As the region has experienced, health pandemics such as COVID-19 and natural disasters such as hurricanes can negatively impact public health and safety in the tourism sector, threatening socioeconomic development and the ability to sustain tourism and business operations.
To help mitigate this reality, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) collaborated on the “Regional Tourism Health Capacity Enhancement and Digitization Project: Promoting the Health of Caribbean Travelers,” with funding and technical assistance from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
A key outcome of the project was the development of comprehensive communications and social media plans, along with a health and tourism crisis communication toolkit to support healthier and safer tourism in the Caribbean. The toolkit is designed for tourism partners from both the public and private sectors.
On June 11, project participants partnered with experts from the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology during a webinar to share the latest insights on the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season forecast, ahead of Hurricane Beryl’s recent passage through the region. Participants also received information on training, awareness, and knowledge of the Crisis Communication Toolkit, along with CARPHA health safety tips and resources to protect employees and guests during extreme weather conditions.
The Crisis Communications Toolkit consists of five components that provide access to information on preparing for and responding to public health threats.
Regional Tourism Health Programme (THP) Tools, which provides information on the nine regional THP tools developed by CARPHA
Promotional tools and resources to engage travellers and tourism and health partners
Media relations materials, including press releases, press advisories and sample media pitches
Social media guide to support users and personal accounts
Resources such as correspondence templates that can be used to establish and sustain the Tourism Health Programme in each country
The online toolkit components were developed based on feedback from public and private sector tourism authorities in the pilot countries Barbados, Belize and the Bahamas, as well as input from CARPHA, CHTA and CTO stakeholders. These resources will be made available online to CTO and CHTA members.
Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary General and CEO of CTO, commented: “The availability of these tools is timely during this year’s hurricane season. Collaboration and communication with our guests and, internally, with our stakeholders are essential to mitigate the effects of the global climate crisis.”
Dr. Lisa Indar, CARPHA’s Acting Executive Director and THP Programme Lead, said: “The tools would not only facilitate healthier and safer tourism, but also healthier and safer populations. In the aftermath of hurricanes, as some member states are currently experiencing, cases of communicable diseases such as gastroenteritis, leptospirosis and dengue are very likely to increase. These additional tools would further enhance our efforts to mitigate these health threats and protect both residents and visitors,” she added.
“As we have already witnessed the earliest landfall of a Category 5 hurricane on record, it is essential that we support each other and maintain strong planning and collaboration at the company and destination level,” said Vanessa Ledesma, CHTA’s Interim Executive Director and CEO.
“We reaffirm our commitment to strengthening our preparedness and response efforts through the implementation of these new tools: the crisis communication tool, the online training modules and the regional visitor information management system,” he concluded.
Additional components of the project include “Technological enhancement and digitalization of regional visitor information management systems” and “Capacity building, training and promotion,” which includes the development of 16 online courses to be implemented shortly.