Sustainable Travel

Continued from Sustainable Travel International's February Sustainable Travel Report

Testimonials

Below are 2 testimonies from visitors who have positively experienced community tourism at work in Jamaica.

Thank you for giving me such a wonderful and authentic Jamaican experience... Few hosts will welcome a stranger as family and even include them in birthday parties and family celebrations... The Jamaican culture is so real and active... the Jamaican beaches are a paradise... the land within is diverse and holds so many treasures left unturned by most visitors... safety, service, orientation, and accommodation... you were aware and consistently met my needs in all these areas... Countrystyle Tourism provided for and exceeded my expectations of how one can learn about a unique community and country... I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been part of the Countrystyle Tourism experience and family - Ethan - Cornell University

At the Astra Country Inn, we met Jefferson, a wonderful example of the high level of training received at the Countrystyle Community Tourism Training College... Jefferson took us under his wing and looked after us as if we were staying in the royal suite at the London Ritz... Diana McIntyre-Pike's Astra Country Inn is an example of the wonderful & most extraordinarily open kindness and hospitality we were given everywhere we went... Professionally, no-one could do more in the interest of tourism to Jamaica in such a unique way as 'Countrystyle Community Tourism... Diana arranged our drive to Treasure Beach... after a few days we felt like Treasure Beach Nationals... I have traveled the world and stayed in many countries but have never felt so at home as in Jamaica in all my life... There is so much yet to see, especially the rest of Jamaica's surviving history. Jamaica is a place of great historical importance - Elizabeth - Australia

Empowering Our Local Communities

Countrystyle’s main objective is to empower local communities, so that the communities are able to help themselves. They accomplish this by (1) providing training, and (2) funding to these communities for community development purposes.

Sustainable Development Foundation Community Tourism (SCF)

The Sustainable Communities Foundation [SCF], through Tourism promotes a program of Sustainable Community Tourism Development [SCTD], in collaboration with a range of stakeholders, including Countrystyle Community Tourism Network. They focus on the communities of Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

The program revolves around three (3) central themes: ecology, community and tourism, uniting the concepts of social development and ecological sustainability.

Community Tourism at Work in Jamaica

In central and southwest Jamaica, communities are actively participating in the economic, environmental, social and political processes that result in sustainable development leading to an improved quality of life for themselves and future generations.

SCF Mission

The mission of SCF is to create an effective process to empower communities to be an integral part of the tourism process by providing a mechanism by which they can prepare themselves according to the philosophy of sustainable development and to allow them to realise their visions in their own environment.

SCF Objectives

Economic: To create sustainable economic opportunities, especially related to alternate & community tourism for residents as the basis for economic self-sufficiency

Environmental: To conserve the uniqueness of the Jamaica’s central and southern region’s natural and built environment for future generations while optimising its contribution to sustaining local communities and the overall development of the area

Social: To engender a vital civic spirit which is nurtured by innovative processes and is a source of strength and hope to residents in helping them to achieve their basic needs with a sense of equity and respect

Good Governance: To facilitate broad participation by all segments of the community in collaboration to ensure that relevant programs are designed and resources used in an efficient co-ordinated manner

SCF and Countrystyle Community Tourism Consultants

Countrystyle Community Tourism Consultants are contracted to provide management input to the SCF. Financing for the SCF is generated from membership fees, project development and management fees and contributions from visitors on vacation through the Countrystyle Community Experience packages. Donations are also made in kind from visitors where they pick a project while on vacation. There is great interest in the SCF’s projects.

It takes cash to care for these communities

One of the greatest challenges in successfully partnering with communities in their development needs is to provide access to a cheap source of funds to assist these communities in their development needs.

Developing a Sustainable Community Tourism Project Development Fund

The Sustainable Communities Foundation (SCF), in collaboration with Countrystyle Community Tourism Network, has developed a Sustainable Community Tourism Project Development Fund to assist these communities in meeting their development needs.

We need investment in these communities through our community tourism project development fund initiative. Donors, investors and financial assistance will only serve to improve this worthwhile, tried, tested and proven successful Community Tourism ongoing initiative.

How to contact us?

Please direct all questions, donations and financial assistance to the Sustainable Community Tourism Project Development Fund:

Attention: Mark Byles - Project Leader
Sustainable Community Tourism Project Development Fund
THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION (SCF)
Tel: 1-877-722-8522 / 416-733-9604, x32
Email: mgbyles@yahoo.com