Minister of Tourism Jamaica
“ This theme comes at a very critical time. Issues of sustainability, which have long been on the agenda of island destinations, now need our immediate attention especially as they are issues over which we have little or no control.
With climate change, island destinations must seek to diversify their product offering and reconsider urban and rural planning as sea level rises and beaches disappear. With intensifying weather systems, island destinations must be better prepared to mitigate the disruptive and destructive effects of these natural disasters.
Furthermore, as visitor arrivals continue to grow at phenomenal rates, island destinations must avoid the effects of over-tourism by devising strategies to manage tourism in a way that is economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sustainable. ”