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| From left to right, CTO Secretary General Hugh Riley, CARPHA Executive Director Dr. James Hospedales and CHTA Director General and CEO Jeffery S. Vasser |
Travel Agent was on hand Thursday as the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) have created a partnership to establish and promote health and safety protocols and practices in the tourism workplace in the region.
The CTO secretary general and chief executive officer, Hugh Riley, the executive director of CARPHA, Dr. James Hospedales and the CHTA director general and CEO, Jeffrey S. Vasser, signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) at a news conference at the Wyndham New Yorker Hotel in New York City, home of the annual CTO Caribbean Week, which celebrates Caribbean tourism and the rich heritage and culture.
"As the Caribbean's principle economic earner, the tourism sector must be vigilant and proactive regarding health and safety issues that can adversely affect the health of our tourism workforce or that of our visitors," says Riley.
Through the MOU the three organizations will collaborate in areas including food and environmental safety training and certification; public health information, monitoring and response systems for hotels and cruise ships to provide timely alert and a rapid coordinated response to adverse health and safety and environmental issues.