Caribbean Tourism Organisation

• Author: Duke Pollard
• Profession: Sitting senior judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the highest appellate municipal court of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
• Pages: 821-840

The Caribbean Tourism Organisation 821

33

THE CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANISATION

The emergence of the twin phenomena of liberalisation and globalisation was coincident

with the contraction in opportunities for Member States of the Community to engage in

the production of goods on an internationally competitive basis especially in the area of

agriculture where metropolitan countries maintain heavy subsidies and are adamant in

their refusal to abandon or moderate the subsidies. Consequently, contracting income

from traditional agricultural exports from the Caribbean such as bananas, sugar and

rice has forced CARICOM Member States to diversify into service areas where

geography, lifestyle and culture guarantee them a distinct competitive advantage. In

this connection significant improvements have been registered in the areas of financial

services and tourism. The relative and absolute proximity to the lucrative North

American and European markets and an enthralling environment of surf, sand and sea

converge to make the Caribbean the preferred destination for many tourists.

Membership of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation is open to countries formerly

enjoying membership of the Caribbean Tourism Research and Development Centre

and/or the Tourism Association which accede to the CTO Agreement of 1989; any

other country accepted as being part of the Caribbean, which in the opinion of the

Government members of the Board of Directors, are willing and able to exercise the

rights and assume the obligations of membership; and organisations serving the

Caribbean in the area of tourism which, in the opinion of the Board of Directors will

make a positive contribution to the development of Caribbean tourism and are willing

and able to exercise the rights and assume the obligations of membership. The primary

objective of the CTO is to provide to, and through, its members, the services and

information necessary for the development of sustainable tourism for the social and

economic benefit of the Caribbean.

Provision is made in the CTO’s constituent instrument for a Caucus of Tourism

Ministers of CTO Member States comprising Ministers of Tourism, Commissioners of

Tourism, Secretaries of State for Tourism and other persons of equivalent rank. However,

the Agreement is silent on the powers and functions of this body. The Board of Directors

is comprised of one representative each from Member States of CTO appointed by the

Government concerned; three representatives of the Caribbean Hotel Association; six

elected representatives from air transport ministers; three representatives from cruise

ship interests; five representatives from the Allied Membership; five representatives

from Chapter Presidents and honorary members of the Board of Directors. The Board

is the highest body of the Organisation comprising public and private sector

representatives and is responsible for CTO’s policy and overall direction of the activities

822 THE CARICOM SYSTEM

and programme of the Organisation. The Board has an Executive Committee comprising

officers of the Board elected from among the Government members. This Executive

Committee functions as the management committee of the Board taking decisions on

all aspects of CTO’s activities between meetings of the Board of Directors. The chief

executive officer of the Organisation is the Secretary-general who is supported by other

professional and support staff.

Subject to the general direction of the Board of Directors, the Secretary-General

has overall responsibilities for, inter alia, implementation of the Organisation’s policies

and administration and coordination of the activities and programmes of the

Organisation. Other responsibilities include the establishment and organisation of special

programmes and projects in furtherance of the objectives of the Organisation, preparation

and submission of the administrative budget to the Executive Committee for

consideration and transmission to the Board of Directors for examination and approval.

The Organisation possesses full juridical personality and legal status in the jurisdictions

of Member States with capacity to contract; acquire and dispose of moveable and

immoveable property, to institute legal proceedings, borrow funds, mortgage and charge

its property. The CTO may cooperate with international organisations active in similar

fields and establish appropriate contacts to this end.

AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING

THE CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANISATION

Whereas the Contracting Parties, the Caribbean Tourism Association (CTA) and the

Caribbean Tourism Research and Development Centre (CTRC),

Desire for the benefit of the countries and peoples of the Caribbean to co-operate

in the promotion and development of tourism in the Region;

And recognise the need for the establishment of one authoritative Caribbean Tourism

Organisation for marketing, research, product development, education and training,

information and improvement of tourism in all its aspects.

The contracting organisations hereby agree as follows:

In this Agreement:

“Country” means Sovereign States, Departments, Colonial Territories and other

national political entities;

“Caribbean” means the Caribbean Region and includes any country located within

or bordering upon the Caribbean Sea and shall include any country located in the

general area near the Caribbean Sea. For all purposes connected with this

Agreement the Board of Directors may determine whether any country is deemed

to be located in the Caribbean.

Article 1

Establishment

The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (hereinafter referred to as “CTO”) is hereby

established having the membership, powers and functions hereinafter specified.