subject: The Caribbean Becoming A Hub For Stop-over Arrivals Following A Record Year [print this page] In the most recent coverage provided at the 30TH Annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace, it was revealed that the Caribbean is on course to smash its record for stop-over arrivals once the 2011 statistics have been published.
This has come as a result of an address made by Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) President Josef Forstmayr at the beginning of the event, 2010 was a record year for stop-over arrivals with 23.1 million tourists. The (Caribbean Tourism Organization's) forecast for 2011 is for a 4% growth for another record of 24 million arrivals.
The event ran for 3 days and drew around 350 buyers representing 18 countries. The event is among the most important conventions and the CHTA further provides vital benefits to hoteliers.
Additionally stated by Forstmayr, the Caribbean continues to be the worlds most reliant tourist destination. He further added that the 15,000 meetings which happened at the event will boost the Caribbean nations economies which will directly impact on Caribbean citizens by increasing the standard of living.
Without a doubt our buyers who are attending Caribbean Travel Marketplace are the architects for these statistics, he said with regards to the new record. That said, the CHTA continues to work hard in the best interests of the tourism industry. Through our advocacy program Tourism Is Key we have now run this tourism promotion and awareness campaign in eleven countries.
The four core aspects of the Tourism is Key campaign are: constant support from the national governments and inhabitants; integrating tourism links into industry, agriculture and services; regional integration and regional marketing.
Our leaders and the public have to agree so that travel and tourism will get the necessary backing it requires as the Caribbeans most important export industry, he stated. It is the quickest way to create jobs, boost the economy and generate income for all.
In relation to airlifts, however, Forstmayr said, CHTA predicted that in 2010 the Caribbean authorities collectively contributed $45 million to secure air-lift only to discover that our airlift is not fit for purpose and too expensive for our holidaymakers.
Moreover intra-Caribbean tourism once represented 13% of the regions tourism he said. Caribbean countries combined consist of 40 million people. However, in part to the lack of a competitive and regional airline, regional tourism has been hindered by over inflated ticket prices and an awkward and impractical network.
