Affects of Global Crisis on Caribbean

As travellers in the main US and UK markets are beginning to take holidays closer to home due to the financial crisis, Caribbean countries dependent on tourism are looking at other markets for new tourism business. A report published at the start of the World Travel Market in London this week pointed to places such as Brazil, China, India and Russia as offering potential with their rising disposable incomes. The island of Anguilla's Tourist Board is already marketing heavily to other countries- especially Latin America. Grenada plans to focus more on certain niche markets which continue to thrive despite the economic challenges. These niche markets include diving, wedding and honeymoons, fishing, and yachting. Antigua and Trinidad are working with some of their sport legends to develop sports tourism, while Barbados is developing its medical tourism niche. The island of St. Vincent is promoting itself to the film and music industry. St. Kitts is reinventing itself as a high-end tourism destination, with the construction of the new shopping district in Basseterre, the building of casinos and race courses, the signing of British Airways to begin flights from Heathrow, and now construction of the US$200 million five-star world-renowned Mandarin Oriental Hotel on the Southeast peninusla set to begin in June 2009. In spite of the challenges facing the tourism industry, regional stakeholders say they remain confident that the industry will rebound, once the global economy stabilizes. In the meantime, check with our yacht brokers (Gail and Melody), since many yacht charters are offering great discounts, rebates, credits and packages! -Donna

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