TTC Special: 2023-2030: More culture and more tourism

By Frank Martin

Global studies and forecasts indicate that tourism, together with the ingredients of national cultures, plays an increasingly prominent role in the global market for the leisure industry in the period that began in 2022 and will last until 2030.

This rich market in innovations is growing at a constant rate driven by strategies with a very positive effect in terms of attracting holiday travelers from all parts of the planet.

A recently published analysis indicated that the economic volume of this modality is likely to reach values of several million dollars by 2029, much higher than those achieved in 2022.

The advanced technology increasingly available in various destinations around the world leads experts to agree in their  positive analyzes in this regard.

North America, especially the United States, will continue to play an important role that cannot be ignored.

The high adoption of advanced technology and the presence of large players in this region are likely to create ample growth opportunities for markets such as North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, the Middle East and Africa.

Europe also plays an important role in the global cultural market with magnificent growth during the forecast period 2022-2029.

The Caribbean region does not turn its back on this trend and its cultural richness is capable of competing in the universal market.

Proof of this is a UNESCO program entitled Transcultura that is uniting Caribbean islands such as the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cuba with culture and creativity programs, financially supported by the European Union.

A regional Creative Tourism workshop was held in that part of the world from November 7 to 9, 2022.

This appointment opened the doors to representatives of the tourism sector among these young professionals linked to culture.

According to the organizers, this workshop aimed to promote opportunities for cultural and creative professionals in the tourism industry and, at the same time, promote sustainable tourism based on identity and the cultural and creative industries.

Caribbean culture has its own profiles and styles and not only competes with those of other world regions, but also, instead of “threatening” even its own traditional Sun and Beach attractions in the entire Caribbean area, it enriches that offer.

UNESCO affirms that the Transcultura program promotes regional integration and intersectoral cooperation, the creation of networks and the strengthening of the value chain and destination management models.

One intention of this entity of the United Nations Organization is to strengthen the competitiveness of the local creative economy and improve opportunities for sustainable tourism development.

They are also designed called models of governance and public policies to strengthen the tourism value chain and the management capacities of destinations in the Caribbean.

The countries linked to this program are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

Experts mention as topics of this type of cultural cooperation are Heritage Tourism, Art, Gastronomy, cinema and creativity.