A Report from the UNESC Sustainable Tourism Conference in Switzerland

by Diana McIntyre-Pike
(Sils/Engadine, near St Moritz in Switzerland)

It has so far been a very productive and beneficial trip.

Our Jamaica Home of Community Tourism and Villages as Businesses programs have been highly commended as a sustainable tourism model for integrating communities with World Heritage sites.

The main mission of this UNESCO Experts Meeting was to develop ways and means of incorporating sustainable tourism with existing World Heritage sites, because visitors are demanding more and more cultural and heritage interaction with the communities where heritage sites are located.

We are not yet where we wish to be with our program, but we are well ahead of others based on the discussions we have had here.

I have made some key contacts to enable us to move forward in a more positive way.

I will keep you updated on the results of this Experts meeting, which will highlight some of the activities.

The way forward for us is to do the official launch of the Countrystyle Community Tourism Network's "Villages as Businesses" program internationally, and to promote Jamaica as the "Study Centre" or "Laboratory" for community tourism with the Jamaica Home of Community Tourism program.


Peace and Love,
Diana.