Steupsss….

Is the rising cost of airfare and travel really the Caribbean tourism industry's biggest problem? I don't think so. I think it's the enemy within. It's our crime issue. I live a very cautious existence in Trinidad right now, as do most of the population, and I think it's a fair assumption to say that the crime in Trinidad, Guyana and Jamaica is far worse than in Antigua. According to the BBC the murder rate for Antigua this year was 10... Ha! That's Trinidad's murder rate for a week... However, the disease that is permeating all of our societies is quite obvious. Unfortunately, because of our geographic location, the Caribbean is a major transshipment point of illegal narcotics from South America to the rest of the western hemisphere. And when drugs enter a society, then follow the cheap guns that are put into the hands of uneducated, disenchanted youth that have absolutely no quality of life or self. Therefore, how can we expect them to value the lives of others? The result? Usually murder.

It’s a sad reality, but what’s even worse is that the smaller islands are also affected by this epidemic. The smaller populations (Antigua and Barbuda – 80,100 in 2004) increase the likelihood of an attack. Hence, the unfortunate murder of Honeymooner Catherine Mullany. The Overseas Advisory Council in their 2007 Crime Report claims that the islands of Barbados, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Grenada are all mini-ports for the trading of drugs.

And unfortunately the bad press is loud and clear…

The British newspaper the Independent had a very interesting article about the unfortunate murder of British tourist Catherine Mullany:

“Each…[murder] makes the headlines, but some resonate especially strongly with the public. The attack on Catherine and Benjamin Mullany in Antigua will be one of those. It was a dream honeymoon that turned into the worst nightmare: a bride and groom at the start of their bright lives together, divided by death within weeks of their marriage. The damage caused will go way beyond the couple's grieving loved ones. The average friendly, welcoming citizen of this beautiful island either works in tourism, or depends upon fellow Antiguans who do. This is not a backpacker destination: the island's fragile economy relies on a steady stream of high-spending visitors, and the Mullanys were typical tourists staying at the opulent Cocos Hotel in the south-west of the island – which promises an "Escape to paradise". You and I may soon forget the name of the property and its slogan, but our subconscious association between "Antigua" and "Honeymoon Murder" could endure for years.

With Barbados and St Lucia offering a broadly similar range of attractions, Antigua is likely to see a swift, sharp decline in visitor numbers. But with other Caribbean islands – especially Jamaica – enduring shocking murder rates, concerns about safety could echo across the region.

From the point of view of the islands' image and prospects, the identity – and fate – of the perpetrator who fired the shot that killed Catherine Mullany is largely irrelevant. That catastrophic bullet will reverberate for years.”

The Black Sheep

It seems that Cuba is in some way or another are always in the mainstream media. Whether it being the appointment of Raul Castro as Cuba’s new leader, Fidel’s endless operations, or as of yesterday, a Florida Court ruling that Florida’s travel agents should not have to pay the compulsory US$250,000 bond to organize bookings to the Socialist island. This court ruling is particularly important news for Florida based travel agents as Cuban-Americans are allowed to obtain a visa from the US Federal government and travel back to Cuba once every three years. It’s a substantial market and if Barack Obama has anything to do with it, it’s about to get bigger. If elected, he’s promising “unlimited family travel and remittances to the island”.

However America is still not Cuba’s main market for travel. Because of the lengthy restrictions that are still being placed on the American tourist traveling to Cuba, Europe is “the number one market for Cuba” [World Travel & Tourism Council]. I assume this is because there is somewhat of a shroud of mystery surrounding the “black sheep” of the Caribbean region. We should all know the history – 1959 Fidel Castro overthrows the corrupt government of Fulgencio Batista and places himself at the head of Cuba’s government, resulting in the United States closing it’s borders to the new Communist presence and large amounts of the Cuban upper-class fleeing to Florida.

As a result of Cuba’s bad behaviour, no one is really allowed to talk to them, let alone trade with them. Therefore, Cuba is stuck in somewhat of a time warp from 1959. They sustain their own economy by being mostly self-sufficient and of course through tourism, which supplies their struggling economy with foreign currency. In fact, tourism is their main source of income. My sister lived in Cuba for 6 months and tells me tales of their topsy-turvy society where those who work in the tourism industry are some of the more well paid individuals due to the gratuity of kind visitors, while doctors and the large majority of the Cuban population earn between US$10-15 a month. Everyone said that the death of Fidel would change it all, but despite his various ailments nothing seems to have changed. The majority of the Cuban people still love him, their poverty now do not compare to the hardships and corruption they faced under Batista. At least with Fidel they have food.

But, will Fidel’s death really make that much of a difference? Raul has stepped into his position quite seamlessly. Of course, it will make international headline news. However, change in Cuba will probably not come suddenly. It will be gradual, like all lasting change. It will come from the society itself and it has already begun as a result of tourism. It is hard for Cubans to leave their country. The rigorous process they have to go through can make it pointless at times. From what I understand, it’s worse than the Australian immigration system (which I believe is on par with the US)! Cubans can only travel abroad if “invited” by the destination country. Travel to Cuba is encouraged by the Castro government, but once there foreigners and Cubans are encouraged to stay separate. My sister tells me that this is for the protection of travelers so that they are not swindled out of their money. But I have my doubts. Maybe it’s also to maintain a certain amount of ignorance amongst the Cuban population? We cannot forget the paternalistic nature of a Socialist society. Looking to the state for direction and conformity is of paramount importance.

However, the tourism industry is pulling large droves of the sophisticated European set to the Varadero region - five star Italian hotels line this luxury stretch of beach. With all this money swirling around, Cubans are obviously curious about the outside world. To them, we’re all multi millionaires and they’re realizing that the government is inhibiting their progress. So my point? I believe that change in Cuba will come. Maybe not as soon as we’d think or even like. But it will come because it is always inevitable and it has already started as a result of the tourism industry educating the Cuban people about the outside world. Tourism is fundamentally about the education of a culture and Cuba proves that education should always go both ways – from the teacher to the pupil and visa versa.

Daily Dose

Medical tourism is something that has always been of interest to me (and a few of my friends also). I can recall quite a few conversations on which we’ve had lengthy and serious discussions about which countries have the best practices and prices for various types of plastic surgery. In fact, when I was sent to Costa Rica at age 19, a big draw was their excellent reputation for plastic surgery. I thought it sensible to become acquainted with the country, just in case I came back one day…It’s purely physical vanity of course and I hope to grow out of it (still waiting), but in my opinion, vanity is one of the deadliest of the mortal sins, as it’s indulged by a large majority of the World’s population.

Except for my mother. I promise you that this is not a biased opinion, but my mother is a naturally beautiful person and is healthy for the sake of being healthy. So I was slightly surprised when she recommended that I do a piece on developing medical tourism in the Caribbean region, with a market focus on our Diaspora. I do know a few people who have chosen to have plastic surgery done here in Trinidad and, so far, I’ve heard no horror stories about their experiences. I don’t believe actively targeting the Diaspora in developed nations is something that has been done as yet and it does make complete sense. Foreign currency travels further and pumping a little of it into our economy is always a good thing. Also, individuals can recuperate at home rather than in an impersonal hotel room surrounded by strangers and, of course, what if something goes wrong…

That is not to say, individuals from around the globe do not take the risk. India, for example, has a thriving medical tourism industry as “patients can save 60%-95% of their treatment costs by undergoing treatment in India ” [RNCOS, “Booming Medical Tourism in India”]. Health and well-being are on the top of most “to-do” lists of late and what better destination to discover one’s inner self than India? According to the market research firm RNCOS, “wellness tourism, comprising of spa, yoga and Ayurveda, has a very bright future in India as foreigners are increasingly flocking to India to seek physical and mental healing and in 2007, around 272,000 medical tourists visited India for medical tourism and together, they brought US$ 656 Million in revenues”. The largest problem facing this destination is their inefficient malpractice laws.

I’m sorry to say, I cannot vouch for the Caribbean’s legal systems if a doctor was to perform an ineffective operation, as cases tend to stay in the Courts for ridiculous periods of time. However, many insurance companies have begun to cover trips to India in their health policies because of the competitive prices offered – it’s often much cheaper than the US, UK and the Middle East. If the Caribbean were to further explore this type of tourism, maybe the insurance companies would extend their “safety nets” to this part of the world. Additionally, the Indian government certainly appreciates the benefits of this type of tourism as they have begun “issuing a Medical Visa for tourists who come to India for medical treatment. This visa is valid for a year or the period of treatment, whichever is less, and can be extended by another year. The medical visa enables a tourist to travel to India up to three times in one year. Two family members or attendants can also accompany a patient on a medical visa”. With such provisions being made for this specialized segment of tourism no wonder the Indian medical tourism market is expected to generate over US$ 2.5 Billion in revenues by 2012.

Sustain Sport, Sustain Tourism...

One of my father’s favourite quotes to illustrate the importance of hard work is from Tiger Woods. The tale goes that at one of his numerous golf tournaments a journalist quizzed him on his amazing talent and the fact he made the game look so easy. In response to the interviewer’s gushing, Tiger Woods responded, “…The more I practice, the easier it gets…”

Professional athletes are nothing, if not devoted individuals. Their focus, discipline and pure dedication to their sport are phenomenal. It permeates every aspect of their lives – their daily schedules, their diets, their thought processes. A true athlete will allow their game and talent to consume their lives similar to an artist. Sport is their art and we, the spectator, are simply partaking in their exhibitions. We’ve even churned out a few of these individuals right here in Trinidad…

These individuals make fantastic ambassadors for both the country and the region and, ideally, they should represent the best of a society. However, sport tourism goes beyond the athlete. It is those of us who travel to watch and hopefully enjoy the glories of our teams that make large international sporting ventures financially worthwhile for the countries that host them and there is no doubt that travelling to watch a sporting event has increasingly become an important cultural, social, political and economic activity over the recent years. “Sport tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing segments of the tourism industry, valued globally at $118 billion (Sports Travel). While the global tourism and travel market is expected to grow by five per cent per annum up to 2020, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN WTO) forecast a ten per cent growth for sport tourism.”

The Soca Warriors’ qualification to the 2006 World Cup left a lasting impression internationally and reaffirmed Trinidad’s place on the world platform. I was fortunate enough to visit Frankfurt in October 2007. All I can say is that the Germans I met certainly remembered the Trinidadian contingency that had visited the previous summer. But what about using sport as a catalyst for local tourism? Certainly academic reports note the importance of these events to a larger strategic marketing plan, “the hosting of sporting events is often undertaken for various reasons, including marketing of countries, regions and cities as tourist destinations; to attract business and investment; or the use of events for economic, environmental and social regeneration and revitalization” [Journal of Sport & Tourism]. The first commonwealth conference on sport tourism held in May of this year in the Malaysia, further displayed to an international audience the benefits offered by the sporting package. And touched on themes such as the benefits that can arise, “sport tourism is the glue for the strategic vision of a destination…sport tourism generates peace and goodwill and inspire young people”. Never a bad thing, in my opinion, and something that is desperately needed in the Caribbean region. Even Cuba has gotten on the bandwagon with their Marabana Marathon scheduled to take place in Havana in November.

However, these international sporting events are not always as successful as we would like. Last year’s Cricket World Cup would be the primary example for the Caribbean region. Trinidad certainly did not get the visitor numbers that we expected, but arguably, this may have been due to the games package that our government bid for…

The largest sporting display carded for this year would be the Olympic games and, as we all know, it is to be launched in Beijing China on the 8th of August. The success of these games remains to be seen, however, response to the upcoming games has been far from smooth – riots surrounding the Olympic torch because of China’s treatment of Tibet; displacement of Chinese nationals to build large stadiums; earthquakes and, as of this morning three separate bombs on buses, resulting in a security clamp down for the upcoming games. The last thing China needs is the threat of terrorist attacks.

There is no doubt that sport is a powerful tool for the tourism industry. Similarly to music, sport is an international language, bringing different cultures together in celebration and camaraderie. Needless to say, I have no doubt that this year’s Olympic Games will be an extravaganza and I’m sure I’m not the only person that is anxiously anticipating the opening ceremony, in which China will be displaying their traditional culture and art on an international stage. I think most of the world will be watching and what better way to market your tourism package.

Divi Resorts

For over 40 years, Divi Resorts has provided the idyllic Caribbean vacation and today offers nine premium properties sprinkled across six magnificent Caribbean Islands. With over 1,250 spacious vacation suites and hotel rooms to its well-established name – including the option for vacation ownership and condominium sales – the Divi collection of resorts is the largest hotel brand in the Caribbean. For Divi Resorts, the Caribbean isn’t one of many destinations offered, it is the destination.



Since its founding, Divi Resorts has offered exclusively Caribbean getaways, earning a halo of credibility with guests, wholesale partners, tourism associations and travel agents. Decades of diligent specialization has enabled the brand to create unmatched – and authentic – niche vacations, be it lively, secluded, comfortable or adventurous. And today, with properties having earned the prestigious AAA Three Diamond ratings and other accolades, Divi is widely regarded as the Caribbean aficionado. The Divi Resort collection – premium but unpretentious – touts everything from sugary beaches and indulgent spa services to world-class scuba diving and a true Vegas-style casino. Please see below for an update on a few Divi Resorts that I thought would be of interest:



Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort (www.diviarubaphoenix.com) is situated on Aruba's famed Palm Beach and is backed by a private wildlife sanctuary. Divi Aruba is literally a tropical paradise with clear aqua waves washing up on a beautiful wide beach dotted with thatched cabanas and inviting hammocks. Divi Aruba has been receiving an “extreme makeover” -- renovations have been moving forward with the fabulous results more evident than ever! The development project more than doubles the size of the 101-unit resort. An additional 140 suites in four eight-story buildings will offer studios, one-bedroom suites, and two- and three-bedroom penthouses. The official grand opening is scheduled for December 2008. For more information on the construction that includes a virtual reality video, please visit: http://www.diviresorts.com/DiviAruba/construction.html.



Guests of Divi Aruba Phoenix can also enjoy the amenities at its sister resorts, Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort and Divi Dutch Village Resort, where one can play nine-holes, splash in freshwater swimming pools, play on lit tennis courts, conquer a beach-side rock climbing wall, master a new adventure in one of the water sports center clinics, slip down a waterslide, exercise in an air-conditioned oceanfront fitness center or watch a movie under the stars. Further, guests can choose from 11 restaurants including Windows on Aruba (at Divi Village) – a stylish glass wrapped contemporary restaurant that offers ocean and golf course views. Windows boasts fine international cuisine, a stellar wine list and amazing desserts prepared by award-winning pastry chef, Geert van Mil, who won the best of the Caribbean competition in 2005. One can even hire a Windows chef to prepare a meal in their suite! In addition, Divi Village houses Indulgence by the Sea spa where guests can receive luxurious treatments such as a soothing wrap or scrub, facial and massage and rock therapy. Plus, Divi Village tees up **“Free Kids, Free Golf” until December 23, where kids stay and eat free, and adults get unlimited golf after 3 p.m. (cart included).



Divi Flamingo Beach Resort (www.diviflamingo.com) on Bonaire is colorful and charming and is situated on the leeward side of Bonaire, just steps from world-class diving (the famed Calabas Reef is just 20 yards off the resort’s shoreline). On premises is PADI five-star dive operation, Divi Dive Bonaire, (http://www.diviflamingo.com/DiviFlamingo/bonaire-scuba-diving-vacation.html), which offers dive boats, top-of-the-line gear and a seasoned dive crew. Also on premises is onsite camera shop, Capture Photo. Capture Photo professionals teach guests underwater photography, helping beginners get their feet wet and experienced shutterbugs perfect their shots. Classes are open to children and adults, snorkelers and divers. Capture Photo specializes in both personalized and group underwater photography courses. All classes include post-dive photo analysis and a CD of images taken. Guests at Divi Flamingo can also enjoy two open-air restaurants, a fitness room, water sports rental and a casino.



Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino (www.divicarina.com) on St. Croix is located along a gorgeous beach with crystal clear waters that are trademark of the US Virgin Islands. Hammocks under swaying palms invite guests to relax, while Divi Carina’s Vegas-style casino lures in the adventurous! Spacious oceanfront guestrooms and hillside suites are available at the resort and guests can also make use of the two oceanfront restaurants, two swimming pools, the water sports center, a PADI five-star dive center and dive shop, fitness room, tennis courts and surfside spa. Meeting space and banquet facilities are also available.



Divi Little Bay Beach Resort (http://www.divilittlebay.com) is located on a private peninsula between two beautiful bays in Dutch St. Maarten and is minutes away from the Caribbean’s best shopping and dining. The resort has been getting a “facelift” and construction is almost complete! First, to accommodate the growing demand for vacation ownership at Divi Little Bay, existing hillside units were converted into nine luxury one-bedroom suites, and one 1,900 square-foot, three-bedroom premium suite - the "Presidential Casita." Additionally, as of February 2008, 36 beachfront rooms were transformed into 12 one-bedroom and four two-bedroom oceanfront suites that now feature LCD flat screen TVs, iPod docking stations, granite countertops, hot tubs and more. By the end of 2008, all 210 deluxe oceanfront suites will be fully redesigned (to date, 150 are complete) with granite countertops, rich dark-wood furniture, tile flooring, new kitchen cabinets, top-of-the-line appliances and plush duvet bedding. Finally, Toucan's Restaurant - fronting one of the islands most scenic beaches - will be redesigned in fall 2008. Other amenities include three swimming pools, a sidewalk café, a shopping promenade, a full service spa, tennis courts, fitness center and a water sports center.



** Please note that the “Free Kids, Free Golf” promotion applies to all Divi Resorts. Kids 12 and under can stay and eat free from the children’s menu when accompanied by at least one paying adult. Limit is two children per room. (Booking window until 12/20/08 and travel window until 12/23/08.)



Another great promotion we have currently is The Divi Village All-Inclusive Suites 10 percent off with a minimum three-night stay. (Booking window until 12/20/08 and travel window until 12/23/08.)

Online Gambling in the Caribbean

The below note was recently posted on Jackpot.co.uk on the continued issue of online gambling in Antigua and Barbuda.

"Antigua and Barbuda welcomed Deputy United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador John Veroneau yesterday, whose visit will focus on talks with the Caribbean nation’s Minister of Finance and the Economy, Dr Errol Cort, regarding the ongoing conflict over internet gambling between the two countries.

The dispute began in March 2003, when Antigua and Barbuda first expressed concern to the World Trade Organization (WTO) that the US government was taking actions to stifle their online gambling industry. The Caribbean nation won the preliminary ruling, but a number of appeals by the US has kept the issue in limbo ever since, despite rulings stating that certain aspects of their online laws are illegal and discriminatory. More recently, Antigua has retaliated by seeking authorization to ignore US patent and copyright laws, which would allow them to make internet piracy of US media legal. It has also been speculated that Dr John Ashe, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the WTO, will also take part in the talks.

A deadline had been set for 11th July for the deferral of the case at the WTO, but that date passed with little sign of a resolution. However, hopes are high that this meeting will yield more progress. “I think it is a positive sign that a very high-level US delegation is visiting Antigua and Barbuda to engage in these talks,” commented Dr Cort.

The talks are scheduled to continue into this afternoon."

On a related issue, the EU is also now also investigating the US for its descrimatory practices towards the international online gambling market. "The investigation by the E.U. is the result of a Trade Barrier Regulation complaint filed by the Remote Gambling Association (RGA), which represents the largest remote gambling companies in Europe. The RGA claims the United States is in violation of international trade law by threatening and pursuing criminal prosecutions, forfeitures and other enforcement actions against foreign Internet gambling operators, while allowing domestic U.S. online gambling operators, primarily horse betting, to flourish." It is worth noting that the US laws that have come into question with regards to the online gambling issue are as follows:

The Wire Act (1961) - Prohibits nearly all gambling by telephone and the telegraph, but says nothing about the Internet. Instead of updating this archaic law to include online gambling, the Bush administration passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) - The UIEGA made it illegal for financial institutions to handle gaming transactions between US residents and online gambling sites. However, the UIGEA exempted certain forms of state-sanctioned online gambling such as horse race betting and state lotteries. Hence, US domestic online gambling institutions are protected, unlike international gambling bodies such as those in Antigua and Barbuda.

Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2046) - Introduced by Congressman Barney Frank. This legislation would bring the United States into compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) requirements by regulating Internet gambling and creating a level playing field among domestic and foreign Internet gambling operators.

Welcome to Chillin'

I am a true Diaspora girl. I spent half my life in England and vacations were usually an international affair, spending time with family members across the globe. Trinidadians are everywhere! One such family member is Uncle Lee in Maryland, who truly loves and enjoys the Caribbean. I know this because I see he and Aunty Bev every year at Carnival time and sometimes at Christmas. They are truly ambassadors for the Caribbean as they also journey to Jamaica quite regularly also...Uncle Lee has stories, one of which includes Bob Marley...

As a result, when Uncle Lee sent me through this site on a Jamaican guest house "Chillin", I thought I'd have a look and post it.

Global Leadership Summit from the Myles Munroe Camp

If the Global Leadership Summit on November 10th-13th 2008 promises to be anything like Myles Munroe's motvational speech given at the Annual Tourism Summit in D.C this year, I highly recommend it!

Check out their website at www.bfmmm.com for details. Call Executive Administrator, Mrs. Sheila Francis at (242) 461-6423 for personal assistance.

US Travel Policy to Cuba

Cuba is entering a new era. Raul Castro is the acting President and since assuming power one could wonder about Cuba's foreign policy. It is said that Raul is trying to position the country as a marketing driven society, similar to their communist brothers, China. These steps, arguably, have resulted in the potential change of policy by the US government as Reuters reports below:


A U.S. Senate committee on Thursday approved legislation that would undo tougher travel restrictions to Cuba imposed by the Bush administration in 2004, but Republican opposition could stop the measure.

The change approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee would allow Cuban-Americans to travel to Cuba once a year to visit relatives. It would also allow them to spend more money there, about $160 a day.

The current restrictions allow limited family travel from the U.S. to Cuba -- trips lasting a maximum of 14 days once every three years. Daily spending is limited to $50.

If approved, the change would put U.S. travel policy to Cuba back to where it was before the restrictions were introduced by President George W. Bush in 2004.

The restrictions, aimed at reducing income obtained by Cuba's communist state from the visits, excluded aunts, uncles and first cousins from family travel to the Caribbean island.

Under the bill approved by the committee, Cuban-Americans could seek emergency visits and more relatives would qualify for the trips.

Similar legislation was approved last month by a House panel.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, a North Dakota Democrat pushing to loosen the travel restrictions, cited problems encountered by a U.S. soldier who served in Iraq. Upon returning to the United States, the soldier wanted to visit his sick child in Cuba but was denied the emergency visit.

"That kind of perversion is nonsense," Dorgan said. Democrats are attaching the policy change to a fiscal 2009 spending bill for the Treasury Department and other agencies that might not be completed by Congress until early next year.

The Senate measure, like the House bill, also would loosen agricultural trade restrictions to Cuba imposed by the Bush administration.

It would lift a requirement that forces Cuban importers to prepay all shipments, instead of the more usual arrangement other countries enjoy in which payment is made when the commodities are delivered.

Sen. Sam Brownback, a Kansas Republican, warned the committee that the Bush administration is "quite concerned" about the Cuba policy changes in the bill.

He added that unnamed senators likely would put a hold on the legislation, because of the changes to Cuba policy, blocking its consideration by the full Senate.

Grenada seeks new markets

Yet another Caribbean island is looking into the value of boosting its tourism sector by targeting regional tourism. The Grenada Tourism Board is targeting Jamaica, Trinidad, St Lucia, St Vincent and Barbados to sell its tourism products with the theme “Reborn in Grenada.” Public Relations Officer, Edwin Frank noted regional travel has a huge impact on the survival of the smaller hoteliers in particular.

Nicole Moultrie, senior marketing officer at the Grenada Board of Tourism, said Jamaican visitor arrivals accounted for 3.82 percent of total arrivals from the Caribbean between 2001 to 2007; with 2008 already surpassing the figures for the years under review in terms of arrivals, in the first quarter alone.

Wise Words...

The Annual Tourism Summit in DC last month was truly a success for various reasons. Heads of state and our regional tourism industry met with the US Congress to discuss US policy towards the Caribbean region. CARICOM agreed to back the joint "One Caribbean" marketing campaign and lastly lowly people like me were able to network and "hob nob" with individuals far more important than myself. One such person was Dr. Auliana Poon of Tourism Intelligence International - "a leading consultancy in the field of new tourism".

Hence, Dr. Poon is the ideal person to talk about how a US, and even a world, recession will affect Caribbean tourism. According to Dr. Poon;

"it is no longer a question of whether the US will go into recession, but WHEN and how deep and how long? An expert at the Berlin Hotel Investment Forum this march predicted that the recession should be short-lived, the first six months of 2008 and get better towards the second half. He predicted, however, that it is the UK economy that we should watch out for in terms of recession. We have already seen house prices taking a dip."

These type of statements and warnings have been reiterated by British Chamber of Commerce (BCC), "services companies, which account for three-quarters of the economy, saw 'alarming' declines in the second quarter of 2008". Really? With Gordon Brown, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, at the helm? But confidence, or lack of it, seems to be the issue at hand. BCC Director-general David Frost said: "The temptation for the Government will be to raise business taxes because the exchequer is running out of money. This would be a catastrophe...To put more pressure on business would not only restrict growth and hit the consumer hard, it would further crush what our economy is based on - confidence."

Certainly if the US goes into a recession it will definitely affect the European market. US outbound travel in 2007, according to the U.S Department of Commerce's travel branch the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI), reports that the top five countries where U.S. spent their 2007 travel dollars were: Mexico ($11.1 billion), United Kingdom ($10.5 billion), Canada ($7.6 billion), Germany ($5.9 billion) and Japan ($4.7 billion). With US spending dwindling and not traveling overseas to support the economies of their distant relatives, the Europeans, could this mean a world recession? Well, according to Dr. Poon this is all dependent on "the length, depth and impact of the [US] recession". So, at this stage, only time will tell.

However, what will this mean for the Caribbean region? "Recession in the US will encourage americans to travel less (especially to far away places like Europe) and spend less in general because of lack of confidence and fear...for the tourism sector, the most tourism-dependent economies will be affected e.g. bahamas that gets 90% of arrivals from the US". But apparently, it's not potentially all doom and gloom, "At the same time, americans who travel to Europe and far-away destinations may want to trade up these long and expensive trips for destinations closer to home e.g. the Caribbean".

Dr Poon highlights the following strategies for the Caribbean, "target the high spending, long-stay european markets (good value for money now with the strong Euro) ; develop, market and sell unique experiences (such as festivals and culture) sports, health and wellness, that cannot easily be replicated and that will encourage dedicated travellers to chose the Caribbean". Well, if it's one thing we can offer in the Caribbean, it's diversity and a completely unique experience from island to island. This, also, seems to be the new strategy planned for the joint "One Caribbean" venture being employed by the CTO and the region's tourism heads. Senator Allen Chastanet has already stated that the Caribbean region plans to diversify from the traditional US "bread basket" and actively target new emerging markets such as Russia, who are known for their significant spending when on holiday, China and India.

From the offset, it seems that times may be a bit rocky - "travel volumes may fall and competition will be tougher". But surely there is strength in numbers and with Caribbean tourism banded together as one unified front, let's see if we can pull it off and make Caribbean tourism a truly sustainable industry.

The Americas' Privileged Partner

"Tourism and manufacturing form the pillars of the islands' vibrant economy as new opportunities and incentives are set to attract overseas investment." This is the tag line of the special advertising section of the Wall Street Journal's magazine - Smart Money. Puerto Rico's tourism sector is one of the most important in the Caribbean region. In fact, it is still North America's number 1 destination spot in the West Indies, despite American Airlines' decision to pull flights by their subsidiary air carrier American Eagle. Therefore, it makes sense that Puerto Rico has invested heavily into the expansion of their tourism industry, beyond the traditional sun & fun package already offered. The construction of their Puerto Rico Convention District, built in 2005, is an attempt by the government to enter the burgeoning trade show and convention market, "which in the US and Canada alone is worth some US$12 billion annually". However, the convention centre means great news for Puerto Rico's local hotels. "While capacity, in theory, is in excess of 7,000 people, events catering for 3,500 people are more comfortably handled due to the lack of rooms available...[but], within 18 months, new hotels will be added...and the Puerto Rico Convention District is already taking bookings up to four years ahead".

The project was an initiative between Puerto Rico's public and private sector, with the privately owned commercial sector reportedly footing the majority of the bill - US$900 million to the total of US$1.6 billion. Additionally, according to the Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Convention District Authority, Sanchez Biscombe, "perhaps the most positive aspect that the development of the district is having for the islands' economy and people is that all of this is not costing Puerto Ricans a cent. The US$432 million for the Convention Centre was raised through a bond issue which will be satisfied by the profits from a room tax levied on those who stay here during events, worth US$38 million in the first two and half years alone".

Richard Branson's eco-vision

British billionaire Richard Branson is putting his money where his mouth is, in his quest to cut down the world's carbon footprint and is planning a 20-villa eco-resort on one of his privately-owned Caribbean islands, curiously called, Mosquito Island. (I do wonder how it got its name.) He touts it will be the most environmentally-friendly resort on the globe on completion.

It will be powered entirely by wind turbines and solar panels, with the eco-resort's buildings capturing the trade winds, eliminating the need for air conditioners. The guests' food would come from an organic orchard, and beach buggies would be powered by biofuels.

He believes it is inexcusable for the Caribbean to continue to use dirty fuels when it has natural energy resources available, namely wind and solar, and hopes that the region, through his efforts, can lead the world in renewable alternatives to oil and gas.

But don't call around just yet to find out when you can book a villa, since apart from quite possibly carrying a hefty price tag, it's not a done deal yet. The British Virgin Islands planning department is still reviewing designs, though the government's response has been positive.

According to Dylan Penn, the planner coordinating the government's review of the project, "they are trying to go green and be environmentally friendly with every aspect of the project...which is good for the BVI because we're such a small set of islands."

Branson believes soaring oil prices may spur governments worldwide to develop their own eco-projects. With that in mind, he has created a planned-for consulting group, Virgin Green Owls, which is expected to start advising governments and corporations in carbon neutral projects this August.

Westjet goes to Barbados

As Air Canada prepares to leave Trinidad and Tobago due to high fuel cost in August 2008, Canada's second largest carrier behind Air Canada, WestJet, will be introducing seasonal non-stop service to two new international destinations in the Caribbean: Bridgetown, Barbados (four times weekly from Toronto) and La Romana, Dominican Republic, from November. These new destinations are part of WestJet's enhanced winter schedule, which will also include new service to Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, from various cities across Canada.

WestJet also announced increased frequencies from Toronto to Jamaica, St Lucia and the Dominican Republic and this is with cheaper fares than its competitors.

"With 20 destinations in the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean, we continue to deliver on our international expansion strategy and strengthen our position as a strong and rapidly growing player on the international scene," said Bob Cummings, WestJet Executive Vice-President of Guest Experience and Marketing. "Our current service to key vacation spots is extremely popular and with the addition of Barbados and La Romana, our guests will have more places to go for fun and relaxation in the sun this winter."

CARIBBEAN NATIONS PAY BIG FOR TOURISM PROMOTION

These fast facts are courtesy of Caribbean Property Magazine:

Caribbean nations continue to dole out big bucks to promote their tourism product in the U.S., a CWN analysis of the latest Report of the Attorney General to the Congress of the United States has found.

The semi-annual report for just the first six months in 2007 shows that six Caribbean nations spent approximately 31 million U.S. dollars for public relations services and tourism marketing across the United States.

• The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism was at the very top of the pile, doling out a whopping US$19,199,044 for the six month period ending June 30, 2007 while shelling out another $1,065,011.25 for the six month period ending June 30, 2007.

• The Cayman Islands was right behind, reporting spending $7,227,179.61 for the six month period ending March 31, 2007 for its tourism.

• The Caribbean Tourism Organization in New York reported spending $2,442,903 for the six month period ending June 30, 2007.

• The Jamaica Tourist Board reported paying their public relations agency $547,385.82 for the six month period ending March 31, 2007.

• The Dutch dependent territory of Aruba reported only $95,474.75 for the six month period ending March 31, 2007

• The Turks & Caicos reported a mere spending of $39,985 for the six month period ending March 31, 2007.

Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, Trinidad & Tobago, Dominica, Grenada, St. Martin and Belize, all failed to report their spending on the tourism front.
But they reported spending on lobbyists:

• Barbados said it paid a U.S. policy consultant $76,283.54 for the six month period ending February 28, 2007 to monitor developments in the U.S. list of countries eligible for reduced dividend withholding and U.S. legislation on the `tax haven` measure.

• Belize`s D.C. Embassy reportedly paid out $61,022.00 for the six month period ending June 30, 2007 for legal and other lobbying services.

• The British Virgin Island government paid $50,000.00 for the nine month period ending June 30, 2007 while Trinidad and Tobago paid $344,089.55 for the six month period ending February 28, 2007.

That sure is a lot of money spent to get the USA to visit the Caribbean!

Air Canada cancels Trinidad route

On the heels of discussions about how increasing fuel costs are impacting on the Caribbean, Air Canada has announced the discontinuation of its thrice weekly service to Trinidad and Tobago from August 31.

The Toronto to Port of Spain route is just one of ten routes airline will be cancelling thanks to rising fuel prices. The airline has operated this route for 60 years.

"It's a regrettable decision to have to discontinue after so many years, but it is necessary," Air Canada spokesman John Reber said, adding that an almost doubling of the airline's fuel bill over the past year had caused the airline to cut its overall capacity by seven per cent.