POLICY DIALOGUE INNOVATION NATIONS: Exploring the Strategic Opportunities in Canadian-Caribbean Relations DIASPORA TOURISM & INVESTMENTS Presented by, Sherma Roberts, Yanique Hume, Natasha Mortley and Keith Nurse Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. 21 October, 2010 Hosted by the Canadian International Council and Centre for Trade Policy and Law. Research conducted by Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy and Services, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados (Lead Agency) and Centre for Trade Policy and Law, Carleton University, Canada (Partner Agency) Funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre

CountryGlobal City% of Global City population Absolute *** figure GuyanaToronto3%62,733 Dom. Rep.New York*9%460,556 JamaicaLondon4%77,616 Suriname** The Netherlands 2%338,678 Diasporic Populations in Global cities Source: MPI statistics of foreign-born populations in global cities * Larger even than Chinese population in NY (6%) *Population distributed throughout several cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague) ***Absolute figures reflect only those who are foreign-born and does not account for 2 nd and subsequent generations.

CountryThree or more times a year Twice a year Once a year Once every two years Once every three years Travel little Never Guyana Dom. Rep Jamaica Frequency of immigrant travel to home, country. CountryLess than US$1000 Less than US $2000 More than US $2000 Guyana Dom. Rep Jamaica Amount spent per trip, percent Source: Manuel Orozco survey of immigrants in the US

Diasporic Tourism VacationFestivalBusinessMedicalHeritage Typology of Diasporic Tourism

Diasporic Tourism Trade Nostalgic Goods, Services & IP Telecomm unications Travel Airline & freight Media Financial Transfers Diasporic Tourism and the Diasporic Economy

Thrice Diasporized Tourism Spaces Europe Africa Asia Caribbean North Atlantic Nostalgic diasporic tourism Ancestral diasporic tourism Intra-diaspora tourism

Key Stakeholders in Diasporic Tourism 7 Diaspora Enablers: - Migrants - Diasporic Entrepreneurs -Gov’t Agencies -Remittance firms -Home Town Assoc - Tour operators -Telecoms - NGOs Facilitators & Intermediaries: - Hoteliers -Tour operators -Tourism Agencies - Cultural Agencies -Airlines -Cruiseships -Diasporic newspapers - Diasporic websites -Travel Agencies Diasporic Tourists: -Stayover - Cruise - Cultural -Festival - Heritage -Eco -Educational -Medical tourism - Short-break

P Policy Recommendations Regular Innovations 1.Improve and increase employee industry training 2.Develop, adopt and enforce industry standards 3.Prioritise safety and security 4.Improve communication and confidence among industry players Niche Innovations 1.Prioritise marketing and product development 2.Audit current destination products 3. Create and combine existing products in new ways 4.Harness diaspora tourism potential through stimulation of entrepreneurial opportunities Revolutionary Innovations 1.(Re)visit collaborative and strategic alliances- eg Air Canada, tour operators, cruise companies 2.Create an integrated destination management system 3. Make environmental management a pillar in transforming the industry 4.Increase destination awareness and reach out to 2 nd generation through all social media fora Architectural Innovations 1.Create or partner with Centres of excellence for research and knowledge transfer – eg Ryerson, PEI, UWI 2.Redefine the legislative and regulatory infrastructure to encourage tourism investment 3.Integrate tourism in the national policy agenda 4.Develop a clear statement of intent on a diaspora strategy

Policy Recommendations: Planning Mapping and documentation for strategic planning Planning for demographic shifts: 3 rd and 4 th generation and ethnic decomposition Facilitate enterprise development and business planning in key economic and business sectors

Policy Recommendations: Marketing Develop targeted marketing strategy for the multiple and varied diaspora communities Exploit the synergies between the various forms of diasporic tourism: vacation, business, heritage, festival, medical Utilize the airline, media and nostalgic goods, services and IP sectors for cross- promotion and co-sponsorship

Policy Recommendations: Enterprise Development Exploit the synergies between Diasporic Tourism and the key components of the diasporic economy: trade, travel, financial transfers, telecoms and media. Build and develop industry associations that facilitate networking, advocacy and lobbying both in the sending and receiving countries. Facilitate enterprise and development through grant funding, venture capital schemes and human resource development

Telesur Largest mobile phone provider in Suriname Invested in the Dutch market: Main USP is calling at reduced prices both to and in Suriname and also within the Netherlands. SIM card has both a Suriname phone number and a Dutch phone number in one SIM card A special benefit for its subscribers is that no roaming fees are applied when making use of the Dutch phone number in Suriname. Source: van de Roer (2010) Telesur: Company Profile. Telecompaper. Q1 2009Q3 2009Q No. of Customers17,50019,50027,000 Market Share0.7%0.8%0.9%

Laparkan A Caribbean diasporic conglomerate Largest investments in the region in freight (sea and air) Money transfer: The second largest remittance company in Guyana) and travel agencies. Offices located in all the major Caribbean diasporic communities in the US and Canada along with offices in most Caribbean countries. Majority shareholder in the Guyana National Industrial Corporation. which offers wharf operations and transportation logistics services for containerized and break bulk cargo for imports and exports Owner of the largest department store in Guyana (Fogarty’s). Laparkan is the largest employer in Guyana after the government.