The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) recently announced the winners of the 2022 Caribbean Sustainable Awards Competition in which Dominica won the category award for ‘Tourism Education and Training’. The winner selected by the tourism development agency is WildDominique, an NGO created to support and promote sound conservation practices in Dominica. The ‘Friend of Conservation’ initiative, launched in 2022, is a joint collaboration between WildDominique, the Forestry, Wildlife & Parks Division, Discover Dominica Authority, and the Dominica State College and was designed to establish biodiversity-friendly livelihoods in the Nature Island. The nationally recognized certification identifies and addresses knowledge gaps within the tourism industry, creates a unique opportunity for skill exchange between tour operators and conservation managers, and rewards tourism stakeholders who play an active role in sustainably promoting the nature island product. The ‘Friend of Conservation’ initiative ensures that tour guides are exposed to updated and accurate information regarding Dominica’s natural resources. [...]

Camagüey. Picture: Prensa Latina According to a Cuban report on Cadena Agramonte’s website, radio station in Camaguey, eastern Cuba, “the visit, organized by Cubanacan Hoteles, allows that executives and representatives of travel agencies to appreciate the heritage, cultural, and natural values of these destinations, as well as their facilities and renovated products conceived by this industry in the province.” Since late 2022, these visits have been increasing in a city whose Historic Center was acknowledged as a jewel and declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Despite the complex economic situation in Cuba, the country continues to be a coveted tourist destination, as evidenced by the visit of several tour operators to this city full of history and attractions. Yuneski Cantelli, a delegate of the Ministry of Tourism in this province, told Prensa Latina Cuban News agency that “the arrival of [...]