The Inter-Sectoral Unit for Tourism provides technical cooperation to assist the member States of the OAS in the development of tourism projects, facilitating and supporting national and regional tourism development programs and activities, and promoting mechanisms for external support and horizontal collaboration between member States

The following activities and projects focus on specific areas and subsectors:

Technical Cooperation Activities and Projects - 2000

XVIII Interamerican Travel Congress Technical Symposium  

The Uruguayan Ministry of Tourism agreed with OAS to celebrate a Technical Symposium of "Sustainable Development of Tourism within present Challenging Globalization " within the framework of the XVIII Interamerican Travel Congress.  This Symposium represents the Technical Meeting to explore and study all key subjects in tourism development through an active interaction between the public and private sectors.

Technical Cooperation Activities and Projects - 1999

	Central America Tourism Destination Management System Project (DMS). (Regional Project). The main objectives of this project are: to maximize the competitive capacity of the Central American tourism product and support efforts to market and sell its travel and tourism industry, particulary targeting its small and medium size entrepreneurs; and to promote Central American integration allowing the region's entrepreneurs in the tourism sector to combine their travel offers to present Central America as a single tourism destination. This project is the second phase of the 1998 technical cooperation project "System of Integrated Management for Tourism Destinations by Means of the Internet"
	Caribbean Tourism Competitiveness and Sustainability Project (CTCS) (Regional Project). This project aims at finalizing partnership and finance arrangements for a small hotels assistance package for human resource development, training, product upgrading, marketing, technology assistance and financing support; introducing tourism sector attractions and services to the program beginning with a Needs Assessment, followed by Program Development for assistance and partnership development for financing; and developing a sustainable tourism awareness regional facility in partnership with other IFI's, the private sector in the region, and media partners, all in support of strengthened national programs in participating countries. This project is the continuation of the 1998 technical cooperation project " Caribbean Small Hotel Assistance Program".
	Caribbean Destination Management System Project. (Regional Project) With the purpose of designing and implementing destination management systems in participating countries,providing internet web based access to country information, call canter and fulfillment services, reservation capabilities for accommodation, events, festivals and attractions, and ongoing research support to monitor marketing effectiveness and product inventory information.
	Support to the Tourism Marketing Program for the Central American Region. (Regional Project). To support the region's efforts to market and promote the Central American Region and to strengthen the ability of the new Central American Tourism Organization (OCAT) and the Federation of National Chambers of Tourism of Central America (FEDECATUR) to conduct Research and carry out tourism training and tourism awareness programs.
	Program of Conservation, Upgrading, and Revitalization of Caribbean Tourism Heritage Sites (Regional Project). The activities of this regional project began in 1998.  Project activities in the Dominican Republic were delayed because of the damage suffered by the country during the 1998 hurricane season. It is scheduled for completion by the end of 1999.

Technical Cooperation Activities and Projects - 1998.

	Integrated National Tourism Development Plan (Guyana). For the preparation of an integrated national tourism development strategy.
	Heritage Tourism Project (St. Vincent & The Grenadines). For the development of heritage sites, implementation of heritage awareness program, training of craft persons and organization of national craft fairs.
	Tourism Information Systems and Databases (Regional Project). The project aims at preparing tourism information databases to be made accessible through the Internet.
	Caribbean Small Hotel Assistance Program (Regional Project). To develop a recovery and strategic plan and organize seminars on management, operations and marketing
	Support to the Tourism Marketing Program of the Central American Region (Regional Project). It will include the preparation of an inventory of tourism products of the region, the preparation of a vacation planner, and the organization of promotional seminars, and mini trade shows.
	Regional Program for Tourism Statistics (Regional Project - ALADI). For the standardization and establishment of methodologies for the collection and analysis of tourism statistics.
	Inter-American Technical Meeting on the Effects of Free Trade Agreements on Tourism (Regional Activity). For the analysis of the positive and negative effects on tourism by the reduction and/or elimination of trade barriers.
	National Consultation on Draft OECS Sustainable Tourism Strategy (Regional Activity). For the preparation of a draft OECS tourism development strategy.
	System of Integrated Management for Tourism Destinations by Means of the Internet (Regional Project). Pilot project for the preparation of databases and studies of Tourism Destination Management Systems (TDMS), and the implementation of a prototype TDMS as a centralized reservations system that would also provide other tourism complementary services. This project targets Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and Peru.
	Integrated Planning and Development Program of the Tourism Product of Central America (Regional Project). For the preparation of an integrated tourism development strategy for Central America.
	Caribbean Environment and Tourism Public Attitudes and Awareness Program (Regional Project). To support attitudes and awareness activities in six member states.
	Program of Conservation, Upgrading, and Revitalization of Caribbean Tourism Heritage Sites (Regional Project). The project will support the development of an action plan for the conservation, upgrading and revitalization of three heritage sites in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica.

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