Caribbean Destinations Look to the Road Ahead with Confidence

The Caribbean Marketplace 2006 has come to a close and the message was heard loud and clear: industry players are upbeat about 2006, looking forward to the Cricket World Cup in 2007 and have enough airlift and rooms to meet this year´s demand.

Back-to-back meetings by industry buyers and sellers was the main activity of the event in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The aim was to meet the expectations of consumers and satisfy the globe´s love affair with the Caribbean.

With razor-thin budgets, many destinations are now realizing the importance of marketing the region as a whole rather than going it alone.

And with the Caribbean competing for the global tourist dollar with other regions –Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific- the consensus view is that islands need a collective effort to attract tourists to the region.

“We share the same dream...to develop dynamic tourism strategies in our region to effectively contribute to our economic growth and financial stability,” says Terestella Gonzalez Denton, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. “Although we thrive on individual achievements, we promote and contribute to a united agenda.”

Once tourists have been to the Caribbean, then the islands see an opportunity to differentiate themselves. Repeat visits are prevalent and travelers are keen to explore other islands.

Last year may have been one of the worst for hurricanes on record but recovery is already in progress and it is clear from government responses that islands being able to survive and thrive.

The presence of the Cricket World Cup 2007 in the Caribbean looks set to boost tourism and highlight the region´s destinations, with islands investing in sports infrastructure and other satellite events.