Caribbean heritage appreciated at World Tourism Event by UNESCO

World Tourism Event for World Heritage Sites concluded on Tuesday, 14 September in Genoa, Italy. The tourism stakeholders and representatives from the Caribbean made quite an impact at the international tourism stage. The event hosted by UNESCO and the European Union was attended for the first time by representatives from the Caribbean, where rich cultural heritage was displayed.

The global event was held over the course of three days, starting on Thursday, 12 September. The participation of the region was supported under the Transcultural programme with the integration of the European Union and the Caribbean for Culture and Creativity.

The Transcultural programme was organized with the collaboration of 18 representatives with the help of the EU, who represented the Caribbean heritage on the international stage. The island nations whose representatives were present at the event were Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, St Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname.

Along with the Caribbean nations, young entrepreneurs, heritage managers, and the Caribbean Tourism Organization, officials also attended the tourism stakeholders’ get together. Every representative played their role in bringing the Caribbean culture in front of international admirers, which resulted in appreciation.

Anne Lemaistre, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Havana, said for the event, “The Cultural and Creative Industries associated with tourism offer opportunities to enhance heritage protection and promotion and generate income and jobs for local communities in a sustainable way.”

While talking about the Caribbean region and its impact on the event as a first-time participant, she said, “The Caribbean has untapped potential to develop this type of tourism.” The region was appreciated by more than 5,000 visitors, who came to the gathering.

The intention of the World Tourism Event is to highlight the regional creativity and rich cultural values engraved in its heritage. The event was organized this time with the theme of a unique cultural and creative experience.’

Narendra Rangumlam, the new Sustainable Development Tourism Consultant for the Caribbean Tourism Organization, said, “The culture and heritage that exist in the Caribbean are extremely diverse and unique, creating opportunities for the inhabitants working on these islands.”

Rangumlam also said about the World Tourism Event, “Events like this enable us to network at a higher level to see what is being done in other destinations around the world and how they are preserving culture in the long term.”

The representatives of the Caribbean under the Transcultural delegation got exposure to new markets due to the event. The representatives found the opportunity to connect with many tourism professionals and tour operators, which helped them to promote the inclusion of their offerings through B2B meetings.

Leidys Hernández, as a representative, said, “At a trade fair, the objective is to showcase and sell our products. I felt very comfortable doing this at the event, as I believe the Italian market is close to the nation, and the Punto Cubano can be very attractive to it. I am very thankful to have been able to present my project here.”