The No. 1 operator of cruises to Cuba reported last week that phone inquiries had doubled since new U.S. regulations regarding travel to Cuba were issued two weeks ago, and 50% of the calls were coming from U.S. citizens.

The Caribbean welcomed a record 26.3 million tourists in 2014. The 26.3 million visitors represent 1.3 million more than in 2013. These visitors contributed a record US$29.2 billion to Caribbean economies, a 3.9 percent rise over the US$28 billion that visitors spent in 2013.

South Africa’s new tourism campaign, #MeetSouthAfrica to attract more Indian travellers to the country has really been quite a puller. The country is showcasing its best locales and  the diversity available in South Africa.

Estimates by the U.S. Office of Travel & Tourism Industries indicate that visits to the Caribbean from the U.S. rose 9.6 percent through November 2014 and are on track to set a new all-time record, according to Resonance Consultancy Ltd.

This week, The Bahamas began the process of evaluating the sustainability of Nassau’s tourism sector through its participation in the Sustainable Destination Alliance for the Americas (SDAA), supported by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and other partners.

Jamaica recorded a 3.6 per cent increase in tourist arrivals in 2014, Tourism and Entertainment Minister, Dr. Wykeham McNeill has announced. McNeill said that the island had received an estimated US$2.2 billion in revenue from the sector last year, a 5.8 per cent increase over the similar period in 2013.