OECS Commission extends its Community-based Tourism Support to Grenada

November 11, 2016

Community groups in the northeastern region of Grenada benefitted from a community-based five-day tourism workshop aimed at developing and strengthening the tourism product in that part of the island.

The northeast region of Grenada comprises the town and villages of Grenville, Marquis, Post Royal, Soubise, Telescope, Mt. Carmel, Munich and Paradise. This area is well known for its rich natural, historical and cultural heritage. The communities are richly endowed with valuable assets including the 200 year old Paradise Bridge, one of the oldest in the entire Caribbean, hot springs, Amerindian historical sites, forts and waterfalls. The Royal Mt. Carmel Waterfall is one of the main attractions in the area because it is the highest waterfall on the entire island.

In addition to these resources, the communities in the North-East are also seeking to unlock the promising potential for activities such as bird watching, given that this area accommodates some extraordinary indigenous birds; and hiking trails owing to the breathtaking landscapes in that region.

The following areas were addressed during the workshop:

Site visits to undertake an Inventory of community assets
SWOT (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the tourism product
An assessment of the potential for community residents to offer home stays and potential eating establishments within the community
The importance of authenticity, community economic and social linkages and marketing strategies
Review of potential target markets, competitor analysis and product potential
Small group training on “How to Establish, Maintain and Respond to a Visitor Satisfaction Feedback System”
One-on-one business development advice to individual community stakeholders
Review of logistics with stakeholders for engaging with tour operators e.g. public liability insurance, health and safety certification etc.

The workshop ran from November 7-11, 2016 and was facilitated by Responsible Tourism Consultant, Mr. James Crockett.