The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is forecasting a rebound in visitor arrivals in 2010 with moderate growth expected for the region on the heels of positive indicators from the fourth quarter of 2009.
According to Winfield Griffith, director of research and information technology, the CTO is expecting tourism in the region to grow by up to three percent in 2010 as the global economy continues to see recovery.
Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based luxury hospitality company and member of Dubai Holding, has been appointed by Thailand’s Country Group to manage a luxury hotel in the heart of Bangkok.
Norwegian continues the strong passenger growth. In January, Norwegian transported 827,743 passengers which is a 28 percent increase from the same period last year. This month’s strong passenger growth and load factor is very satisfactory, particularly taking into consideration that January is seasonally the weakest month of the year.
Puerto Rican tourism officials found themselves scrambling this week to respond to a two-part report on CNN titled “Poisoned Paradise” that revealed lingering health concerns about Vieques, an island that lies seven miles off the east coast of Puerto Rico.
Data released by Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism (Sectur) indicated that tourist arrivals continued to fall in 2009, totaling 12.6 million in the first seven months of the year, a fall of 6.6 percent year-on-year (y-o-y). This was an improvement over H209, however, when arrivals fell by 19.2 percent y-o-y.
Jamaica racked up a 3.6 percent increase in visitors in 2009 over 2008, according to John Lynch, director of tourism.