RECOVERY FUND LAUNCHED TO HELP AFFECTED ISLANDS IN NORTHERN CARIBBEAN
Sep 09, 2017
HURRICANE TOURISM RECOVERY FUND LAUNCHEDTO HELP DEVASTATED PARTS OF THE CARIBBEAN
- The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association and Tourism Cares partner to maximize travel industry support for unprecedented recovery needs
- CHTA Members, Tourism Industry Stakeholders, and Friends of Caribbean Tourism Urged to Support Both Immediate and Sustained Efforts
- Website Established for Donations
CHTA is pleased to announce a partnership with the Tourism Cares organization, a nonprofit supported by the world’s leading tourism companies and organizations, to assist with the recovery needs of those destinations devastated by Hurricane Irma and other storm activity. The Caribbean Tourism Recovery Fund has been created to help unite the industry and pool its resources aimed at dedicating support to help those areas most affected to rebound as quickly as possible.With devastation like we’ve seen, there are two levels of support needed.
IMMEDIATE SUPPORTPriority must be given to the restoration of basic humanitarian needs. Those are best addressed locally through officially recognized organizations at the destination level. For a listing of those organizations which have been provided to CHTA by the affected destinations CLICK HERE.
LONG-TERM SUPPORT: equally important is the long-term sustained recovery. The quickest way to rebound these economies is through tourism, restoring jobs, assisting displaced employees and their families, repairing and strengthening the tourism product, supporting education and training initiatives, and assisting National Hotel and Tourism Associations and other tourism nonprofits in their roles to facilitate tourism’s recovery – are all areas of focus for the Caribbean Tourism Recovery Fund.
Priority will be given to assisting those destinations most severely impacted, including Anguilla, the southern Bahamas, Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, St. Barts, St. Maarten-St. Martin, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the US Virgin Islands and more.CHTA President Karolin Troubetzkoy and CEO/Director General Frank Comito appeal to CHTA members, travel partners, any company which does business with the Caribbean, and friends of the Caribbean to support the fund generously.
“There is no shortage of need for us to fill, given the scope of the hurricanes impact. We know that there will be a considerable number of displaced employees who can benefit from skills training during the down time while their property is being restored, hospitality studies programs in the schools need to be re-outfitted and strengthened, there are visitor centers at airports which were destroyed, the island’s hotel and tourism associations need support to help tourism rebound as quickly as possible. Implementing new marketing strategies to stimulate the economies once they are ready will be critical. The needs are tremendous, and we appeal to our tourism industry partners to help us address them in a big way” state Troubetzkoy and Comito.
“This effort is a natural complement to all the wonderful giving we’ve already seen from the travel and tourism industry,” said Mike Rea, CEO of Tourism Cares. “We can make the greatest difference by giving together with our industry, for our industry — especially in times of crisis. We will leverage not just our donations but also our expertise and influence, and we will share our stories and lessons throughout the industry.”
The CHTA will work its local Hotel and Tourism Associations to assess needs and determine priorities. Tourism Cares will administer the Fund, engage the industry, and provide program expertise based on decades of philanthropic experience in disaster recovery.
Donations are easy, tax deductible where applicable, and may be made online BY CLICKING HERE. We urge you share this information with your colleagues and friends.
