KINGSTON, Jamaica: A two year community tourism entrepreneurship programme will be launched at the International Institute for Peace through Tourism‚s (IIPT) first International Community Tourism Retreat to be held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel on June 20 to 24, 2008.

“It will give us an opportunity to present Jamaica‚s two-year community tourism entrepreneurship programme as well as the Spruce up Jamaica Programme to community representatives locally and internationally, allowing them the opportunity to interact with established community tourism entrepreneurs,” says Diana McIntyre-Pike, Caribbean President of the IIPT, and Coordinator of the Countrystyle Community Tourism Network.

The IIPT, Countrystyle Community Tourism Network and a number of other local partners will be having the Retreat to increase consciousness of community tourism as a sustainable and responsible alternative for addressing the social and economic conditions of the island.

In emphasizing the value of community tourism Mrs McIntyre-Pike explained that community tourism respects culture and the environment while enhancing the lives of people within their communities. Through entrepreneurship empowerment community tourism brings positive results such as poverty alleviation for community members. It creates opportunities for Jamaicans within their own environment and makes communities destinations within the destination.

The Community Tourism Retreat will give participants opportunities to share research and other information on community tourism and sustainable development issues. It will be the forum for highlighting best practices and case studies on community tourism and providing information on funding, marketing, training and business development solutions for existing and potential community tourism stakeholders.

According to McIntyre-Pike, a pioneer in community tourism in Jamaica, the retreat would sensitize everyone to the business of community tourism.

The retreat will include tours of local communities involved in tourism such as Mocho in Clarendon, Treasure Beach in St Elizabeth, Mandeville in Manchester, The Blue Mountains, Bluefields in Westmoreland, the Charles Town Maroons and Trench Town in Kingston.

Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett will be the special guest at the welcome reception and opening ceremony on Friday, June 20. Minister Bartlett believes that “the environment is the product” will share his vision and plans for Jamaica’s sustainable tourism development.

President of the IIPT, Mr Lou D‚Amore and CEO of Jakes, Treasure Beach, Jason Henzell will serve as patrons of the community tourism retreat being held under the theme “Tourism Entrepreneurship - Sustaining and Transforming Communities”.