In this Webinar we will cover the importance of

following the Business Plan and sharing your vision

and proposals with others who may be in a position
to assist you

Step by Step

One year working plan with specific deadlines for
completing activities
Establish a basic product offering that can generate
some visitor interest and revenue
identify what you can do without having to spend or
borrow a lot of money

Ask yourself
WHERE ARE MY RESOURCES ?


The Product Offering

Basic infrastructure
Surveying
Cutting access roads and trails
Identifying protected and indigenous flora and fauna
Regulations re protected areas
Community access
Using natural materials for construction of railings, benches, huts,
paving
May have to purchase a 4WD vehicle, tents, mosquito nets
May have to refurbish existing buildings or put up temporary
structures
Utilities Electricity, water, telephone and internet access
Safety and security

Needs Possible SOURCES of Assistance
Identifying trees,
plants and bird
species
Floyd Homer
Carl Fitz James, Brasso Seco
Asa Wright
Signage Ministry of Tourism or Tourism Authority,
Ministry of Agriculture or Min. Works
Logo design Industrial Development Corporation or
Business Support organisation
Youth Entrepreneurship programmes
A family member or friend with talent
Registrations,
Incentives
Concessions
Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Tourism,
National Corporate Affairs / Intellectual
Property Offices
Network, Network, Network
Definition: Networking is about making friends before
you need them
Have your site on Facebook and Twitter and link to
TripAdvisor and other such sites
Be close to feature writers in the daily news in your
country
Be known by your Parliamentary Representative and
also with the Opposition MP in your constituency
Let persons know what you are doing or planning and
ask for help and advice

Work with the Community
Can make or break you (especially if access to your
place affects their environment or depends on their
permission)
Importance of good relations
Hire locals from the surrounding community, document
stories about key persons, know the community leaders,
encourage community education and beautification
programmes, adopt a school or a childrens home
Learn the history of your site from the elders and use
the information for your branding - creating a sense of
place and authenticity
Network with Agencies
Embassies: US Embassy and USAID, Canadian, British
High Commission and DFID, Chinese Embassy, French
Embassy
UN Agencies:
FAO Telefoods Grants
UNDP GEF Small Grants Project
UN Women
UNESCO (for heritage-based projects)
IICA
OAS
IDB

These Agencies can Help with:
Writing proposals for projects
Bringing your project to the attention of government
ministries, funding institutions, investors and other
development partners
Sponsoring your participation in meetings where you
can promote your products and services
Providing technical assistance, information and
training and advocacy

Recruiting and Training Staff
Student exchanges and interns (Canada, Germany,
USA)
Voluntourism
Hospitality schools (Barbados, Jamaica, Bahamas,
Tobago)
Internships with Chefs and other entrepreneurs in the
region
TVET and CTO
Pommarine
Field training (Brasso Seco)

Promoting your Business Idea
Use available free internet and media resources
Get interviewed on local television and radio programmes
Send news articles to Caribbean news programmes in the
USA and UK
Send news to national and regional tourism websites
(www.onecaribbean.org ), TravelMole, Positive Tourism
News, www.letsdoitinthecaribbean.com
Airline magazines (Caribbean Airlines, LIAT, COPA)
Food magazines (Food and Wine, Gourmet, Conde Nast)
Publications of various agencies and institutions
Participate in national exhibitions and expositions
(AgroFest, Barbados; Denbigh Show, Jamaica)
Do Something Different
Host an event on your site
Folk Fair, Jazz Festival, Reggae Fest, Celebrity Chef
evening, Artist Day, Organic Farmers Market, Sunday
market, conferences and workshops
Offer site as a Study tour for conferences
Link your site to major events
Offer a wellness weekend after Carnival
Side event in a Jazz Festival (eg. Naniki=
Piggy-Back on nearby attractions
Do Something Different
Host an event on your site
Invite officials to tour your site and have a lunch (with a
view to getting their assistance)
Have specials for local visitors and for special groups
(families, children, retired persons)
Open on Sundays and holidays and let cruise visitors know
Where to access finance
Standard places
Banks
Caribbean Development Bank
Development Banks
Commercial Banks
Credit Unions
Development Financing Agencies (IDB, World Bank)
Other types of financing
and revenue generation
Family and Friends (equity partners)
Church Groups (diaspora in USA, UK)
Meeting turn (turn han, sou-sou)
Geotourism projects
Crowd Funding
Benefactors (visitors, charitable organizations)
Charging environmental taxes in entrance fees

Other Resources you might need
Landscape artists
Visual artists
Graphic designers
Training in setting up and managing a gift shop
First aid training
Disaster management training
Training in foodservice management and food safety
How to set up and manage a spa or wellness centre