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PRESS RELEASE
COMMUNITY TOURISM FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOB CREATION
South Africa group to learn from Countrystyle Jamaica/IIPT Caribbean
Interested in Community Tourism?
Join a South African Educational Tour to Jamaica in February 2012 to learn about the successful Caribbean "Villages as Businesses" Model for effective Community Tourism.
The IIPT Caribbean Model on Community Tourism and Job Creation (“Villages as Businesses”) has had impact on world views and it is no surprise that Diana McIntyre-Pike, President of Countrystyle Commumity Tourism Network and the Caribbean Chapter of IIPT (International Institute for Peace through Tourism), was selected as one of the 50 world experts in Sustainable Tourism to attend the UNESCO World Heritage Sustainable Tourism Experts meeting October 18 - 22, 2011 as part of the process to develop a new programme on World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism.
Diana McIntyre-Pike was invited to participate in the discussions at the World Heritage Tourism Expert Meeting in Switzerland by the Government of Switzerland and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
Diana McIntyre-Pike has been contacted by a group from South Africa interested in community tourism development, to plan a Community Tourism study tour to Jamaica to learn about the success of the Countrystyle Jamaican Model and how it could be applied in South Africa and, also, Africa generally.
South Africa has committed itself to the development of Tourism in rural areas to create sustainable economic markets and for job creation. The Countrystyle Jamaican Model of Community Tourism offers many guidelines for South Africa to successfully implement its strategy on the development of rural Tourism for job creation and poverty alleviation strategies.
In 2001, a South African delegation of private Tourism representatives participated in the 1st IIPT Caribbean Community Tourism Conference held in Jamaica to learn more about its model of Community Tourism. Subsequently other countries have shown interest in the Countrystyle Jamaican Model which has exceeded expectations for sustainable tourism development projects. South Africa remains interested in the Jamaican Model and strives to address success stories in Jamaica, and other countries, to meet local needs and expectations.
The Caribbean “Villages as Businesses” Programme is a Countrystyle initiative developed in partnership with the National Best Community Foundation and local and foreign networks to create economic opportunities for community persons from over 300 communities nationwide through the National Best Community Foundation’s Annual Competition, resulting in sustainable tourism development. According to McIntyre-Pike “the tourism product of Jamaica and the Caribbean is related not only to traditional tourism establishments and resort areas, but to the entire country.”
Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism is developing a Policy Framework and Strategy for community-based tourism and the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Jennifer Griffiths has endorsed the Countrystyle Village programme and stated in her letter of support that “the IIPT Caribbean/Countrystyle Tourism Village programme for Jamaica and the Caribbean region will complement the Government of Jamaica’s thrust towards community-based tourism
The Countrystyle Community Tourism Network (CCTN) has appointed three partners to represent them as Consultants in South Africa to promote and implement the Villages as Businesses programme and to set up the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) South Africa chapter which will work in partnership with the IIPT Caribbean. These Partners are Nikki De Pinah of Dixie Bay Communications, Adv. Don Leffler, Director of THSBS (Tourism, Hospitality & Sport Business School) and Louw Alan, owner of the Cullinan Diamond Lodge
The Countrystyle Community Tourism Network South Africa was recognised by the Countrystyle Community Tourism Network & The International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) Caribbean for its support in part sponsorship of Jamaica’s representation at the 2011 UNESCO World Heritage meeting.
They were also recognised in all media statements at the 2011 UNESCO World Heritage Meeting alongside the Jamaica Tourist Board, Sandals Resorts, JHTA Montego Bay Chapter, Western Hospitality Institute, Jamaica Standards Products - High Mountain Coffee, Positive Tourism (PanaCarib), Mandeville Hotel, National Best Community Foundation, Pickapeppa Sauce Factory & Great Huts Eco Resort, Port Antonio.
There are similarities between the Jamaican economic climate and approach to Tourism to that of South Africa in context of the role and value of sustainable Tourism strategies. There is clearly value in looking at the successful Jamaican strategy and “Villages as Businesses” Model which could be successfully adapted and applied to South African conditions and to South Africa’s commitment to develop Tourism for the betterment of local communities.
The Caribbean Chapter of the IIPT (International Institute for Peace through Tourism) and the CCTN (Countrystyle Community Tourism Network) has welcomed the interest of the South African delegation of Rural Tourism Development representatives and interested individuals to visit Jamaica from 14th to 23rd February 2012, to understand the successful Jamaican “Villages as Businesses” Model and to consider strategies to apply the Countrystyle Jamaican Model in a South African context for sustainable Tourism development.
For further information on the IIPT and CCTN and, also, on the Study Tour to Jamaica in February 2012, contact Nikki De Pina, South African representative and consultant of IIPT / CCTN Caribbean at Email: info@dixiebay.co.za or call 0840702445 or fax to 0866274512.
Alternative Contacts: Adv. Don Leffler at info@tourismtraining.co.za and Louw Allan at silv1@acc.co.za
COUNTRYSTYLE COMMUNITY TOURISM NETWORK (CCTN)
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR PEACE THROUGH TOURISM (IIPT)
CARIBBEAN CHAPTER: SOUTH AFRICAN SATELLITE
“Tourism Entrepreneurship – Sustaining and Transforming Communities”
Contact: Nikki De Pina Mobile: 084 070 2445 Fax: 086 627 4512 Email: info@dixiebay.co.za
Alternative Contacts: Adv. Don Leffler info@tourismtraining.co.za Louw Allan silv1@acc.co.za
www.countrystylecommunitytourism.com www.iipt.org
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