Health and wellness services could become a ‘niche’ tourism sector for the Bahamas, an industry executive telling Tribune Business that a local chapter of the Caribbean Spa & Wellness Association (C-SWA) is set to be formed this year.

Following solid media successes in 2012, the Tourism Development Company of T&T (TDC) plans to continue its aggressive sales and marketing and promotional campaign, spear-headed by US public relations firm, Cheryl Andrews Marketing Communications (CAMC), to keep the destination “top of mind” with target consumers.

The Post Office Barometer revealed that in Greece, where room rates are down 40 percent year on year, holiday spending costs were also down 11 percent with holiday makers able to purchase the eight essential items for £57.50. Spain has for the first time topped the most recent poll.

The Caribbean nation of Haiti is launching an ambitious campaign to market the country as a vacation hotspot. Unlike other islands in the region, which draw huge numbers of leisure travelers seeking sun and surf, Haiti is largely overlooked by tourists.

The recently concluded Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2013 saw an increase in pre-scheduled business meetings between buyer and supplier companies with 12,476 appointments scheduled in advance which are 226 more appointments than the 2012 edition of the event. Another positive highlight is the increase in international buyer interest with 22 countries represented, an increase of four more countries over 2012. The event also had six more companies register from Italy versus 2012 registration.