Cou Cou Or Coo Coo National Dish In Caribbean Islands

Cou-cou, coo-coo as it is known in the Windward Islands, or fungi as it is known in the Leeward Islands and Dominica, makes up part of the national dishes of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

It consists mainly of cornmeal or corn flour and okra (ochroes). Cornmeal, which comes readily packaged and is available at supermarkets island wide, and okra, which can be found at supermarkets, vegetable markets and home gardens, are very inexpensive ingredients.

Because these main components are inexpensive, the dish became common for many residents in Barbados' early colonial history. Cou-cou derives from the island's African ancestry and was a regular meal for those slaves who were brought over from Africa to Barbados.

In Ghana, a similar and probably the original African meal of fermented corn or maize flour eaten with Okra stew and fish is known as Banku, a favourite dish of the Ga Tribe in Accra.

It has historically been proven that most slaves taken to Barbados came from Ghana, as further evidenced by some shared names.

A unique cooking utensil called a cou-cou stick, or fungi stick, is used in its preparation. A cou-cou stick is made of wood, and has a long, flat rectangular shape like a 1-foot-long (30 cm) miniature cricket bat.

It is believed by Barbadians to be essential in stirring the cou-cou, as the dish takes on a firm texture and the cou-cou stick makes it easier to stir in a large pot.

Flying fish prepared fried or steamed is a usual complement to cou-cou. Cou-cou and flying fish has become Barbados' national dish.

Corned beef, or just beef stew, is also a common accompaniment to cou-cou.

Traditionally, cou-cou is served on Fridays at homes across Barbados and local food establishments.

Cou-cou can also be prepared using breadfruit instead of cornmeal.

In Trinidad and Tobago cou-cou or coo-coo)is often prepared alongside callaloo and either stewed or fried fish.

In some islands, e.g. Barbados, Antigua, or the Virgin Islands, cou-cou may be cooked without okra, and goes by the name fengi, fungie, or fungi.


Tourism Observer

BARBADOS: American Airlines Has Introduced Daily Flights To Barbados From Charlotte

American Airlines has announced the addition of non-stop, daily service from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) to Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) beginning December 19, 2018.

This announcement comes just weeks after the carrier unveiled its third daily flight from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Barbados, which is also set to launch December 19.

The island anticipates a demand for additional flight service given the growth in US arrival numbers, which have risen year after year.

In 2017, Barbados welcomed 188,970 US visitors – a 30-year high – and the country is showing no signs of slowing down.

Our airline partners have been instrumental in the growth of visitation from the United States.

This new service signals tremendous confidence in Barbados and constitutes a 100 percent increase in seat capacity into and out of the island said Barbados’ newly appointed minister of tourism and international transport, Kerrie Symmonds.

Increased service to these important cities will help to ensure another year of record passenger arrivals to our destination.

High-level airline partnerships have been a cornerstone effort for the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI). This strategy has led to increased airlift and the introduction of new gateways including Fort Lauderdale, Boston and Newark.

Alfredo Gonzalez, managing director – Caribbean, American Airlines, described Barbados as a destination in high demand and noted.

One month after announcing additional service to Barbados from our Miami hub, we’re thrilled to continue growing our presence in the island with new daily service from our Charlotte hub, both operating during the winter.

As the demand continues to grow over the years, today we’re proud to serve as the leading U.S. airline in the island with up to 28 weekly flights.

Tickets for the new route went on sale June 17.


Tourism Observer

CARIBBEAN: Karisma Hotels & Resorts To Expand To St. Lucia And Barbados

Mandy Chomat, chief sales and marketing officer at Karisma Hotels & Resorts, says the all-inclusive company is planning to expand its Margaritaville, an All-Inclusive Experience, by Karisma brand to the islands of Barbados and St. Lucia.

There’s serious thought about expanding to St. Lucia and Barbados, said Chomat.

Karisma Hotels & Resorts is in discussions to expand Margaritaville into these islands over the next few years.”

Chomat also said travelers could expect new Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts properties throughout the Caribbean as well. That brand first debuted in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in 2016.

Karisma is scouting Barbados and St. Lucia, along with other major island destinations, for Margaritaville, An All-Inclusive Experience, by Karisma, as well as Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts,says Chomat.

We’re looking at island destinations throughout the Caribbean, including Antigua, the Bahamas, and Grenada, evaluating airlift and infrastructure, among other variables.

In Mexico, the company is opening the El Cielo Winery & Resort in Valle De Guadalupe, Baja California this summer. In 2019, the company is spotlighting the Riviera Maya once again with the opening of Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya and Margaritaville, an All-Inclusive Experience, by Karisma.

In addition to our continued expansion in Riviera Maya, Karisma is looking at Baja California, Vallarta and Huatulco in Mexico, said Chomat.

Later this summer, we will also introduce El Cielo Winery & Resort in Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe, the new Napa Valley.

Although the new Margaritaville, an All-Inclusive Experience, by Karisma brand is expected to be the most popular amongst Millennials, Chomat has noted in the past that Jimmy Buffett, the musician who made the Margaritaville song and brand famous worldwide, has fans or Parrot Heads, that span generations.

St. Lucia and Barbados are globally recognized destinations that appeal to leisure travelers, said Chomat.

The vibe of Margaritaville lends itself beautifully to these islands and others as it’s a state of mind, inviting guests to unwind and enjoy themselves in paradise.

And several Caribbean travel experts TravelPulse spoke with agree.

It will be interesting to see how the Margaritaville concept pans out because I think it will be on a level of luxury that many people wouldn't expect when they think about the brand Margaritaville, said Anthony Tucker, vice president and general manager at the All Inclusive Outlet in Georgetown, Kentucky.

So often people only think of the restaurant or casino in Las Vegas, but the proposed plans are really going to cater towards a luxury-centric customer who wants to just have a blast on vacation.

I think when they open in Cancun/Riviera Maya it will be eye opening and their success there will carry over into even further success in St. Lucia and Barbados.

Ryan Doncsecz of VIP Vacations, Inc. in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania also thinks the plans will greatly benefit Barbados, which he thinks is in need of another new, all-inclusive resort.

Another all inclusive resort in Barbados is huge, said Doncsecz. Sandals Resorts International already has proved that an all-inclusive can be a huge success on an island that is predominantly EP.

Finally, St. Lucia getting another brand name shows their dedication to bringing new and exciting experiences to the island.

Petra Roach, U.S. director of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), says the presence of a Karisma resort on island would help increase the island's presence amongst Millennials.

Hotel investment is critical to future growth, said Roach, and the Karisma brand brings with it a strong Millennial customer base and a focus on the culinary experience of the visitor - both of which are integral to Barbados’ overarching tourism strategy.

Karisma also remains committed to expanding its relationships in existing destinations like Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Mexico’s Riviera Maya.

In fact, Karisma Hotels and Resorts recently revealed that it is planning to develop a brand new luxury resort, entertainment and retail complex in Jamaica.

The Sugar Cane Jamaica project will be located near Ocho Rios.

It’s the most ambitious development in the country’s history, representing a $1 billion investment and plans for 10 hotels encompassing 5,000 rooms over the next decade, said Chomat.

Karisma first expanded to the Caribbean in late 2013 when it had a soft opening for its first Jamaica resort, Azul Sensatori Jamaica. Karisma then expanded to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in 2016 in the form of its popular family brand Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts.

The smaller islands of the Caribbean are a fast growing portion of our business right now, particularly in St. Lucia, so I think those destinations are a perfect fit, said Tucker.


Tourism Observer

USA: Virgin Atlantic To Commence Las Vegas London Flights Next Year

Virgin Atlantic has announced plans to launch flights to Las Vegas (LAS) from London-Heathrow (LHR), effective on March 31, 2019.

These new flights to LAS are being transferred from London-Gatwick (LGW) to LHR’s Terminal 3, in which Virgin has a significant presence.

The LGW flight used to be operated with the airline’s Boeing 747-400 but the new LHR operation will be operated with the much newer and efficient 787-9 Dreamliner.

Even though it’s a drop in capacity, the airline will now offer more premium seats and their signature Dreamliner product.

Virgin Atlantic have made some route announcements as follows:

- Flights to Las Vegas will now operate from London Heathrow on March 31st, 2019, on the same day that LGW operations to LAS stop, signalling a transfer of flights.

The 787-9 that Virgin will be using for this route will have a three-class configuration, offering 31 Upper-Class Seats, 35 Premium seats and 192 economy seats.

The flight will depart LHR at 12:40 local time and arrive in LAS at 19:05 local time.

In addition, there will be a second daily service to Boston-Logan International Airport (BOS), which will be operated with an Airbus A330-300.

The flight will depart LHR at 20:30 local time, arriving in BOS the next morning at 08:30 local time.

Barbados will also be returning to the network, operating between December 2018 and February 2019 with the airline’s A330-300.

Aircraft in use for LHR-LAS: 787-9 Dreamliner compared to the 747-400 indicating a capacity drop.

- A second daily LHR flight to Boston is to be added also using an A330-300.

- A winter Seasonal service to Barbados will also be operated from LHR also.

From spring 2019 we’re making it even easier for customers to travel from London-Heathrow to Las Vegas and Boston by introducing new flights.

The new services have been timed to offer convenient onward connections for UK and US customers, and feature our award-winning service, a three-course meal and in-flight entertainment on every flight, said Shai Weiss, Chief Commercial Officer for Virgin Atlantic.

We’re also pleased to bring back our popular seasonal service between London-Heathrow and Barbados to offer even more choice for holidaymakers, she added.

The fact that the flights from Gatwick to Las Vegas will be terminated in March 2019 must indicate the growth at Heathrow must be stronger than at Gatwick.

For the likes of Boston, the second daily route is largely due to the rise in demand of business travelers flying to that city more frequently, as well as it being heavily advertised as a tourist destination within the UK.

The Barbados route, however, will be returning due to its overall success in the winter season, although it seems that a year-round service from Heathrow will be on the cards when the demand for the route grows overall across the entire year.


Tourism Observer

BARBADOS: Sandals Royal Barbados Will Open Dec 20th

Sandals Royal Barbados will open in time for the upcoming winter season, for a total of 502 rooms in Barbados, says Sandals Resorts International Chairman Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart.

Sandals Royal Barbados is the brand’s second hotel on the island, adjacent to Sandals Barbados in the famed St. Lawrence Gap area on Dover Beach.

“Sandals Royal Barbados is progressing as it should and will most certainly be open and ready to welcome its first guests, as promised, on Dec. 20,” said Stewart, adding that the new resort is a “game changer” for the company.

Sandals Royal Barbados will offer 222 concierge and butler-level suites, including the brand’s signature Rondovals, Millionaire Butler Suites and Skypool Suites, along with an extensive Crystal Lagoon Pool Complex including Swim-Up Suites.

Amenities will include the brand’s very first gentlemen’s only barber shop, a full-service 15,000 square foot Red Lane Spa, four bars offering unlimited premium spirits and five signature dining establishments including French, Caribbean and Mediterranean cuisines, as well as new American and Asian-fusion concepts.

Anticipation is high for the new resort, says William ‘Billy’ Griffith, CEO of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI). An established brand such as Sandals inspires great confidence in Barbados as a destination as we promote our island’s diverse, high calibre product offerings around the world.

We are certain that this latest addition to our product profile will bring even more benefits to our tourism economy and we anticipate that this will augment our marketing efforts in all of our major source markets.

New developments like Sandals Royal Barbados will go a long way to keep Barbados fresh and top-of-mind with potential holidaymakers, with the assurance that they will still have a safe and unforgettable holiday, said Griffith: Huge kudos to our friends at Sandals.

Sandals Royal Barbados will also introduce the brand’s first-ever rooftop infinity pool, complete with La Parisienne French restaurant and a poolside bar, as well as an entertainment pavilion featuring a four-lane bowling alley, living room and game room that Stewart says were designed to foster on-demand entertainment, available as the customer wishes.

For guests in select top category suites, Sandals Royal Barbados will also introduce chauffeured Rolls-Royce airport transfers. Also new to Sandals Resorts and debuting here, The Beach House Resort Shop, a new retail brand curated to bring together the elements of the Caribbean featuring sophisticated resort wear, home goods, local craft and provisions.

Luxury is really about customization and personalization, and that’s what our new approach to entertainment is all about,says Stewart. We’ll continue to have set shows but we’re exploring new ways for guests to gather and have fun according to their schedule.

The resort will also debut a 6,000 square foot conference facility equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

NEVIS: Wyndham Grand Nevis To Open 2019

Wyndham Hotel Group continues to bolster its robust Caribbean pipeline by bringing ‘approachable luxury’ to the shores of Nevis with the island’s first Wyndham Grand resort.

The beachfront Wyndham Grand Nevis will be situated within Northern Pointe Resort, a new 30-acre luxury real estate development being built along Long Haul Bay in the Parish of Saint James. When completed in 2019, the resort will boast 170 suites, condominiums and villas ranging from 900 to 5,100 square feet; a private beach club; five dining areas; infinity pools; more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space and a spa.

“Nevis is known around the world as one of the most desirable yet exclusive vacation spots in the Caribbean, and as more travellers discover this tranquil paradise the demand for more upscale accommodations will grow,” said Paulo Pena, President and Managing Director, Latin America and the Caribbean for Wyndham Hotel Group.

“Wyndham Grand’s distinct experiences and understated approach to luxury will bring a unique accessibility to this elite island. Adding Nevis to an impressive growing list of amazing global destinations – including Shanghai, Istanbul, Chicago, Phuket and Barbados – not only positions us to raise the Wyndham Grand flag in even more top-tier locations, but it also expands our managed hotel portfolio here in the region and further solidifies our commitment to providing unparalleled guest experiences to all travellers.”

The 36-square-mile Nevis is the smaller of two islands which make up the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Travel to the island is on the rise with overnight visitors and cruise tourism increasing every year since 2013.

Late last year Wyndham Hotel Group opened Puerto Rico’s first TRYP by Wyndham hotel in San Juan and announced plans to manage the five-star Sam Lord’s Castle Barbados, A Wyndham Grand Resort. The hotel giant currently has 13 hotels operating in the Caribbean under its Wyndham Grand, Wyndham, TRYP by Wyndham, Ramada and Howard Johnson flags.

BARBADOS: Sandals Resorts International Investing US$150m Into Barbados

Sandals Resorts International (SRI) is investing an estimated US$150 million to expand its property in Barbados, a move that should see an additional 900 jobs being created in the eastern Caribbean island.

Hotel General Manager Ferry Zievinger said last week that an additional 222 rooms are currently being built at the Dover Beach property, which will bring the total number of rooms to 502. With the additional rooms, the hotel staff should increase to 1,170 when the expansion, which has been dubbed “Phase II”, is completed in November 2017. The project began in June of this year.

“... If you look at it, it’s quite a large expansion. The resort is built on seven acres of land and we’re adding 14 acres to that. So in surface, it triples in size. This will give us more space in terms of landscaping; and it gives the resort more quiet areas where people can relax. We’re adding seven new pools, and the rooms that we are adding are of high quality top-notch materials.

Along with the rooms, we’re going to be adding a dedicated entertainment pavilion with a main stage, changing rooms and some first-time features for Sandals which we cannot talk about just yet,” Ferry said of the two-year-old hotel.

He noted that the expansion was also a way for the Jamaica-grown hotel chain to further “stand out” as an internationally recognised brand.

“The product needs to be great, well-designed, and modern. ...But in the end it’s the people. The people from Barbados, since we’ve come here, have opened their arms for us. As long as we keep improving our product and keep re-inventing ourselves, that makes a difference,” he said.

Added to that, Senior SRI Director of Corporate Services Jeremy Jones said that the rate of occupancy the hotel has been achieving and the “demand for the product” – which, he said, has a lot of equity – influenced the decision to expand the resort.

“An additional 600 persons are going to be employed at the opening phase and then that will also be a function of what the occupancy is going to be like moving forward. So once you have the full capacity in excess of 500 rooms you’re going to be looking at close to 900 new staff,” he said.

In the meantime, Barbados’ minister of tourism and international transportation Richard Sealy has described Sandals Barbados as a “reality” to the tourism-driven nation, with the resort accounting for at least 20,000 of the 591,000 visitors to the island last year.

“We understood a couple of things at the time. Barbados’ hotel stock had been somewhat dated; we had just over 5,000 hotel rooms and a lot of those rooms were not really new rooms. A lot of those rooms were not branded, and that’s not to say there’s anything wrong with indigenous brands, because they are a huge part of our tourism experience, but we understood that we needed more international brands and we needed to get more foreign investment into our accommodation plant,” Sealy said.

“And so, that’s why we agreed that in exchange for certain concessions, once we were sure that a certain level of investment would take place, we would work with Sandals, and that really was the background against which it became a reality in Barbados. It is a definite plus to have Sandals here,” Sealy said.

He also credited Sandals for the increase in tourist arrivals from the US market, which has been a challenge for the island over the years.

“One of the things that comes out very clear is the strength of the Sandals brand in North America. The US market has always been a challenge for us – not that we don’t do well in the US... [but] our UK business has dominated, and part of the reason for that is because Americans like brands. Sandals has been able to help us in a very significant way to get more US business to come to Barbados. If you look at this year we are 11 per cent up on last year, and last year was one of the best years ever in terms of business out of the US, and a lot of that has to do with the work that we are doing with Sandals,” Sealy continued.

“...People are now looking at Barbados because of the Sandals product and because of the ever expanding Sandals property.

“This particular investment, this particular project has been a beneficial one and a fine example of precisely what can happen when you have enlightened government policy colliding with enlightened investors, and it can lead only to the general good and well-being of the community,” Sealy said.

BARBADOS: Disruptive Passenger On Air Canada Flight Causes Problems

A middle-aged man who reportedly made threats on an Air Canada flight to Barbados has been detained by police after his behaviour caused the more than 100 other passengers to remain on the plane for more than two hours after it landed.

Police in Barbados say they are continuing investigations into the matter.

The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, became disruptive on Flight AC1966 that left Toronto around 8:35 a.m. with 114 passengers for a five-hour journey.

The plane landed at the Grantley Adams International Airport around 1:40 p.m., but it was not until more than two hours later that the passengers were allowed to disembark, after police and other security officials investigated the threat and conducted a full search of the aircraft.

“Nothing was found that would cause further alarm or distress. The identified male passenger was detained,” police said in a statement issued late yesterday, adding that there was no harm done to the crew or passengers.

Air Canada spokesperson Isabelle Arthur also said that after the search was completed, passengers were transferred to the terminal.

Zika News: Pregnant Passengers Get Refunds From Airlines

Travellers worried about the implications of flying to Latin America amid growing concerns about the Zika virus should be able to amend their travel plans without expense – as airlines and holiday firms acknowledge the threat from the mosquito-borne infection.

The World Health Organization (WHO) this week declared a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” regarding the virus, and warned that it could affect up to four million people in the Americas. Its epicentres are Brazil and Ecuador, but cases have also been reported in Mexico, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cape Verde.

While the WHO has also stated that there “should be no restrictions on travel or trade with countries, areas and/or territories with Zika virus transmission”, tourists who are pregnant and who wish to alter their travel arrangements should be able to do so for free if they act quickly.

The Zika virus is mainly an issue for pregnant travellers, as, while it causes flu-like symptoms of fever and headaches in adults and children, it can be devastating for the human foetus – leading to babies born with defects that include abnormally small heads.

The majority of the big airlines have been united in their response to this threat – with British Airways allowing passengers a month-long window to reorder their travel plans.

A spokesperson for British Airways says: “If a pregnant customer is due to travel up to and including February 29, but they no longer wish to travel, they can change their booking free of charge, and delay their journey or amend to an alternative destination.”

“This applies to flights to Brazil, Mexico, Barbados and the Dominican Republic.”

This advice includes flights booked with affiliate airline Iberia.

Virgin Atlantic is taking a similar line, stating that “we are closely monitoring reports of cases of Zika virus in Barbados, Mexico and other destinations in the Caribbean and South America.” The airline is offering refunds to pregnant passengers due to fly to all affected destinations – including countries which it does not fly to directly, but offers connections to, such as Colombia, Panama and the United States territory of Puerto Rico.

Lufthansa has said that pregnant passengers and - unusually - their travelling companion, can alter an existing booking to any of the affected countries for free, stating that “this policy applies to all flights from or to Latin and Central America, and Caribbean countries, from January 28 until March 21 2016. Tickets must be issued on or before January 28 2016.”

This concession also applies to affiliated carriers Austrian Airlines and Swiss.

Airlines on the other side of the Atlantic have also reacted to the threat from the virus.

United Airlines has stated that “we are offering customers who are travelling to the affected regions the opportunity to rebook at a later date or receive a full refund.”

American Airlines is offering a full refund to pregnant passengers if they are flying to El Salvador, Honduras, Panama or Guatemala.

Delta says that pregnant customers can alter their flights to alternative destinations, change their dates or receive a refund – but “changes need to be made by February 29.”

Holiday companies are also responding to customers’ fears about the health scare – with Thomas Cook saying it will accept changes to existing bookings until the start of May.

“Thomas Cook is currently allowing amendments to an alternative destination for anyone who is pregnant and due to travel on a Thomas Cook charter holiday to the affected areas, up to and including April 30 2016,” a spokesperson says.

“We are contacting all customers due to travel to Mexico, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cape Verde, up to and including April 30, to advise them of the situation, and offer assistance – prioritising those departing over the next few days.”

Thomson has outlined a similar strategy, stating that “customers due to travel with us to Mexico, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Colombia and Martinique, who would like to amend to an alternative destination, and have a doctor’s note confirming their pregnancy, can do so without incurring an amendment fee.”

Travel insurance policies should also shield holidaymakers from any costs of having to alter their plans due to the Zika situation – with policies purchased prior to the outbreak likely to offer cover. However, tourists also should check the small print on their policies.

“If one of our customers is currently pregnant and has booked a holiday to Barbados, Bolivia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, St Martin, Suriname or Venezuela, they would be eligible to make a cancellation claim – as long as they purchased the policy before January 20,” advises Rob Clarkson of Post Office Money Insurance.

However, non-pregnant travellers may find that they are less protected in this scenario.

“If one of our customers is not pregnant then, as the Foreign Office has not advised against travel to this area, there would be no cover for cancellation,” Mr Clarkson adds.

“It is important that any customers planning on holidaying in countries with ongoing Zika virus outbreaks do their research before they travel, and take all necessary precautions.”

Byron Shirto, chairman of the Latin America Travel Association, says: “In line with the current recommendations of the Foreign Office and National Health Network and Centre (NHNC), we would advise pregnant travellers to areas where Zika virus outbreaks are currently reported available via the Pan European Health Organisation to consult a health professional prior to travel."

SRI LANKA: Thomson Starts Sri Lanka Packages

Thomson is introducing Sri Lanka for winter 2016 and is eyeing up other long haul destinations in Asia and the Caribbean.

Weekly, direct flights to Colombo will operate from London Gatwick on the operator's 787 Dreamliner aircraft, with various stay and tour options.

Managing director Nick Longman said customers could choose from a seven-night or four-night discovery tour of the destination, combined with stays in a number of hotels, including the Riu Sri Lanka and the Club Hotel Dolphin. Prices will be released next month.

He also said the destination could become year-round, depending on the success of the winter programme.

Meanwhile, the operator is considering Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia along with British Caribbean destinations including Antigua, St Lucia and Barbados.

The announcement came as Thomson and First Choice released the results of a survey of 2,000 adults which showed 77% are happy to travel nine hours or more to reach their 'dream' destination.

It also found 89% now travel long haul at least once every five years, and 21% travel long haul every year.

"With other long haul destinations in the pipeline, we expect to see this trend continue as British holidaymakers look to visit new places they may never have been to before," said Longman.

CURACAO: CTB Promoting Curaçao During Caribbean Latin Workshop And CTO Caribbean Roadshow

In the month of October the Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB) participated in two tourism events which were very successful. The events were the Caribbean Latin Workshop and the CTO Caribbean Roadshow. Both events took place in the Netherlands, where various travel agents, commerce and the media participated. The CTB had the opportunity to exhibit Curaçao as a favorite Caribbean destination.

Caribbean Latin Workshop

This is the fourth time that this event is being held and it is organized by Caribbean Reflections. The main purpose of the event is to inform commerce about the tourist products the Caribbean area has to offer, including Curaçao. The event took place on October 29 and 30 on board of the ship Serenity, which was docked in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The islands that were represented were Aruba, Repúblika Dominikana, Argentina, Perú, Mexico, Barbados, Belize, Boneiru, Cuba, Curaçao, Panamá and Sint Maarten.

CTO Caribbean Roadshow

The event, organized by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), was a roadshow especially for the international travel agents with the aim to inform about the Caribbean tourism products. CTO is the organization dedicated to the tourism development in the Caribbean region and it consist of 30 islands with Dutch, American, French and Spanish origin or nationality and a number of respected private sector members. CTO also encourages travel agents to sell the various Caribbean destinations, including Curaçao.

This year the CTO Caribbean Roadshow took place at the La Cubanita restaurant in Rotterdam and Eindhoven. During the roadshow on October 26 and 28 participants were able to enjoy a Caribbean buffet while they received a 10 minute presentation of each participating partner and a session of speed dating with travel agents. This year 60 travel agents participated during the session in Rotterdam and 50 in Eindhoven. The islands that were represented were Barbados, St. Lucia, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Jamaica and Bonaire.

Participation in these types of events is important to continue promoting Curaçao as a tourism destination which offers perfect vacation packages for relaxation or business.

CARIBBEAN: CTO To Honour Two Airlines Serving The Caribbean

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) will honour Air Canada and Caribbean Airlines for their decades of service to the Caribbean.

The CTO will present awards to the two airlines during Caribbean Week Canada for longstanding service from that market. Both airlines have demonstrated commitment and dedication to the growth and development of Caribbean tourism by providing up to six decades of service, according to the CTO’s director of USA Inc Sylma Brown.

“Caribbean Airlines has demonstrated continued dedication to the growth and development of Caribbean tourism by providing more than five decades of intra-regional and international service, while Air Canada has shown its commitment to the region’s tourism sector by providing over six decades of outstanding uninterrupted service to the Caribbean,” said Ms. Brown, head of the CTO’s New York office which is charged with organizing Caribbean Week Canada.

The decision to recognize the two carriers was made following discussions with CTO member countries’ national tourist office representatives in Canada who felt strongly that both airline partners should be among the entities recognized during Caribbean Week for their strong partnership , Ms. Brown revealed.

The awards will be presented at the Caribbean Tourism Awards Luncheon on Tuesday 17 November at Rosewater in Toronto.

Caribbean Week Canada is supported by Air Canada Vacations, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Caribbean Airlines, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Hibiscus International, Jamaica, Kalinago Beach Resort (Grenada), Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, The Atrebor Group, Transat Tours Canada, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos.

DOMINICA: Commercial Airlines Back To Dominica After Tropical Storm

Commercial airlines serving the Caribbean island of Dominica are resuming flights to Douglas-Charles Airport following Tropical Storm Erika in late August, according to the Dominica director of tourism. Earlier, the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority gave the go-ahead to resume commercial flights.

Since then, airport authorities have been working to restore essential services to the badly damaged terminal building in order for airline partners, LIAT, Seaborne Airlines and Winair, to re-establish schedules to the airport. Partner airlines have made several test landings since receiving the go-ahead.

“We continue to see daily progress in the tourism sector,” said Colin Piper, Dominica´s director of tourism. “Fans of the Nature Island will be pleased to know that most of their favorite locations and activities are operational and ready for their next visit.” As of Sept. 18, 2015, LIAT has resumed flights to Douglas-Charles Airport from three origination points: Antigua (ANU), Barbados (BGI) and Guadeloupe (PTP).

Seaborne Airlines will resume flights between Dominica´s Douglas-Charles Airport (DOM) and San Juan (SJU) on Sept. 23, 2015. Winair, which established Twin Otter service after Tropical Storm Erika, will continue that service into Canefield Airport until Oct. 25, 2015.

Beginning on Oct. 3, Winair will resume two flights per week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from Guadeloupe and St. Maarten (SXM) to Dominica´s Douglas-Charles Airport. The airline is expected to resume its normal schedule of up to four flights weekly to Douglas-Charles Airport in November 2015.

SURINAME: GOL Sixth Carrier To Fly From Suriname

On 25 August, GOL became the latest carrier to fly to Suriname when it launched a new twice-weekly (Tuesdays and Saturdays) service to the capital Paramaribo from Belem, a route which recently won the anna.aero ‘Arch of Triumph’ competition. The addition of GOL to the Suriname country market has not helped seat capacity grow, with overall capacity down 1.3% for S15 when compared with last summer.

With a population of 560,000, most of which live on the country’s north coast, and a geographical area of just under 165,000 square kilometres, Suriname is the smallest country in South America. The country is only served by one commercial airport which is located in the capital, Paramaribo, however research by anna.aero shows that in total the country has 15 airfields with IATA codes, most of which are served with small regional services from the capital. However it is worth noting that the airlines that operate these services are not included in the country analysis due to them not being published in OAG Schedules, with some of them, such as Blue Wing Airlines, seeing a varying schedule from week to week according to the airline’s website.

Netherlands remains #1 market
After seeing a seat capacity increase of 5.2% when compared with the same time period of S14, the Netherlands remains the number one country market from Suriname, which is of no surprise due to the strong historical link between the two nations. On a side note, Suriname is the only country in South America with Dutch being the number one language spoken. The 7,519-kilometre sector between Paramaribo and Amsterdam is served by KLM and Suriname Airways, with Amsterdam being the only long-haul route served by latter, which is flown using the carrier’s sole A340-300.

Suriname Airways way ahead of the rest
Although national carrier Suriname Airways is only reporting a seat capacity increase of 0.9%, it remains number one out of Suriname. The nation’s second biggest airline KLM, which is up 1.0% when compared to the same time period of last year, occupies 21% of overall seat capacity, a result that is dwarfed by Suriname Airways which controls 49%. Of the remaining four carriers, Caribbean Airlines is down -10%, InselAir is showing a decrease in seat capacity of -52% and sister carrier InselAir Aruba also reporting a decline of -22%. GOL (highlighted in light green) is new to Suriname in S15, after launching services to Paramaribo from Belem on 25 August.

The latest airline to join the Suriname network, Fly All Ways. Muller suggested that the airline is hoping to commence services from Paramaribo to Georgetown in Guyana and Barbados in the not too distant future.

NIGERIA: Visa Free Countries For Holders Of Nigerian Passports

As a Nigerian citizen with a Nigerian passport, there are certain countries which do not require a visa or a visa-lottery upon entry so long as you have your Nigerian passport.

However, for some of these countries, there is an estimated amount of time you are expected to spend before a visa will be demanded for. The period of days for which you can stay varies from country to country and then you would have to obtain a visa, at least this is not like a gamble when you play the visa- lottery.

The easiest way to know the visa free countries is to list all the countries you may visit visa free is to split them into continents. In the Americas you may access Barbados for six months, Dominica for 21 days, Grenada, Haiti, Saint Kitts and Nevis for three months and Turks and Caicos Islands for 30 days.

In Asia you can freely arrive in the following countries to which you will then be issued with a visa once in the country. In Azerbaijan, Laos, Macau and Timor-Leste you are granted with a 30 day visa. In Bangladesh you are granted a 90 day visa.

In Oceania you may access Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Vanuatu and Palau for 30 days, Cook Islands for 31 days, Tuvalu for one month, Samoa for 60 days and Fiji for four months.

In Africa Nigerian passport holders can visit the following countries visa-free; Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Chad, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger Senegal and Uganda, basically all the West African countries.

Please note that this posted was last modified on the 5th of March 2014. Kosovo is no longer visa free for Nigerians and many African countries.

You can also get visa-on-arrival in Kenya.