Tourism must be responsible, says St Kitts and Nevis official

A senior official in the St Kitts and Nevis Ministry of Tourism believes that countries have to provide a product that can sustain effects of climate change.

Carlene Henry Morton, speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2017 Climate Smart Sustainable Tourism Forum being held in the federation, said that tourism has the power to transform economies and livelihoods for the better.

But she stressed it must be done responsibly to ensure cultures and communities are not damaged.

“We need not delude ourselves. We know that tourism activity when not properly managed feeds climate change,” Mrs. Morton said.

“Despite what some sceptics may say, there is ample evidence that some tourism related activity is inexorably linked to climate change.”

The permanent secretary added that tourism, therefore, must play an integral role in the global response to climate change, “a charge which the St Kitts Ministry of Tourism takes very seriously.”

Morton said that because of its transversal nature, “tourism is unique in the number of lives and sectors it touches including agriculture, retail, manufacturing, construction, accommodations, attractions, entertainment, transportation and the list goes on.”

“Across economic sectors and across national and regional boundaries, our responses to climate change and sea level rise must be coordinated with and integrated into existing polices of socioeconomic development and environmental conservation so we can facilitate both sustainable development and sustainable tourism.”