As The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) Marketplace closed its doors for the 30th time last week, the Caribbean is now preparing to reap the rewards of its premier marketing event. The CHTA is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said she intends to promote tourism and the unique eco resources of this country on her foreign missions. She made the remark yesterday in delivering the feature address at the official opening of the Valencia visitor centre.

The Cayman Islands hosted 309,091 overnight visitors in 2011, a 7.2 percent increase over 2010 and the Cayman Islands’ highest overnight guest total in 10 years, said McKeeva Bush, the country’s premier and minister for finance, tourism and development.

The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism is anticipating a strong 2012 following a good year in 2011. In addition to this, Caribbean Travel and Life magazine will run a significant spread on the Cayman Islands this March.

New York City ended the year with a new record of 50.5 million visitors, slightly higher than the 50.2 million estimated visitors announced in December, according to NYC & Company, the city’s convention and visitors bureau.

There has to be a strong consensus of Caribbean leaders and the public so travel and tourism will receive the full support it needs as the Caribbean’s most vital export industry, said Josef Forstmayr of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.