News from the Caribbean:
More Chinese tourists coming to the region, says Air China executive
February 22, 2012
NASSAU, Bahamas -- A top executive at Air China says direct service to The Bahamas is not an option but China’s flag carrier is instead targeting flights to North American hubs and striking up partnerships with local carriers to funnel traffic into the Caribbean.
Global tourism chief to address Caribbean conference
February 22, 2012
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- The top man at the world’s leading international tourism organization will address the Caribbean’s premier tourism gathering, organized by region’s tourism development agency.The secretary general of the World Tourism...
Jamaica seeks to boost airlift
February 18, 2012
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- As part of efforts by Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism to boost airlift, particularly out of the northeast tri-state area of the United States, director of tourism, John Lynch, will leave the island this weekend for the Fifth Routes Americas...
New Caribbean online guide captures what's hot and happening
February 18, 2012
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad -- A boutique Caribbean publishing house is expanding into new media to combine its traditional skills with emerging online talents. The Toute Bagai Publishing Company, producers of MACO publications, believes diversifying...
Caribbean tourism recorded growth in 2011; further growth forecast for 2012
February 16, 2012
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- The Caribbean recorded a rise in tourist arrivals in 2011 when compared to 2010, with further growth forecast this year. The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the authority on Caribbean tourism arrival statistics...
Guyana joins Amazon tourism sector
February 14, 2012
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA) -- Guyana has been formally presented with the Tourism Circuit Manual of the Amazon Tourism Trail during a forum at the Guyana International Conference Centre that was organized by the Ministry of Tourism...
Peruvian airline inaugurates Lima-Havana route
February 10, 2012
HAVANA, Cuba (ACN) -- The LAN Peru national airline inaugurated on Thursday a route that will link Lima and Havana, Cuba. Officials of the tourism ministry said that opening the route will be an A319 aircraft with a capacity of 135 passengers.
Dominica unveils new website
February 9, 2012
ROSEAU, Dominica -- Dominica recently unveiled a new website that brings the Caribbean island's natural beauty to your desktop, making a virtual visit more exciting than ever and making it easier to plan your next trip to the Nature Island!
US announces permanent expedited entry program for international travellers
February 7, 2012
WASHINGTON, USA -- US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano on Monday announced the publication of a final rule that would establish Global Entry -- a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) voluntary initiative.
OECS ministers to meet in St Vincent to address regional air transport issues
February 6, 2012
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent -- Ministers of tourism and civil aviation across OECS member states will converge on St Vincent on Thursday to discuss and devise strategic solutions to tourism and aviation issues and challenges confronting the Eastern Caribbean.
USVI commissioner welcomes Obama's tourism push
February 6, 2012
ST THOMAS, USVI -- United States President Barack Obama's executive order announcing a suite of initiatives to significantly increase travel and tourism in the United States has been welcomed by the tourism chief of the US Virgin Islands as...
LIAT's rescue prescription
February 4, 2012
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BGIS) -- Confronted with staggering losses to the tune of EC$46 million last year, the shareholder governments of LIAT have formulated a short-term rescue plan to stem the deep-seated cash flow problems.
Three Caribbean tourism businesses celebrate firsts
February 4, 2012
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- Three Caribbean tourism businesses have scored “firsts” while enhancing their reputation for high standards of service quality by earning Hospitality Assured (HA) certification, a symbol of service and business excellence.
LIAT to review strategies to ensure survival
February 3, 2012
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves says shareholder governments of the regional airline LIAT have come up with a short-term plan to ensure the survival of the airline.
Letter: Tourism Matters
February 2, 2012
Up until the time of writing, well over 500 major news organisations and publications have reported on the 2012 TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Award winners. Tens of millions of people around the world, among them many that will be making holiday plans...
Saint Lucia property is top Caribbean all-inclusive resort
January 30, 2012
CASTRIES, Saint Lucia -- A little known gem on the island of Saint Lucia has beaten out the much more well-known properties for the prize as the best all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean. The East Winds Inn resort topped the category in the...
Caribbean hotel association executives choose new leader
January 30, 2012
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- Lisa Hamilton, president of the United States Virgin Islands Hotel and Tourism Association, has been elected the new head of the Caribbean Society of Hotel Association Executives (CSHAE).
Visitors to Jamaica to be encouraged to spend more
January 28, 2012
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Dr Wykeham McNeill, said that in promoting growth in the tourism industry, greater emphasis must be placed on earning more from visitors to Jamaica.
Destination wedding guests travel farther, look better and get more intimate, says Bahamas survey
January 28, 2012
NASSAU, Bahamas -- Engaged couples considering options for their big day should add a destination wedding to the top of their lists. According to a recent survey commissioned by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, not only are most Americans...
Guyanese in the Diaspora encouraged to return home for Holi
January 27, 2012
GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- Irfaan Ali, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce (ag) has launched the ‘Rediscover Home’ special package for Holi -- the Festival of Colours -- in an effort to encourage Guyanese in the Diaspora to come back to...
Commentary: LIAT: Time for regional action
January 27, 2012
The three main shareholder governments in LIAT – the airline that is vital to movement of tourists and local alike in the Caribbean – are scheduled to meet on January 31 to consider options for the airline, which lost US$14.8 million last year.
Caribbean bridal market is big business
January 26, 2012
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- Hitching to the seemingly recession-proof bridal market links resorts and destinations to a constant flow of new opportunities, says Caribbean weddings expert Jacqueline Johnson, CEO of MarryCaribbean.com.
Keep up opposition to APD, urge regional tourism chiefs
January 26, 2012
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- The leadership of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) has called on the media to maintain pressure on the British government to repeal its controversial Airline Passenger Duty (APD).
Bahamas to subdivide tourism assets
January 26, 2012
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- Tourism Minister Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, saying that "Bahamas is a region", has announced a plan to divide the archipelago into 16 discrete tourism regions. The minister asserted "islands foment subcultures".
St Kitts records 11 percent increase in passenger arrivals from North America
January 25, 2012
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM) -- The St Kitts Tourism Authority is reporting an 11 percent increase in passenger arrivals from North America to the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport for the period January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011.
Tourism conference to focus on sustaining natural resources
January 25, 2012
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- The Caribbean’s tourism planners, policymakers and stakeholders will receive valuable guidance on how to sustain the region’s resources in the context of climate change, at the Caribbean’s premier sustainable...
New people-to-people program to Cuba launched
January 25, 2012
BOSTON, USA -- Harriet Lewis, chairman of Grand Circle Foundation, has announced "Cuba: A Bridge Between Cultures", a 12-day people-to-people program designed to foster meaningful cultural exchange between Americans and Cubans.
Pope's visit to Cuba in March affords rare opportunity for American Catholics
January 25, 2012
LOS ANGELES, USA -- Pope Benedict XVI announced last month that he will make his first-ever visit to Cuba from March 26-28, 2012, and American Catholics have been granted special travel status for the papal visit.
Signs of recovery, growth in tourism, says Bahamas PM
January 24, 2012
NASSAU, Bahamas -- Noting the growth in tourism towards the end of the last quarter in 2011, Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham projected that the industry would see even greater improvements this year in the region.
Saint Lucia minister's positive first meeting with American Airlines
January 24, 2012
CASTRIES, Saint Lucia -- The first official meeting between Saint Lucia's newly-appointed tourism minister and American Airlines has been described as positive and will be followed by further sessions to iron out future relations.
Better airlift needed for Caribbean, says tourism chief
January 24, 2012
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- Despite the region spending millions of dollars to secure airlift to the Caribbean, ticket prices are still too high and remain insufficient to sustain the industry, according to a tourism leader.
Cuban province shows record tourist arrivals in 2011
January 23, 2012
HOLGUIN, Cuba (ACN) -- The province of Holguin, considered the third top tourist area of Cuba, after Varadero and Havana, reached a peak in tourist arrivals in 2011, with more than 284,000 foreign visitors, 10% more than in the previous year.
Invest in romance, counsels Saint Lucia resort owner
January 23, 2012
SOUFRIERE, Saint Lucia -- When things get tough, look beyond the usual, counsels a seasoned Saint Lucian businesswoman and hotelier. "We need to think creatively to increase our share of world tourism," said Eroline Lamontagne.
Hotel group sees Caribbean business uptick
January 23, 2012
MARYLAND, USA -- The global economy is improving and the Caribbean should see a resurgent travel demand and new development and franchise affiliations, according to global lodging company, Choice Hotels International.
Commentary: Concordia another Titanic? Not quite...
January 20, 2012
No doubt it was a harrowing experience for all passengers when the luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia ran aground and capsized off Italy’s Tuscan coast last Friday night. And I’m sure the tales of survival will soon be the stuff of legend.
Antigua-Barbuda to launch online travel agency
January 19, 2012
MIAMI, USA -- The Antigua Hotels & Tourist Association (AHTA) has signed an agreement with Regatta Travel Solutions to launch BookAntiguaNow.com. Regatta has launched similar projects in Puerto Rico, Barbados, Grenada and Jamaica.
US Virgin Islands targets West Indians with Tempo
January 19, 2012
NEW JERSEY, USA -- The United States Virgin Islands is offering an extra warm welcome this year to its Caribbean neighbours and to the region's Diaspora. After hosting a number of Caribbean and Caribbean-American journalists, editors and...
Bahamas makes top ten ethical countries list
January 18, 2012
NASSAU, Bahamas -- The Bahamas has been voted among the top ten ethical countries in the developing world by Ethicaltraveler.org. This is a first for The Bahamas, which is one of two Caribbean countries to make the list this year.
Commentary: Airlines feed diverse diets
January 18, 2012
No airline will ever get a Michelin star for its food. But many now are at least making an effort to accommodate the diverse ethnic, religious and nutritional diets of their passengers. When my editor learned I was working on this story he responded...
Jamaica named world's leading cruise and honeymoon destination
January 17, 2012
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- Newly appointed Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Dr Wykeham McNeill, has described Jamaica’s resounding success at the 2011 World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala Ceremony, held on January 11 in Doha...
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