Community Tourism development is indeed an integral part of Tourism development in any nation, since it allows the citizens thereof to directly experience the benefits of the Tourism dollars spent therein. It also allows for the direct advancement of the livelihood of the people and has the capacity to create greater financial independence for them and strengthen a sense of pride (in the sense of satisfaction) in their own abilities as they consider the work of their own hands-the gardens they’ve grown, the garments they’ve woven and the culinary delights they’ve imagined and created, to name a few. Recognizing this has led the Ministry of Tourism, over the years, to support Community Tourism groups through the issuing of subventions to them, by sourcing, externally, funding and training opportunities for them and by providing, locally, short-term training and capacity building to them through our annual Human Resources Development program.

Only recently the Ministry of Tourism secured funding through the Commonwealth Secretariat, for the development of a strategic plan for Agro Tourism development in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Consultants will arrive here in the month of June to begin this work and while among us they will work closely with Community groups. The National Community Tourism Association launched here today and its respective member groups will therefore have an ideal opportunity to take advantage of their presence here with us.

We at the Ministry of Tourism therefore laud and fully support this initiative as an extension and strengthening of our ongoing efforts in Community Tourism development. We also pledge our continued support in Technical areas such as Training in Customer Service and other related areas. We urge you to work hard and to work together for success. You may have the privilege of developing domestic tourism in SVG through your work- an area not hitherto explored in any organized way but which has great potential to bind us closer together as a people, since by interacting more with each other through incentives to visit each others’ communities, we will gain deeper understanding of each other. Own your sites and attractions as if they are the front yards and living rooms of your houses. Protect them and defend them from potential harm and destruction. As you strive to create and introduce unique tourism products in your respective communities, you will make them attractive, not only to the international and regional visitor from New York or Bonaire but also to the resident of Belair seeking a break of relaxation in the country community of Chateaubelair. You are the parts that make up the whole and without you we cannot move forward as we should in the Tourism Industry and as a Nation. May God’s grace attend you here and now on this historic occasion. I thank you for your attention.  (Address delivered by Anesia Baptiste, Communications Manager, Ministry of Tourism, at the recent launch of the National Community Tourism Association.)

Community Advisor, Christobel Ashton, in her address to the gathering at the NCTA Launch, revealed the plans and expectations of the new association.

The National Community Tourism Association will serve and represent the interest of all community tourism organizations and in general community/rural tourism throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The ten existing community tourism organizations will form the foundation membership of the Association. Each community tourism organization will have the same rights on the national body. The Executive of the National Association will comprise one member/representative from each community group. There will also be a named alternate. Tasks/offices will be delegated to members of the Executive once the body convenes.

The Executive will meet at least monthly. Meetings of the general body or a larger representative body – beyond the Executive - will be determined at the launching. The Chair of the national body will be rotated among the groups. The Barrouallie Heritage Tourism Organization will hold the first Chair, which will be for a one year period.

Barrouallie Tourism and Heritage Organization

Belmont Educational Community Development Organization

Black Point Eco-Tourism Development Organization

Buccament Development Organization

Cumberland Valley Eco-Tourism Organization

Layou Heritage Tourism Organization

North Leeward Tourism Organization

Owia Salt Pond Management Committee

Rawacou Development Council

Union Island Museum and Ecological Society

It’s now time for us as community groups

To show what we can do

Everything was about Kingstown

Now we have it in Leeward and Windward too

Black Point, Owia and Rawacou

Buccament, Layou—just some of the few

We have Union, Bagga, and NLTA

But the cream of the crop is Cumberland, I will say

Don’t vex if I say

Cumberland is the cream of the crop

That is where I’m from

So you know I’ll put it on top

We thank the European Union

We thank you the Government

We especially thank the Tourism Development Project

For all the time and effort that every one of you has given

This is not the time to be fearful

This is not the time to fret

We have launched this Association

Because we all care for our nation

Stand tall, stand strong

Let’s band together to make this National Tourism Association No. 1!