Plans on stream to develop ‘spa’ tourism

THE development and promotion of the Caribbean Health and Wellness Tourism Sector Project is important in helping the region develop its health and wellness sector, which would lead to the growth of one of the region’s main sources of foreign exchange – tourism.

This is the belief of Valarie Pilgrim, Operations Officer at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), who delivered remarks at the Caribbean Spa and Wellness Launch at the Radisson Aquatica Resort last Wednesday.

Some of the individuals involved in the spa and wellness
industry in attendance at the Caribbean Spa and Wellness
Launch on Wednesday at the Radisson Aquatica Resort.

“One such project is the ‘Development and Promotion of the Caribbean Health and Wellness Tourism Sector’. The objective of this project is to contribute to the growth of the health and wellness segment of the tourism industry and, by extension, the diversification of the region’s tourism product.”

She said that this initiative would include three basic elements, the first of which is the preparation stage.

“The project has three main components, the first of which is planning, which includes market research and strategy development. The main output of this component is a comprehensive regional strategy and action plan for the development of the sector.”

This is naturally followed by executing the project based on the information and data gained from the research. It will also include developing the required standards that persons who are involved in this industry would need to have.

“[Next is] implementation, which involves standards development. The main output of this component is...internationally benchmarked standards and provision of technical assistance to businesses within the sector to implement these as voluntary standards. The project will also initiate the process of the establishment of mandatory standards for the sector.”

It would also involve promoting this initiative and stakeholders believe that in order to make this experience different from the spa and wellness experience that can be achieved anywhere else in the world, some Caribbean flavour must be added to this experience.

“[The] marketing and promotion component focuses on the development and promotion of a unique Caribbean spa and wellness experience. Technical assistance will be provided to assist businesses within the sector to develop and consistently deliver this differentiated, high quality Caribbean spa and wellness experience.”

She said that initiatives that they support are provided with “technical assistance to help Governments put in place the administrative, legislative and policy framework to meet their commitments under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy; assistance to the private sector to access new export markets; financial and technical resources to improve product testing and to enhance the quality of products exported; technical assistance to improve business processes and reduce red tape in trade processing; and technical support to develop existing or new high potential export sectors, including various priority service sectors”. (PT)

Caribbean not reaching full potential in health and wellness tourism

The Caribbean is not reaching its full potential when it comes to health and wellness tourism.

This is the belief of Dr. Damien Cohall, Chief Consultant of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Health and Wellness Standards Consultancy Team, who spoke at the Caribbean Spa and Wellness Launch recently at the Raddison Aquatica Resort.

Dr. Damien Cohall, Chief Consultant of the University of the
West Indies (UWI) Health and Wellness Standards Consultancy
Team, speaking at the Caribbean Spa and Wellness Launch recently
at the Radisson Aquatica Resort.

He stated that this is a multi-billion dollar industry, and yet, unlike other countries across the globe that have capitalised in this sector, the region has failed to see these profits.

“Several studies have shown that the health and wellness sector is one of the fastest growing segments in the tourism industry. A commonwealth secretariat study has estimated the health and wellness sector to be a US$40 billion market with an annual growth rate of 30 per cent. The efforts to build this segment of the Caribbean’s tourism product have not yet maximised the region’s full potential.

Consequentially, the growth of health and wellness tourism in the Caribbean has not kept pace with the industry’s growth in the European and North American markets.”

He stated that in order for the region to reap the same benefits as our European and North American counterparts, we need to develop a clear strategy that caters to international standards of health and safety and quality management systems.

In this regard, the University put together a team of experts whose goals were to develop appropriate standards for this industry, he said.

“The UWI established a team of university academics and freelance consultants, which were tasked with conducting a situation analysis of the regional quality assurance framework, observing international best practices and making recommendations of a standard and its implementation strategies for the regional health and wellness sector,” Dr. Cohall continued.

This consultancy which  completed its findings and delivered it to the contractor in May, 2013, is a comprehensive document which highlights areas that persons involved in this industry would need to focus on, such as “quality management systems, health and safety criteria for the health and wellness entities, products and the personnel working within the sector”.

Certification

One of the areas that was highlighted was certification. “As anticipated, certification is one of the areas emphasised in the standard for both the physical entity and for persons plying their trade in the sector. The proposed criteria for personnel certification is well entrained within the established national and regional industry-based competency standards for vocational training, currently being harmonised by the Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies.

“Other criteria are essential components of established national, regional and international health and safety legislation and guidelines, benchmarked to standardise the sector to establish its competitive edge in service and product provision,” he added. (PJT)

Strategic Plan 2012-2017 to address pertinent issues

THE University of the West Indies (UWI) recognises that in order for Barbados and the rest of the Caribbean to continue to progress, they must have a strategic plan rooted in addressing the areas that would carry us forward, including the development of our human resources capacity and innovation, and, in this regard, they would be working on ensuring that this Strategic Plan can be achieved.

This was one of the messages that Dr. Damien Cohall, Chief Consultant of the UWI Health and Wellness Standards Consultancy Team, gave as he delivered remarks at the Caribbean Spa and Wellness Launch recently at the Radisson Aquatica Resort.

“The University has now transitioned into another period of consolidated thoughts and efforts to realise its mission across the region. Similar to the Strategic Plan 2007-2012, the University will serve the region by observing and conforming to the objectives set out in the new Strategic Plan 2012 to 2017, which addresses the development of human resources capacity, advocating and leading in innovation development, and to aid in product research and development. These efforts will be the fuel of the engine to assist in strengthening our capacity to continuously diversify our productive sectors and become more globally competitive.”

He said that they are working on fulfilling the developmental goals laid out in their previous Strategic Plan.

“The University in its efforts to conform with its own Strategic Plan 2007 to 2012, during which the project has started, considers its role in this project as fulfilling two of the four core strategic focal areas, which are Research and Innovation and Service to the UWI-12 Countries and Other Underserved Communities.

“It envisions that the other two core strategic focal areas, which are Teaching and Learning and Graduate Studies, will be realised as the institution continues to push towards excellence in regional human resource capacity building. There is scope for continual professional training and postgraduate research and taught programmes in the health and wellness sector, which the University will continue to explore.”

UWI lending support

He added that the UWI was pleased to lend its expertise to this tourism project, which was funded by the Caribbean Aid for Trade and the Regional Integration Trust Fund (CARTFund) of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and it will continue to lend its support to the development of the spa industry and the health and wellness sector in general throughout the Caribbean.

In this regard, they anticipate having further discussions with local and regional institutions in an effort to establish and fulfil its mandate, which would lead towards the regional development as stipulated in the strategic plan. (PJT)

Standards framework to be developed

In an effort to develop and monitor the standards used by spa operators in the Caribbean, the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus has recommended a strategy which they hope would lead to national and regional frameworks.

This is according to Dr. Damien Cohall, Chief Consultant of the UWI Health and Wellness Standards Consultancy Team, who delivered remarks at the Caribbean Spa and Wellness Launch recently at the Radisson Aquatica Resort.

He explained that the framework would include the necessary steps involved in instituting standards in this industry, including training and mentorship programmes for those who are already involved in this industry, but whose businesses do not quite meet the standards required.

“Standard implementation, inclusive of the adoption of the standard as industry standard; the establishment of Train the Trainer Programmes; the establishment of mentorship programmes; the creation of public relations channels and the establishment of a gazette/legislative/regulatory framework,” will be some of the elements in this regard, according to Dr. Cohall.

It would also involve the development of a framework that would ensure that these standards are being implemented.

“Developing a National Regulatory Framework, inclusive of the establishment of allied health councils/ professional councils; the establishment of certification bodies; more regularised inspections from the ministries of health, public health inspectorate and ministries of tourism product development and quality departments; and the development of standardised curriculum by the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) Council and programme delivery from accredited training institutions, will be imperative,” it was further noted.

Regional standard

They would also work on the development of a framework aimed at co-ordinating the various training initiatives across the different groups and islands. This move would be facilitated by regional organisations, such as by the Caribbean Association of National Training Associations (CANTA).

“Developing a Regional Regulatory Framework, inclusive of the development of a regional standard; the establishment of a regional regulatory policy and framework, inclusive of a regional council similar to regional medical and dental councils; harmonisation of standardised training through CVQ offerings facilitated by the Caribbean Association of National Training Associations (CANTA) and the establishment of regional efforts in product development and support testing facilities.” (PJT)

Help needed – Future of CAPSCA in jeopardy

 After this year, funding is not likely to be available for the international programme which seeks to prevent and manage the spread of communicable diseases by air travellers, unless member states of the initiative or other donors, offer assistance.

That is according to Dr. Anthony Evans, Chief, Aviation Medicine of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Global Programme Manager of the Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation (CAPSCA) programme.

Dr. Anthony Evans, Chief, Aviation Medicine of the International Civil
Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Global Programme Manager of CAPSCA.

A section of the delegates in Barbados for the CAPSCA-Americas Meeting.

During the opening ceremony of the Fifth CAPSCA Americas Meetings and Training at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in Barbados on Monday morning, he made an appeal for countries across the world to help the initiative. His call came as he noted that given the current financial constraints, items which are not prioritised, like aviation, tend to miss out.

“This year, we received some funds on special authorisation from our Secretary General, which will enable us to continue through this year. But after that, we are not expecting any more financial support from ICAO headquarters.

“ICAO holds it three yearly Assembly later this month, and the budget for the next three years will be less than the three years just ending. [In] the aviation sector, public health work is not always seen as a high priority, and in the public health sector, aviation is not always seen as a priority,” he noted.

More funding needed

Dr. Evans further explained that while they have received a commitment from Colombia to provide some funding, they are still in need of more, and he is hoping that during the ICAO Assembly, which will bring together its 191 member states, that more countries will offer assistance.

“Any amount is welcome, and this year we are very grateful to Barbados for not only hosting the meeting here, but also helping us with some of the travel costs to ensure that we got a good representation from key players for the meeting,” he revealed.

Meanwhile, Evans said that CAPSCA continues to grow in its five regions, and there has also been an increase in the number of member states. Even in Europe, which was the least developed region with respect to CAPSCA, he said that two major initiatives are currently under way. (JRT)

B’dos minister asks other regional countries to join CAPSCA

Countries in the English-speaking Caribbean are being urged to join the Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation (CAPSCA) programme.

The call has come from Barbados’ Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Richard Sealy. In his message to the participants of the Fifth CAPSCA-Americas Meeting, which was read by the Chief Technical Officer, Ministry of International Transport, Jacqueline Blackman, Minister Sealy noted that Barbados is the only CAPSCA-Americas State in the English-speaking Caribbean, and he maintained that it is in the interest of all states to take part in the regional project. Moreover, he said that the Barbados CAPSCA arrangement can be used as a model that can be implemented in other countries.

“An outbreak of a communicable disease is usually unpredictable and may be characterised by uncertainty, confusion and a sense of urgency. Advanced planning to contain and remove the threat is critical to ensuring the safety and health of our nations,” he said.

The Minister’s comments came as he noted that the objective of the CAPSCA programme is to reduce the risk of spreading communicable diseases by air travellers, and to mitigate the effects of such diseases on the health of populations and the economies of states.


Standards compliance
Given that, he said that the programme and the matters to be discussed at the meeting this week are vital to the sustainable development of states.

“Barbados, like its neighbours, is an open economy, and therefore vulnerable to the outbreak of existing and new communicable diseases. It is therefore essential that we develop and implement harmonised safeguards to prevent or mitigate any serious public health event and reduce the threat to the citizens and visitors to our region,” he added.

With that in mind, he noted that his ministry, mindful of the country’s obligation to meet the ICAO Standard and the adverse effects of the deadly H1N1 virus, did not hesitate to join the CAPSCA–Americas Programme.

He added that through close collaboration with the Grantley Adams International Airport Inc., and the Ministry of Health, they implemented actions to bring Barbados in compliance with the standard. The International Transport Minister said that not only has Barbados established the required infrastructure, but through the ICAO-CAPSCA validation mission in 2010, the country gained distinction from the audit and was accredited as fully compliant with the ICAO Standards. (JRT)

Private sector key

THE regional private sector is an essential part of the solution to ongoing issues in the Caribbean, therefore the challenges to growth and development of the private sector itself must be addressed.

So says Vice President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr. Carla Barnett, who was speaking during a high-level dialogue at the recently concluded Inter-regional Preparatory meeting in
preparation for the third International conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Some of the challenges identified by the vice president include the need to strengthen productivity by
removing barriers that impede investment, creating, accessing and expanding new markets, improving access to financial services, expanding social and economic infrastructure, addressing key aspects of the enabling environment for private sector environment, strengthening capacity to manage environmental risks including climate change and supporting investment in innovation and technological development.

Dr. Barnett remarked that the founders of the Bank recognised that a vibrant private sector was an essential component of long-term sustainable economic growth and development in the Caribbean.

She told the delegates that, traditionally, the Bank has focused on interventions that provide affordable credit, targeted priority sectors using financial intermediaries in the countries as the primary root to reach micro, small and medium enterprises.

“Interventions are designed to provide capacity building at the level of the enterprise and to support improvements to the enabling environment,” she noted.

She revealed that the CDB facilitates access by micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to technical assistance through the Caribbean Technological Consultancy Services Networks, a programme that utilises regional resource persons to build capacity at the enterprise level, to improve responsiveness to market opportunities.

“Through its interventions, CDB facilitates training attachments and regional workshops across a range of sectors, with a view to improving competitiveness and strengthening technical and managerial capacity of enterprises, and therefore provide opportunities for them to achieve sustainability.”

She also highlighted that the CDB recently concluded negotiations with contributors of its Special Development Fund.

“One of its strategic priorities of this cycle is inclusive sustainable growth through, among other things, facilitating the development of the private sector. Expected outcomes include an improved business climate, policy improvements and enhance viability of MSMEs.”

Barnett noted that economic growth across the region is less than three per cent per annum, with growth mainly concentrated in those countries producing and exporting commodities.

“Countries for the most part are carrying extremely high debt burdens. Overall fiscal deficit of almost four per cent of GDP, and public debt at 80 per cent of GDP, are a serious threat,” she indicated.

The vice president noted that the impact of climate change cannot be understated.

“Critically, our region is one of the most vulnerable in the world to natural disasters, which often translates into severe economic and social setbacks. Losses due to natural hazards have increased from 0.9 per cent of GDP per annum in the 1980s to 1990s to 1.3 per cent of GDP. Estimates of losses from climate change impacts range from five per cent to 30 per cent of GDP,” she said. (JH)