From Marine Health to Resilience, a New Boost for Caribbean Tourism
It’s a changing tourism landscape in the Caribbean right now, from the push to increase sustainability to the continued challenges posed by climate change.
A pair of new initiatives are trying to do something about that. The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s Education Foundation has revealed a pair of crucial new scholarships to help provided tourism professionals with the tools they need.
One is the Tourism Resilience Scholarship Fund (funded by a donation from Saint Lucia’s Jade Mountain Resort), which aims to support hospitality professionals with advanced training in things like resilience buildings, sustainable tourism and destination stewardship. The CHTAEF is partnering with George Washington University on courses.
The other is the new Marine Health Scholarship Program, which looks to “a new generation of marine professionals who are passionate about preserving and enhancing the Caribbean’s marine environment.”
The program, supported by scuba diving tour operators like DreamWeaver, DiVentures and Caradonna, supports careers in areas like dive instruction, reef renewal, marine biology and coral nursery management.
The scholarships “reflect our commitment to advancing sustainable tourism and resilience within the Caribbean,” said Karolin Troubetzkoy, Chair of the CHTAEF.
“Special thanks to Jade Mountain for supporting the Tourism Resilience Scholarship and to DreamWeaver, DiVentures, and Caradonna for their crucial contributions to the Marine Health Scholarship. These initiatives are essential for preparing our professionals for future challenges and ensuring the long-term sustainability of our tourism industry,” she said.