Caribbean tourism seeing positive movement

CHAIRPERSON of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), Beverly Nicholson-Doty says that overall there has been some positive movements as it relates to the tourism industry within the Caribbean.

She was speaking during the re-launch last week Thursday of the CaribbeanTravel.com website, which is a joint partnership between the public and private sector.

The CTO Chair said that in her opinion there are certainly destinations that are doing better than others.

“Our goal as the Caribbean Tourism Organisation is to make sure that ‘high tide floats our boats’ so we really want to make sure that all of our destinations are doing well. I think the stronger ones help some of the weaker ones and I think that is one of the premise that we have, the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, along with the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association come in together under CTDC and the marketing opportunities to ensure that we have strength throughout the region,” she stated.

According to her, there are several strong markets across the region. However, she feels that Jamaica continues to be one of the leaders, as well as the Bahamas.

“I think the numbers for the US Virgin Islands are creeping up back to the strength of 2008. You also have some of the smaller markets where you’re seeing significant growth that had normally been on the radar where you’re seeing that increase in travel, so that’s good. And that is the goal of the Organisation – to bring all of our members along.”

She went on to highlight that a key amount of visitors come from the United States. Also pointing out that the region has seen a significant fall off from the United Kingdom, stating that she feels it is closely tied to the Air Passenger Duty (APD).

As it relates to the region’s progress in its negotiations with Britain, she stated: “I think that as recently as two weeks ago, there were debates that were occurring and we continue to keep it front and centre. I think the Caribbean Tourism Organisation has been very vigilant in our messaging on the impact, not just to the region but also within the British economy of what the removal of this tax or at least the re-bonding of this tax could be to the economies of the UK as well as to our region.” (TL)