Martinique was the runaway winner in the recent ”Best Caribbean Destination” poll conducted by About.com’s Caribbean Travel site. The Isle of Flowers was the preferred choice of 38 per cent of the 3,800 voters, outpacing second place finishers Dominica and St Kitts and Nevis, each with 26 percent of the vote. Among the seven other finalists placing even further behind Martinique were such notables as Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, the Mexican Caribbean (Cancun, Cozumel, etc.), Costa Rica, Antigua and Barbuda and St Maarten/St Martin.
Muriel Wiltord, director Americas for the Martinique Promotion Bureau /CMT USA, commented on the survey results, stating: "This is a wonderful affirmation that our special brand of tourism product, characterised by intimate boutique hotels and emphasizing nature, a rich cultural heritage, romance, scuba diving and gastronomy is winning the hearts of US travelers.”
The About.com honour is the latest in a recent string of accolades for Martinique. In November 2009, Caribbean World Magazine named Martinique “Best Gourmet Island of the Year” for a second consecutive year. This followed an impressive win by Martinique in an October 2009 Caribbean Travel + Life Magazine survey asking readers to name their favorite Caribbean destination for delectable dining. Martinique garnered 43.3 per cent of the 807 votes cast over the course of the one-month survey period.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Quoting the Caribbean
This was received in my inbox from Marketplace Excellence, a full service, integrated mass communications agency committed to introducing excellence in the fields of public relations, marketing and media coaching. It's called Quotable Caribbean.
"I regret the entire affair and it has been deeply painful for me, members of my family and you who have been hurt and disappointed; in hindsight, the party should never have been involved in the way that it did, and I should never have allowed it, but I must express responsibility for it and express my remorse to the nation." - Bruce Golding, Prime Minister of Jamaica ... on The "Dudus" Affair. (CMC)
"When you can earn US$800,000 for playing six weeks in the IPL (Indian Premier League), why waste six years trying to earn that sort of money in Test cricket? ... If this isn't controlled properly, Test cricket will die." - Jamaican Michael Holding, West Indies fast bowling cricket legend. (Barbados Nation)
"I think what we're going to try to do is take the best of what we've had over the past 20 years. So it's actually to sit down and review this particular (jazz) festival (and) look at the things that worked very very well." - Senator Allen Chastanet, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Saint Lucia ... on plans for next year's 20th anniversary of Saint Lucia Jazz. (Barbados Nation)
"With the tremendous success of the Fifth Summit of the Americas and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, both held in 2009, we know that Trinidad & Tobago has made an indelible mark on the international and regional business travel market." - Ernest Littles, President of the Tourism Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago.
"There is an entire generation known as 'Generation Y' for whom the internet, mobile connectivity and on-demand content are essential ... and CSN (The Caribbean Streaming Network) will feed their insatiable appetite for digital content, by providing immediately available content on-the go. Our products and services are geared towards providing the consumer access to the vibrant cultures as well as the various business, hospitality and entertainment services that the Caribbean has to offer." - Barbadian Andrew Jemmott, Chairman and CEO of The Caribbean Streaming Network.
"The Jamaican and Trinidadian governments have to be commended for recognising that airlines are in fact aerial highways which not only bring tourism dollars into the country but also lift the region's goods and services to the global market. Like terrestrial road systems and bridges, airlines are aerial highways and are, therefore, an integral part of the infrastructure and worthy of direct and sustained government investment." - Lelei LeLaulu, Chair of the Leadership Council of the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management at The George Washington University's School of Business; and Vice President of Caribbean Media Exchange. (Trinidad Express)
"What kind of man would live where there is no daring? I don't believe in taking foolish chances, but nothing can be accomplished without taking any chance at all." - Charles A. Lindbergh, American aviator.
"I regret the entire affair and it has been deeply painful for me, members of my family and you who have been hurt and disappointed; in hindsight, the party should never have been involved in the way that it did, and I should never have allowed it, but I must express responsibility for it and express my remorse to the nation." - Bruce Golding, Prime Minister of Jamaica ... on The "Dudus" Affair. (CMC)"When you can earn US$800,000 for playing six weeks in the IPL (Indian Premier League), why waste six years trying to earn that sort of money in Test cricket? ... If this isn't controlled properly, Test cricket will die." - Jamaican Michael Holding, West Indies fast bowling cricket legend. (Barbados Nation)
"I think what we're going to try to do is take the best of what we've had over the past 20 years. So it's actually to sit down and review this particular (jazz) festival (and) look at the things that worked very very well." - Senator Allen Chastanet, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Saint Lucia ... on plans for next year's 20th anniversary of Saint Lucia Jazz. (Barbados Nation)
"With the tremendous success of the Fifth Summit of the Americas and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, both held in 2009, we know that Trinidad & Tobago has made an indelible mark on the international and regional business travel market." - Ernest Littles, President of the Tourism Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago.
"There is an entire generation known as 'Generation Y' for whom the internet, mobile connectivity and on-demand content are essential ... and CSN (The Caribbean Streaming Network) will feed their insatiable appetite for digital content, by providing immediately available content on-the go. Our products and services are geared towards providing the consumer access to the vibrant cultures as well as the various business, hospitality and entertainment services that the Caribbean has to offer." - Barbadian Andrew Jemmott, Chairman and CEO of The Caribbean Streaming Network.
"The Jamaican and Trinidadian governments have to be commended for recognising that airlines are in fact aerial highways which not only bring tourism dollars into the country but also lift the region's goods and services to the global market. Like terrestrial road systems and bridges, airlines are aerial highways and are, therefore, an integral part of the infrastructure and worthy of direct and sustained government investment." - Lelei LeLaulu, Chair of the Leadership Council of the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management at The George Washington University's School of Business; and Vice President of Caribbean Media Exchange. (Trinidad Express)
"What kind of man would live where there is no daring? I don't believe in taking foolish chances, but nothing can be accomplished without taking any chance at all." - Charles A. Lindbergh, American aviator.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Caribbean tourism betting on casinos
As I tweeted about the passing of the casino gambling bill in Jamaica earlier this week, I wondered how much of an impact casinos really have on tourism. Tourism, was, after all, one of the reasons given for the introduction of the bill which has been undergoing debate for almost a year.
Senator Arthur Williams, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, reminded Jamaicans that the Casino Act 2010 would expand their tourism product, increase earnings, generate employment and increase tax revenues. In short, it would provide a much needed economic boon.
Instead of allowing the wanton establishment of casinos all over the island, the Act cleverly allows casinos in the context of luxury integrated resort developments, of which casino gaming will be but one component. It is expected that these resorts will also provide other tourist attractions such as shopping, sports and service centres. The Act states that casino gaming should be no more than 20 per cent of the total investment in any such approved resort.
Casinos are not new to the Caribbean; islands such as the Bahamas, which is facing a challenge from the US where more and more states are legalising gaming, has had a long-established relationship with casinos.
However, in recent times, it seems more islands are latching on to the idea of gambling as a tourism revenue earner, possibly as a response to the drop in tourist arrivals experienced last year.
Guyana, for one, welcomed its first in-house casino in March when the Princess Hotel opened theirs under legislation which states that the issuance of casino premises licenses will be granted only to a new hotel or resort complex which has a minimum of 150 rooms allocated for accommodation.
President Bharath Jagdeo, who apparently finds gambling distasteful, said his government is allowing it as a way for investors in the hotel business to accelerate their profitability. He also said the number of casinos in the country will be limited and they will be strictly monitored.
Barbados, which my Internet research shows has only one casino, is currently working on legislation to allow cruise ships to open their casinos while docked on the island. This is all part of the government's attempt to develop the island's cruise tourism and a task force has been set up to look at how they could improve in that area.
So are all these countries on the right track in choosing casino gambling as a boost to their tourism product?
Moral and spiritual arguments aside, casino gambling can serve to help with the development of the tourism industry.
Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes explored this topic in a research paper on the question: How can casino gaming be used to maximise the benefits for tourism destinations?
The authors, Ki-Joon Back and John Bowen, argued that "casinos that target tourists maximise the benefits to their region's citizens and minimise gaming's negative effects. Las Vegas' transformation from a gaming destination into a meeting destination with gaming provides evidence of how gaming can support tourism."
They said a well-managed gaming operation, which provides a good value proposition to its target market, with fair government regulations and taxation, can produce good income. "We believe that a positive use of this income is to create amenities, such as restaurants, entertainment, and spas that can be used as a catalyst to attract both business tourism, in the form of meetings, and leisure tourism. These amenities can become profit centers in themselves; so, once created, they also provide a return on their investment."
Senator Arthur Williams, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, reminded Jamaicans that the Casino Act 2010 would expand their tourism product, increase earnings, generate employment and increase tax revenues. In short, it would provide a much needed economic boon.
Instead of allowing the wanton establishment of casinos all over the island, the Act cleverly allows casinos in the context of luxury integrated resort developments, of which casino gaming will be but one component. It is expected that these resorts will also provide other tourist attractions such as shopping, sports and service centres. The Act states that casino gaming should be no more than 20 per cent of the total investment in any such approved resort.
Casinos are not new to the Caribbean; islands such as the Bahamas, which is facing a challenge from the US where more and more states are legalising gaming, has had a long-established relationship with casinos.
However, in recent times, it seems more islands are latching on to the idea of gambling as a tourism revenue earner, possibly as a response to the drop in tourist arrivals experienced last year.
Guyana, for one, welcomed its first in-house casino in March when the Princess Hotel opened theirs under legislation which states that the issuance of casino premises licenses will be granted only to a new hotel or resort complex which has a minimum of 150 rooms allocated for accommodation.
President Bharath Jagdeo, who apparently finds gambling distasteful, said his government is allowing it as a way for investors in the hotel business to accelerate their profitability. He also said the number of casinos in the country will be limited and they will be strictly monitored.
Barbados, which my Internet research shows has only one casino, is currently working on legislation to allow cruise ships to open their casinos while docked on the island. This is all part of the government's attempt to develop the island's cruise tourism and a task force has been set up to look at how they could improve in that area.
So are all these countries on the right track in choosing casino gambling as a boost to their tourism product?
Moral and spiritual arguments aside, casino gambling can serve to help with the development of the tourism industry.
Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes explored this topic in a research paper on the question: How can casino gaming be used to maximise the benefits for tourism destinations?
The authors, Ki-Joon Back and John Bowen, argued that "casinos that target tourists maximise the benefits to their region's citizens and minimise gaming's negative effects. Las Vegas' transformation from a gaming destination into a meeting destination with gaming provides evidence of how gaming can support tourism."
They said a well-managed gaming operation, which provides a good value proposition to its target market, with fair government regulations and taxation, can produce good income. "We believe that a positive use of this income is to create amenities, such as restaurants, entertainment, and spas that can be used as a catalyst to attract both business tourism, in the form of meetings, and leisure tourism. These amenities can become profit centers in themselves; so, once created, they also provide a return on their investment."
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Meka Monitor...tracking top tourism news in the month of April
From today we are introducing the Meka Monitor which looks back at the top happenings in the region that impacts on tourism. We start with a retrospective on the month of April.
1.Two becomes one: Caribbean Airlines take over of Air Jamaica announced to become official on May 1. CAL chairman Arthur Lok Jack said the Trinidad government will pump $50 millioninto the deal.
2.Not good for business: Fifteen named storms expected in above average Hurricane season.
3.Great news! New report showed decline in Caribbean arrivals slowed at end of 2009 and is likely to improve in 2010.
4.Caribbean's gain: Volcanic ash grounded air traffic in Europe and helps boost tourism as tourists are stranded in the Caribbean
5.Improving service: Tourism ministers urged LIAT to improve its service. Read More Here
6.Pure beauty: Islands Magazine named Dominica the second most pure country
7.To market, to market Mon: Jamaica announced as venue for Caribbean Marketplace in 2011.
8.Best advertisement: The Bahamas got awesome props in Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too which premiered earlier in April. Read about the benefits to the island here
9.Keeping ahead of the competition: Jamaica's tourism minister outlined plansto keep Jamaican tourism as the leader in the Caribbean
10.No laurel resting here: St Kitt's tourism stakeholders meet to strategise on enhancing their tourism product.
1.Two becomes one: Caribbean Airlines take over of Air Jamaica announced to become official on May 1. CAL chairman Arthur Lok Jack said the Trinidad government will pump $50 millioninto the deal.
2.Not good for business: Fifteen named storms expected in above average Hurricane season.
3.Great news! New report showed decline in Caribbean arrivals slowed at end of 2009 and is likely to improve in 2010.
4.Caribbean's gain: Volcanic ash grounded air traffic in Europe and helps boost tourism as tourists are stranded in the Caribbean
5.Improving service: Tourism ministers urged LIAT to improve its service. Read More Here
6.Pure beauty: Islands Magazine named Dominica the second most pure country
7.To market, to market Mon: Jamaica announced as venue for Caribbean Marketplace in 2011.
8.Best advertisement: The Bahamas got awesome props in Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too which premiered earlier in April. Read about the benefits to the island here
9.Keeping ahead of the competition: Jamaica's tourism minister outlined plansto keep Jamaican tourism as the leader in the Caribbean
10.No laurel resting here: St Kitt's tourism stakeholders meet to strategise on enhancing their tourism product.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Is the Caribbean ready to deal with a major earthquake
There was a 3.9 earthquake in the Gulf of Paria today. The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre located in St Augustine, Trinidad, said the earthquake was felt in the Central part of Trinidad.
Though a minor event, the news of the tremor will do nothing to ease an already unsettled Caribbean populace, now earthquake wary after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti back in January, a 5.8-magnitude tremor in the vicinity of the Cayman Islands a few days later and the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile a few weeks ago.
Located in the Hurricane belt, the Caribbean, especially those islands that get battered every year, are pretty prepared for the Hurricane season.
The specter of more earthquakes in the future raises the important question of how ready the Caribbean is to handle large magnitude tremors including any resultant Tsunamis. Currently, there are no Tsunami warning systems in the Caribbean but according to the The Caribbean Disaster Management Agency a multinational, multiagency initiative to establish a program for reducing the risk to various coastal hazards in the Caribbean and adjacent regions (Central and South American countries along the Caribbean Basin) is underway but it may be several years before this is complete.
Following the earthquake in Chile, many were quick to point out that a major reason for a smaller scale of destruction was due to the country's stronger building codes, as compared to Haiti, where practically none existed and there was little to no planning for the construction of houses.
In Trinidad and Tobago, there has been a call for the establishment of formal building codes and warnings that the islands could face similar damage to Haiti if a major earthquake strikes.
The blow the region's fragile tourism industry could face if more major earthquakes strike is obvious. One just has to look at Haiti that was just getting its tourism legs back. Many of its major hotels have been damaged and airlines canceled flights.
The good news is that Caribbean governments have been shocked into action with organisations such as the Association of Caribbean States rallying Governments to implement early warning systems and other measures to reduce widespread destruction in the event of a major natural disaster.
We can only pray some of these measures are put into place before another large-scale disaster strikes.
Though a minor event, the news of the tremor will do nothing to ease an already unsettled Caribbean populace, now earthquake wary after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti back in January, a 5.8-magnitude tremor in the vicinity of the Cayman Islands a few days later and the 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile a few weeks ago.
Located in the Hurricane belt, the Caribbean, especially those islands that get battered every year, are pretty prepared for the Hurricane season.
The specter of more earthquakes in the future raises the important question of how ready the Caribbean is to handle large magnitude tremors including any resultant Tsunamis. Currently, there are no Tsunami warning systems in the Caribbean but according to the The Caribbean Disaster Management Agency a multinational, multiagency initiative to establish a program for reducing the risk to various coastal hazards in the Caribbean and adjacent regions (Central and South American countries along the Caribbean Basin) is underway but it may be several years before this is complete.
Following the earthquake in Chile, many were quick to point out that a major reason for a smaller scale of destruction was due to the country's stronger building codes, as compared to Haiti, where practically none existed and there was little to no planning for the construction of houses.
In Trinidad and Tobago, there has been a call for the establishment of formal building codes and warnings that the islands could face similar damage to Haiti if a major earthquake strikes.
The blow the region's fragile tourism industry could face if more major earthquakes strike is obvious. One just has to look at Haiti that was just getting its tourism legs back. Many of its major hotels have been damaged and airlines canceled flights.
The good news is that Caribbean governments have been shocked into action with organisations such as the Association of Caribbean States rallying Governments to implement early warning systems and other measures to reduce widespread destruction in the event of a major natural disaster.
We can only pray some of these measures are put into place before another large-scale disaster strikes.
St Kitt's luxury real estate market gets boost from Ocean's Edge Resorts
Ocean's Edge Resort in St Kitts recently celebrated the completion of its first villa.
Located 180 feet above sea level, this 4,500 square-foot luxury villa includes three bedrooms plus a guest house pavilion and a 25 foot long infinity edge pool. The villa, with its three terraces, offers spectacular views to the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, the Royal St Kitts Golf Course and St Kitts’ lush landscape of mountains and rainforest.
Robert Scott, Regional Director at Ocean’s Edge described the completion of the villa as an exciting milestone. "we are proud to have completed and handed over the finished product to our esteemed villa owners. The vision is now a reality, and we are thrilled."
Ocean’s Edge, located on the Eastern side of the island overlooking frigate bay, is a resort development with plans for 190 condominiums and 32 villa lots for bespoke villas. To date, of the 15 villa plots currently released for sale, nine have been sold with construction of four villas currently underway and commencement of a further two villas set to begin shortly.
Clients with an interest in purchasing property can participate in a three-night subsidized inspection trip to experience St Kitts and Ocean’s Edge first hand. For more information on Ocean’s Edge Resort please email info@oceansedgestkitts.com or visit www.oceansedgestkitts.com
Located 180 feet above sea level, this 4,500 square-foot luxury villa includes three bedrooms plus a guest house pavilion and a 25 foot long infinity edge pool. The villa, with its three terraces, offers spectacular views to the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, the Royal St Kitts Golf Course and St Kitts’ lush landscape of mountains and rainforest.
Robert Scott, Regional Director at Ocean’s Edge described the completion of the villa as an exciting milestone. "we are proud to have completed and handed over the finished product to our esteemed villa owners. The vision is now a reality, and we are thrilled."
Ocean’s Edge, located on the Eastern side of the island overlooking frigate bay, is a resort development with plans for 190 condominiums and 32 villa lots for bespoke villas. To date, of the 15 villa plots currently released for sale, nine have been sold with construction of four villas currently underway and commencement of a further two villas set to begin shortly.
Clients with an interest in purchasing property can participate in a three-night subsidized inspection trip to experience St Kitts and Ocean’s Edge first hand. For more information on Ocean’s Edge Resort please email info@oceansedgestkitts.com or visit www.oceansedgestkitts.com
Monday, March 1, 2010
New blogsite showcases lesser known islands in the Caribbean
UncommonCaribbean.com, a new blogsite designed to promote travel to the Caribbean by spotlighting the region’s lesser-known charms, celebrates its official launch today. The site is the brainchild of two brothers from St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands – Steve Bennett (38), a public relations executive with nearly 20 years of experience in Caribbean travel and tourism marketing, and his brother Patrick Bennett (34), a New York-based advertising creative director with such notable clients as Samsung, Kraft, Six Flags, and Verizon on his resume.
Uncommon Caribbean features a bright, clean design with subtle hints of a treasure map motif in line with the site’s mission to introduce readers to the Caribbean’s “undiscovered” charms. New copy content is added to the site each weekday covering a wide range of topics – gastronomy and spirits, vacation deals, photography, nightlife, resorts, personalities and more – in brief, easy-to-read lengths.
Steve commented on the site, saying: “Uncommon Caribbean is a labor of love for us that we hope entertains and inspires people to get out and explore new and different elements of the region that perhaps they’ve never tried in the past, or ever even heard about.”
Patrick added: “To me, the best travel experiences come from really delving into a foreign culture and experiencing it first hand. Helping people figure out how to do this in the Caribbean is really at the heart of what we’re trying to accomplish with the site.”
For more information about Uncommon Caribbean, please visit www.uncommoncaribbean.com.
Uncommon Caribbean features a bright, clean design with subtle hints of a treasure map motif in line with the site’s mission to introduce readers to the Caribbean’s “undiscovered” charms. New copy content is added to the site each weekday covering a wide range of topics – gastronomy and spirits, vacation deals, photography, nightlife, resorts, personalities and more – in brief, easy-to-read lengths.
Steve commented on the site, saying: “Uncommon Caribbean is a labor of love for us that we hope entertains and inspires people to get out and explore new and different elements of the region that perhaps they’ve never tried in the past, or ever even heard about.”
Patrick added: “To me, the best travel experiences come from really delving into a foreign culture and experiencing it first hand. Helping people figure out how to do this in the Caribbean is really at the heart of what we’re trying to accomplish with the site.”
For more information about Uncommon Caribbean, please visit www.uncommoncaribbean.com.
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