The Greater Caribbean is Huge Perks
BEGINNING IN 2018, CRUISE TRAVEL COULD BECOME THE SECOND LARGEST MARKET WORLDWIDE, ESPECIALLY IN THE GRAND CARIBBEAN
Cruise tourism stands for one of the fastest-growing travel market segments in recent years, especially in the Grand Caribbean, a region whose privileged natural and cultural heritage no doubt make up its number-one allure and driving force for investment –something international companies have cashed in on, mainly cruise lines.
Industry-related organizations agree that cruise travel could turn out to be the second fastest-growing market worldwide in 2018 as the Caribbean has netted a bigger market share (42.2 percent), which equals to an increase of 10 million cruise passengers. And this trend is clearly on the rise thanks to such attractions as longer itineraries and the chance to live one-and-only experiences in over 30 seaports in this neck of the woods.
For this particular travel mode, the Caribbean and the Antilles are by far the main cruise region, a region that also paves the way for multidestination. The region’s geographical layout makes short-haul sailing possible, let alone the possibility to drop by over two dozen small inland nations and ports, all featuring different cultures, traditions, languages and colonial roots; quite a genuine mosaic of nationalities. (TABLE 1)
A particular standout is the fact that half of the ten capitals declared World Heritage by UNESCO –and the most sought-after seaports among cruise passengers- are located in the Caribbean: Havana (Cuba), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Willemstad (Curacao) and Bridgetown (Barbados). This concentration represents a legit privilege of history and, in the same breath, a tremendous challenge for each and every one of the islands involved in the development of cruise tourism.
According to a report written in 2017 by the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST), more than 25 million cruise passengers landed on two dozen Caribbean destinations, up 11 percent from the previous year. In this breakdown, ten destinations amassed over three quarters of all cruise passengers that arrived in the Caribbean. These upticks were mostly reported in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Belize and Cozumel. The latter, for its part, strengthened its stance as Mexico’s top cruise port. Approximately 60 percent of all cruise passengers worldwide are expected to visit the Caribbean. (GRAPHIC 1)
It’s well known that cruise travel has a major impact on the destination countries, which require well-developed port infrastructure, marketplaces, offers and services that generate remarkable revenues and create jobs for the region.
Español
English
Français
Deutsch
Italiano
Русский