- The Caribbean Looks to its Largest Island.
HOW WILL A POSSIBLE AVALANCHE OF U.S. TOURISTS IAMPACT ON THE CARIBBEAN? A FEW TOP STAKEHOLDERS HAVE A SAY ON THIS MATTER
Our Competition Is Not the Island Next Door
We recognize the fact that one of our strengths is our diversity. People come to the Caribbean for the opportunity to experience different cultures, different aspects of our history and topography. The tourism market in the whole Caribbean has to work as a complement instead of competition. There is more that binds us than separates us.”
“As for those Caribbean islands that are deeply worried over the U.S.-Cuba relation and Cuba’s tremendous growth in terms of U.S. travelers, CTO is working with both Cuba and those island nations to dispel those fears and see this as a new opportunity for the whole region.”
“It is an opportunity for the entire region. Whatever the magnet is, whether it’s Cuba or some other attraction, it is bringing large numbers of new people into the Caribbean and that’s a good thing. It is for all of us to make sure that we minimize the amount of dislocation. Let’s get them into the Caribbean first. Whatever brings them here, that’s a good thing.”
Hugh Riley
Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)
Cuba Will Be a Significant Player
The bottom line is we believe that Cuba will be a significant player out of the U.S., but we think that our target market is somewhat different. We also think that we have some time on our side in terms of Cuba’s development of infrastructure, rooms and so on. They already have a tremendous number of rooms and they have been in the business for a long time. We have been competing with them and I think we’ll continue to do so. Cuba has been a competitor for a very long time and it has been in the tourism business for an extremely long time too. We’ve competed with Cuba out of Europe, the UK, and we believe we’ve done quite well.
“I think the opening up to the U.S. has been more dramatic in the sense of how the U.S. has approached, how it’s been played out in the media and all of these U.S. airlines are suddenly flying in at the same time. I say to people all the time that we didn’t have the same reaction when Mexico opened up and look how much they are doing. We’ve seen Mexico, D.R., we’ve seen all the competition grow in the Caribbean region.
“We tend to say that it’s not that you ignore Cuba, but it’s just that we need to manage it in the same context. That’s really our approach.”
William Griffith
Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. CEO
We Don’t See Threats There
Multidestination is an incredible opportunity for the Caribbean and we believe we can do it because we have some unique cultural experiences and people want to have some exposure to it. Throughout the year we have cultural events and I think now it’s the time. We need the support of the CARICOM prime ministers and the leaders of our countries agreeing to work to make it happen. I think it’s the ideal time.”
“We’re not afraid of Cuba. In fact, Cuba is going to help; it’s part of the Caribbean and it’s going to draw more attention to the Caribbean. Cuba will work with us and we’ll work with Cuba. Cuba has grown up in the first six months and the Caribbean has gone 5.2 percent up in terms of airlift and cruise arrivals. We can develop stronger relations with Cuba. We’ve been friends for a long time and they are part of us. Cuba is part of us, so we don’t see threats there.”
Obie Wilchcombe
Tourism Minister of the Bahamas and new CTO Chairman
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