Such is the growing importance of tourism for nation states everywhere, but perhaps most importantly for vulnerable underdeveloped and developing economies like ours, no stone should be left unturned in the effort to protect that industry.

That’s why the Global Tourism Resilience Conference in Kingston, which ends today — Global Tourism Resilience Day — can’t be just a talk shop.

We hope and expect that this conference will help the international tourism sector to advance tangibly, practically, in the drive to build partnerships and unified capacity in combating disasters and threats.

Jamaica’s tourism minister, Mr Edmund Bartlett, recently summed up the need for global mechanisms to “effectively handle and recover swiftly from major disruptions, such as pandemics, earthquakes, and other natural disasters…”

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how easily economies can be wiped out by a catastrophe that came like a thief in the night.

The pandemic apart, Jamaica — hugely dependent on its multi-billion-dollar tourism sector — and its neighbours, live with the ongoing threat of devastating earthquakes and hurricanes.

Older Jamaicans need no reminding of the demolition job on tourism and the wider economy dealt by Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. Our neighbours have suffered as badly, even worse, from natural disasters.

Then, there are the self-inflicted, man-made issues such as crime — without which Jamaica’s tourism product would be second to none — and environmental pollution, which is fuelling the global climate change crisis.

In the latter regard, the warning from secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS) Mr Luis Almagro Lemes should be taken to heart.

Said he: “We know the power of tourism to contribute to global input, to improve livelihood, and bring economic benefits to many destinations for people around the world. However, if not managed properly, tourism becomes obsolete to negative impacts such as overcrowding and environmental degradation…”

It’s a reminder to Jamaicans of the many environmental threats to our tourism and, indeed, to the wider economy and society by deforestation; mining in close proximity to, and even within protected areas; poisoning of fish and other marine life; indiscriminate disposal of garbage; pollution of rivers, wetlands, coastal areas, oceans, and so forth.

Only yesterday news broke that the State’s environmental watchdog, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), has ordered an immediate suspension of sand mining in the Rio Grande.

That stream, which rushes down the north-eastern slopes of the Blue Mountains to the Caribbean Sea not far from Port Antonio, has long been popular among visitors and locals alike, because of rafting — a significant money earner for Jamaicans.

Mr Peter Knight, head of NEPA, reported that following complaints, investigations showed oil, grease, “and other issues” which triggered the order for sand mining to cease.

Mr Knight tells us that “Now what we are seeking to do is to revisit the issue to have discussions with all the stakeholders — tourism, farming, political representatives, citizens’ groups, and the regulatory agencies, which would include Mines and Geology [Division] — to see how best we can re-engineer to see if all the economic activities can exist along the river…”

Obviously, while all must benefit, economic activities should, as much as is infinitely possible, be protective of the natural environment, and under no circumstances should it be at the expense of the life-giving visitor industry.