St Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Minister Glen Beach; OECS Director General Dr Len Ishmael; Antigua/Barbuda’s Tourism Minister Harold Lovell; Dominica’s Tourism Minister Yvor Nassief; Saba Tourism Commissioner Will Johnson; OECS Head of Macro Economic Unit Rodinald Soomer

The measures were agreed upon when OECS Tourism Ministers ended their third annual general meeting in Dominica on March 31.

According to a statement from the Saint Lucia-based Organization of Eastern Caribbean States Secretariat, “the new measures are aimed at taking the industry forward in the sub-region.”

Regional leaders have also agreed to establish a cruise tourism task force, which is expected to “facilitate greater collaboration in the region on issues related to the cruise sector.”

“The task force will also explore the enhancement of links between the Eastern Caribbean and the cruise home port of Puerto Rico to help business with the sub-region,” the statement said.

The OECS is also considering the establishment of a joint company that will negotiate collectively with the cruise lines.

The meeting also discussed opportunities for sub-regional cooperation for the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

Member States agreed to work together to ensure a consistent level of standards which will be maintained beyond the 2007 event.

OECS Tourism Ministers will hold their next meeting in Puerto Rico in October.