Page 8 - ATA

Caribbean Tourism Organization Calls For

United States/Caribbean Strategic Alliance

In Furtherance Of U.S. – Caribbean Strategic

Engagement Act

Mechanism Incorporating Caribbean's Tourism Working Group with Entities Tasked with

Implementing the Act Will Be A Winning Formula, Says CTO Secretary General.
NEW YORK - The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has called for a formal partnership
between the region's tourism sector and those responsible for implementing the United States-
Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act, known as H.R. 2939.

The Act, which was passed in the United States Congress on Dec. 13, 2016 and signed into law by
then U.S. President Barack Obama three days later, mandates a new long-term strategy to strengthen
ties between Washington, D.C. and the Caribbean region. It is designed to increase the security,
prosperity and well-being of the people of the United States and the Caribbean.

Addressing the importance of the Act to Caribbean tourism at a recent meeting in Washington, D.C.,
CTO Secretary General Hugh Riley referenced a tourism working group established by Caribbean

Community (CARICOM) heads of government at their meeting in Guyana in February, to guide the
development and marketing of Caribbean tourism.

This, Riley said, appears to align with the U.S. government's strategy for the Caribbean on many
areas related to sustainable development, and a mechanism that incorporates the Caribbean's
tourism working group with the entities tasked with implementing H.R.4939 would be a winning
formula for both the U.S. and the Caribbean.

"What an accomplishment it would be for all of us and for the architects of H.R. 4939 if we could
report back to our region's prime ministers and presidents when we meet with them in February,

that there is now a working partnership between the region's tourism working group and the U.S.
Caribbean Strategic Alliance. Our recommendation is that together, we waste no time in making that
partnership a reality. Without doubt, shoring up the Caribbean's main economic driver is the surest
way to protect the third border of the United States," Riley said.