaluche, President of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), emphasized the importance of the signing of the CARIFORUM-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the significance that this agreement represents to the Caribbean tourism industry.

During a presentation where De Marchena Kaluche took the opportunity to meet with the Ambassadors from seven Caribbean countries of the European Union, he explained how the CHTA agenda is focused on “strengthening the integration of the Caribbean tourism industry, creating a fund for the promotion of the Caribbean, increasing awareness of tourism as one of the main industries for the Caribbean economy and its links to other industries like agriculture, construction and communication, and finally, professionalizing the management and services provided to our guests throughout the region.”

He stated that “the EPA will lead to better business and tourism interaction between European countries and the Caribbean and will facilitate free trade among European and Caribbean countries. It will foster the training in Europe of personnel specialized in hotel management and gastronomy, among others, as well as promote sustainable tourism policies, following the leadership of Europe.

De Marchena Kaluche, along with Alec Sanguinetti, CHTA Director General and CEO, were also received at the head offices of the European Commission by the Heads of Units, Mr. John Caloghirou, Relations with countries and the region of the Caribbean and OCTs, DG Development as well as Claude Maartens, Economic Partnership Agreements, DG Trade for an exchange of ideas regarding the EPA and its impact on the Caribbean nations and tourism.