Dr Braithwaite was addressing a luncheon for hoteliers from the Caribbean region following a two-day meeting of members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to consolidate action towards the sustainable development of agriculture. The meeting was held in St. Lucia.

In a release from IICA, Dr. Braithwaite is quoted as saying that agriculture and tourism are important strategic economic opportunities for integral development because they represent the livelihoods of millions of rural families.
"We expect these activities to make greater contributions to the eradication of poverty, and therefore to bring about and assure prosperity in rural communities,” Dr Braithwaite is quoted as saying. Citing Guyana’s eco-tourism industry as one example where agriculture and tourism can be linked, Dr. Braithwaite pointed to the opportunities for providers of specialised high quality goods and services for the expanding tourism industry.

The development of new products and new destinations for the tourism industry were also highlighted as areas for linkages. These include ecological tours, rural and agriculture tourism, adventure and even scientific tourism, taking into account the biological diversity of the countries of the hemisphere.

According to Braithwaite, tourism has been an important source of foreign exchange and jobs for the Caribbean region, generating in 1998 US$32.5 Billion in economic activity and providing 2.9 million jobs. He said that by 2010 tourism is expected to produce US$77.5 Billion in economic activity.

In recognition of the complementary relationship among agriculture, rural communities and tourism, the IICA’s Office in Barbados has been given a special mandate to establish an Agro Tourism Linkage Centre. The purpose of this Centre is to support and promote the development of linkages between the agriculture sector and tourism.

In his address, the IICA Director General noted that Agro-tourism provides a system of enterprise that can transform agriculture by introducing a form of tourism entertainment, hospitality or related activity that can become a successful enterprise.

IICA's interest in such ventures lies in its mandate to support its members in the pursuit of progress and prosperity through the modernisation of the rural agriculture sector, promotion of food security and the development of an agriculture sector that is competitive, technologically prepared, environmentally friendly and socially equitable.