Airbnb has been investing in partnerships in the Caribbean to support a thriving community of homeowners who are renting their spaces and creating new flows of local economic benefits. Airbnb have announced the first tax agreement in the Caribbean.
The Government of the United States Virgin Islands and Airbnb have confirmed the first tax agreement in the Caribbean, which will allow the platform to collect the Territory's 12.5 percent Hotel Room Occupancy Tax on behalf of hosts and remit the funds to the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
Agreements have been signed with several countries and with the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) to create policy frameworks for this growing hospitality trend of home sharing.
Today's announcement spearheads the company's efforts in the Caribbean to collect and remit lodging taxes on behalf of hosts, allowing hosts to comply and give back to their communities.
The Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Kenneth E. Mapp, supported the agreement and noted that locals will increase their participation in the economic benefits of tourism.
This is good for our Government because it streamlines the collection process and enables more of our residents to participate in the visitor industry.
Our hospitality sector will also greatly benefit from the promotional reach of this multibillion-dollar organization," Mapp said.
The agreement with Airbnb is a component of the Mapp-Potter Administration's Five Year Plan to fully restore economic stability to the V.I. Government through economic growth, increased revenue collection and better resource management.
It will help improve and diversify the tourism industry and create unique experiences for and by the locals of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas and their visitors.
Airbnb has about 2,000 active listings across the U.S. Virgin Islands and a typical Airbnb host earns US$7,700 a year.
Airbnb represents a supplemental income, which helps families pay their bills and improve their quality of life.
As local hosts bring more tourism to the region, visitors get to know the country from an organic and more authentic point of view, spending in local businesses and services, as well as encouraging others to visit the islands as a result of their positive experience,said Shawn Sullivan, Airbnb's Public Policy Manager for the Caribbean and Central America.
Local authorities also pointed to the importance of the growth and diversification of tourism to the island and the improvement of tax collection for both hosts and government.
This agreement brings to the table a well-resourced partner to help with our efforts to attract people to our islands, observed Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty.
Marvin Pickering, Director of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue, said the additional revenue would be beneficial for the treasury.
This voluntary collection agreement for the hotel room tax provides the bureau with an additional resource to ensure that the tax is collected and remitted in a timely manner.
We look forward to pursuing this additional avenue of increasing the tax revenue from Airbnb hosts as they participate in our Territory's tax regime by fulfilling their filing and payment obligations.
Tourism, Travel, Hospitality, Conservation: News,Stories And Experiences From Allover The World
Showing posts with label CTO. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CTO. Show all posts
Thursday, 25 May 2017
Sunday, 7 May 2017
CYPRUS: Winter Tourism Rising Up, Tourism Minister Says
Winter tourism on the up! Winter tourism has increased by 35 per cent over the past three years and is expected to grow further, tourism minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis was quoted as saying on Sunday, September 18.
In an interview with Phileleftheros newspaper, the minister was already looking ahead to 2017 now that this year was wrapping up with an estimated 3.1 million record arrivals.
Winter tourism has however not taken off to the same extent as it can only be boosted by specific types of tourism not related to sun and sea, he said, such as incentives for resort hotels and restaurants to stay open all-year-round.
Lakkotrypis, citing a 35 per cent increase in the past three years said this would grow in the coming 2016-2017 winter season. “Of course, in absolute terms, we are talking about small numbers,” he said.
Winter tourism has increased by 35 per cent over the past three years and is expected to grow further, Tourism Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis was quoted as saying on Sunday.
In an interview with Phileleftheros, the minister was already looking ahead to 2017 now that this year was wrapping up with an estimated 3.1 million record arrivals.
Winter tourism has however not taken off to the same extent as it can only be boosted by specific types of tourism not related to sun and sea, he said, such as incentives for resort hotels and restaurants to stay open all-year-round.
Lakkotrypis, citing a 35 per cent increase in the past three years said this would grow in the coming 2016-2017 winter season.
“Of course, in absolute terms, we are talking about small numbers,” he said.
In the winter of 2015-2016 Cyprus saw around 300,000 tourists. “This means that the scope for further development of winter tourism is huge,” he said, adding that much of the strategy was being focused there.
“But it is unrealistic to say that we can develop our tourism from one day to the next,” he said.
“To achieve this, several factors must contribute. Hotels and all other associated services must remain open. How will we attract tourists when they will have nothing to do except stay inside the hotel because its environs are dead? There is a series of things that need to be improved for better performance in winter tourism but I believe that we are on track,” he added. “We are looking for continuous and steady growth, without ups and downs.”
He also expressed certainty that this year’s record arrivals would be repeated next year.
“It is our top priority to not only repeat this year’s performance, but also to create sustainable growth thereafter.”
He said 2015 has also been a record year despite a number of drawbacks including the closure of Cyprus Airways, Russia’s Transaero and the severe devaluation of the rouble. That year, arrivals had arisen 9 per cent, he said.
“This year we are going through an extraordinary year, the results of which are a combination of circumstances in the region and the preparedness of the public and private sector to take advantage of these circumstances,” said Lakkotrypis.
“We estimate to end 2016 with close to 3.1 million arrivals,” he said.
New factors to help develop the tourism sector in a sustainable manner will include the proposed undersecretariat for tourism and reform of the institutional framework governing all matters relating to tourism, plus “infrastructure projects that are necessary to help us to upgrade the quality of our tourist product”.
For 2017, there will be more airline seats, in addition to agreements with all of the major tour operators in all tourist markets of interest. “Our efforts will be intensified both in relation to our traditional markets, such as Russia and the UK, but also in relation to emerging markets such as Germany, Greece, Israel and Ukraine,” said Lakkotrypis. “We are also interested in the Nordic countries where we have lost ground, which we want to reclaim.”
“The diversification of our tourist product will help us to develop other tourism markets where we have a negligible share,” he added.
Speaking about longer-term plans he mentioned the golf courses, marinas and the planned casino resort.
“I would certainly like to have seen a casino licensed much earlier. There is no doubt that it is an ambitious project, especially due to the model that we have chosen, which is the resort casino, unlike the rest of Europe which chose many smaller casinos. So we believe this will give us additional competitive advantages,” Lakkotrypis said.
The minister said the deadline for proposals was on October 5.
“Our intention is before the end of the year to evaluate and award the winning bid,” he said, adding that there was a possibility that the winning bidder might be allowed, if they wished, to operate a temporary casino immediately until the resort is completed.
A Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) official has confirmed that a big effort is underway to bolster winter tourism after a record number of summer arrivals in 2016.
Speaking to state radio, CTO Senior Tourism Officer Marinos Menelaou said around 3.5 million people visited Cyprus in the last 11 months which represents historically high figures both in terms of the number of arrivals but also revenue generated from tourism.
Now, he continued, the effort was focused on getting a better grip on winter tourism because Cyprus, as he claimed, holds many upper hands over its competitors. Menelaou went on to say that the onus was now on beefing up operations for winter tourism.
“With regards to 2016, we had a record number of arrivals and revenue generated from tourism. That represents almost four tourists for every Cypriot this year. It is a massive success and one which we need to build on.”
“We need to invest and do more for winter tourism in Cyprus. We cannot be just a tourism destination for only five to six months of the year. From November up until March, we need see what can be done to increase the numbers there too. Tourism is the cornerstone of our economy and it is something that we need to ensure stays strong.”
“We need to work on our image of winter tourism and how it is promoted abroad. That for us is the big challenge at the moment. There has been a rise in winter tourism but we are lacking behind other destinations like the Canary Islands. They get around five to six million visitors ever winter.”
“They have slightly better infrastructure than us but we have the upper hand over a number of other things such as warmer waters, better weather, less rain and better attraction sites to visit and that includes Troodos where tourists can even ski during some months. We are also looking to further promote our cultural attractions and sports tourism, especially for football teams.”
A Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) official has confirmed that a big effort is underway to bolster winter tourism after a record number of summer arrivals in 2016.
Speaking to state radio, CTO Senior Tourism Officer Marinos Menelaou said around 3.5 million people visited Cyprus in the last 11 months which represents historically high figures both in terms of the number of arrivals but also revenue generated from tourism.
Now, he continued, the effort was focused on getting a better grip on winter tourism because Cyprus, as he claimed, holds many upper hands over its competitors. Menelaou went on to say that the onus was now on beefing up operations for winter tourism.
“With regards to 2016, we had a record number of arrivals and revenue generated from tourism. That represents almost four tourists for every Cypriot this year. It is a massive success and one which we need to build on.”
“We need to invest and do more for winter tourism in Cyprus. We cannot be just a tourism destination for only five to six months of the year. From November up until March, we need see what can be done to increase the numbers there too. Tourism is the cornerstone of our economy and it is something that we need to ensure stays strong.”
“We need to work on our image of winter tourism and how it is promoted abroad. That for us is the big challenge at the moment. There has been a rise in winter tourism but we are lacking behind other destinations like the Canary Islands. They get around five to six million visitors ever winter.”
“They have slightly better infrastructure than us but we have the upper hand over a number of other things such as warmer waters, better weather, less rain and better attraction sites to visit and that includes Troodos where tourists can even ski during some months. We are also looking to further promote our cultural attractions and sports tourism, especially for football teams.”
When asked about how most businesses in the prime tourist areas of Cyprus like Ayia Napa and Protaras shut shop in the winter, Menelaou replied, “We acknowledge that that is one of the challenges that we face (in promoting winter tourism).”
“I suppose it’s like the chicken and the egg? They will not stay open and keep their businesses operating during the winter if there are no visitors. We are trying to change their minds though and are offering them various incentives to stay open.”
“For example, we have signed a deal with an Austrian tour operator that will bring 7,000 visitors – aged 50 and above – in March this year and another 7,000 in March 2018. We feel that this will be a chance for them to get some business and we encourage them to try and breathe some life into the area.”
Brits lead the way. When asked about the types of visitors arriving in Cyprus in 2016, Menelaou confirmed that Britons (36%) made up the bulk of the 3.5million tourist followed by Russians (25%).
“Together, they make up 61% of our tourists but we have also seen an increase in the number of arrivals from neighbouring Israel. For 2015 and 2016, we have seen visits from Israel peak at 140,000.”
“We find this especially interesting because of the close proximity to Israel. Many Israelis see Cyprus as a great location to visit for a short-stay holiday. We have increased flights to and from Israel and have even opened up flights to Israel to and from Paphos.”
In an interview with Phileleftheros newspaper, the minister was already looking ahead to 2017 now that this year was wrapping up with an estimated 3.1 million record arrivals.
Winter tourism has however not taken off to the same extent as it can only be boosted by specific types of tourism not related to sun and sea, he said, such as incentives for resort hotels and restaurants to stay open all-year-round.
Lakkotrypis, citing a 35 per cent increase in the past three years said this would grow in the coming 2016-2017 winter season. “Of course, in absolute terms, we are talking about small numbers,” he said.
Winter tourism has increased by 35 per cent over the past three years and is expected to grow further, Tourism Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis was quoted as saying on Sunday.
In an interview with Phileleftheros, the minister was already looking ahead to 2017 now that this year was wrapping up with an estimated 3.1 million record arrivals.
Winter tourism has however not taken off to the same extent as it can only be boosted by specific types of tourism not related to sun and sea, he said, such as incentives for resort hotels and restaurants to stay open all-year-round.
Lakkotrypis, citing a 35 per cent increase in the past three years said this would grow in the coming 2016-2017 winter season.
“Of course, in absolute terms, we are talking about small numbers,” he said.
In the winter of 2015-2016 Cyprus saw around 300,000 tourists. “This means that the scope for further development of winter tourism is huge,” he said, adding that much of the strategy was being focused there.
“But it is unrealistic to say that we can develop our tourism from one day to the next,” he said.
“To achieve this, several factors must contribute. Hotels and all other associated services must remain open. How will we attract tourists when they will have nothing to do except stay inside the hotel because its environs are dead? There is a series of things that need to be improved for better performance in winter tourism but I believe that we are on track,” he added. “We are looking for continuous and steady growth, without ups and downs.”
He also expressed certainty that this year’s record arrivals would be repeated next year.
“It is our top priority to not only repeat this year’s performance, but also to create sustainable growth thereafter.”
He said 2015 has also been a record year despite a number of drawbacks including the closure of Cyprus Airways, Russia’s Transaero and the severe devaluation of the rouble. That year, arrivals had arisen 9 per cent, he said.
“This year we are going through an extraordinary year, the results of which are a combination of circumstances in the region and the preparedness of the public and private sector to take advantage of these circumstances,” said Lakkotrypis.
“We estimate to end 2016 with close to 3.1 million arrivals,” he said.
New factors to help develop the tourism sector in a sustainable manner will include the proposed undersecretariat for tourism and reform of the institutional framework governing all matters relating to tourism, plus “infrastructure projects that are necessary to help us to upgrade the quality of our tourist product”.
For 2017, there will be more airline seats, in addition to agreements with all of the major tour operators in all tourist markets of interest. “Our efforts will be intensified both in relation to our traditional markets, such as Russia and the UK, but also in relation to emerging markets such as Germany, Greece, Israel and Ukraine,” said Lakkotrypis. “We are also interested in the Nordic countries where we have lost ground, which we want to reclaim.”
“The diversification of our tourist product will help us to develop other tourism markets where we have a negligible share,” he added.
Speaking about longer-term plans he mentioned the golf courses, marinas and the planned casino resort.
“I would certainly like to have seen a casino licensed much earlier. There is no doubt that it is an ambitious project, especially due to the model that we have chosen, which is the resort casino, unlike the rest of Europe which chose many smaller casinos. So we believe this will give us additional competitive advantages,” Lakkotrypis said.
The minister said the deadline for proposals was on October 5.
“Our intention is before the end of the year to evaluate and award the winning bid,” he said, adding that there was a possibility that the winning bidder might be allowed, if they wished, to operate a temporary casino immediately until the resort is completed.
A Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) official has confirmed that a big effort is underway to bolster winter tourism after a record number of summer arrivals in 2016.
Speaking to state radio, CTO Senior Tourism Officer Marinos Menelaou said around 3.5 million people visited Cyprus in the last 11 months which represents historically high figures both in terms of the number of arrivals but also revenue generated from tourism.
Now, he continued, the effort was focused on getting a better grip on winter tourism because Cyprus, as he claimed, holds many upper hands over its competitors. Menelaou went on to say that the onus was now on beefing up operations for winter tourism.
“With regards to 2016, we had a record number of arrivals and revenue generated from tourism. That represents almost four tourists for every Cypriot this year. It is a massive success and one which we need to build on.”
“We need to invest and do more for winter tourism in Cyprus. We cannot be just a tourism destination for only five to six months of the year. From November up until March, we need see what can be done to increase the numbers there too. Tourism is the cornerstone of our economy and it is something that we need to ensure stays strong.”
“We need to work on our image of winter tourism and how it is promoted abroad. That for us is the big challenge at the moment. There has been a rise in winter tourism but we are lacking behind other destinations like the Canary Islands. They get around five to six million visitors ever winter.”
“They have slightly better infrastructure than us but we have the upper hand over a number of other things such as warmer waters, better weather, less rain and better attraction sites to visit and that includes Troodos where tourists can even ski during some months. We are also looking to further promote our cultural attractions and sports tourism, especially for football teams.”
A Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) official has confirmed that a big effort is underway to bolster winter tourism after a record number of summer arrivals in 2016.
Speaking to state radio, CTO Senior Tourism Officer Marinos Menelaou said around 3.5 million people visited Cyprus in the last 11 months which represents historically high figures both in terms of the number of arrivals but also revenue generated from tourism.
Now, he continued, the effort was focused on getting a better grip on winter tourism because Cyprus, as he claimed, holds many upper hands over its competitors. Menelaou went on to say that the onus was now on beefing up operations for winter tourism.
“With regards to 2016, we had a record number of arrivals and revenue generated from tourism. That represents almost four tourists for every Cypriot this year. It is a massive success and one which we need to build on.”
“We need to invest and do more for winter tourism in Cyprus. We cannot be just a tourism destination for only five to six months of the year. From November up until March, we need see what can be done to increase the numbers there too. Tourism is the cornerstone of our economy and it is something that we need to ensure stays strong.”
“We need to work on our image of winter tourism and how it is promoted abroad. That for us is the big challenge at the moment. There has been a rise in winter tourism but we are lacking behind other destinations like the Canary Islands. They get around five to six million visitors ever winter.”
“They have slightly better infrastructure than us but we have the upper hand over a number of other things such as warmer waters, better weather, less rain and better attraction sites to visit and that includes Troodos where tourists can even ski during some months. We are also looking to further promote our cultural attractions and sports tourism, especially for football teams.”
When asked about how most businesses in the prime tourist areas of Cyprus like Ayia Napa and Protaras shut shop in the winter, Menelaou replied, “We acknowledge that that is one of the challenges that we face (in promoting winter tourism).”
“I suppose it’s like the chicken and the egg? They will not stay open and keep their businesses operating during the winter if there are no visitors. We are trying to change their minds though and are offering them various incentives to stay open.”
“For example, we have signed a deal with an Austrian tour operator that will bring 7,000 visitors – aged 50 and above – in March this year and another 7,000 in March 2018. We feel that this will be a chance for them to get some business and we encourage them to try and breathe some life into the area.”
Brits lead the way. When asked about the types of visitors arriving in Cyprus in 2016, Menelaou confirmed that Britons (36%) made up the bulk of the 3.5million tourist followed by Russians (25%).
“Together, they make up 61% of our tourists but we have also seen an increase in the number of arrivals from neighbouring Israel. For 2015 and 2016, we have seen visits from Israel peak at 140,000.”
“We find this especially interesting because of the close proximity to Israel. Many Israelis see Cyprus as a great location to visit for a short-stay holiday. We have increased flights to and from Israel and have even opened up flights to Israel to and from Paphos.”
Friday, 13 November 2015
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.
Thursday, 12 November 2015
First Caribbean Tourism And Hospitality Guide For Investors To Be Launched This Week
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), in association with the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), has produced the first Caribbean Tourism and Hospitality Investment Guide targeted at international investors.
The publication showcases a wide range of investment opportunities in the tourism and hospitality sector in CTO member states and lists incentives that Caribbean Governments are offering to attract new business.
The Investment Guide focuses on the performance of the region’s tourism and hospitality sector and Caribbean economies. It also highlights increased airlift to the region and new investments in the industry – a reflection of investor confidence in the region.
“Ours is an attractive and desirable destination with a strong, competitive advantage due to our natural resources and authentic experiences,” CTO Chairman Richard Sealy, Barbados Minister of Tourism and International Transport, said. “Investing in the Caribbean makes good business sense. We know it and we are proud to produce a guide that illustrates it.”
CHTA President Emil Lee urged investors to use the document to learn about the “incredible opportunities” which can be realized from investing in the Caribbean and noted that despite its growing pains, the Caribbean tourism industry continues to expand and diversify. “Public-private initiatives at the regional and destination levels are actively addressing those issues which are important to the industry globally . . . lowering utility costs, improving the visitor experience, holding the line on taxes, incentivizing investments, and maximizing productivity through investments in our people.” he commented.
The publication was produced by marketing, communications and investment promotion specialist, Sandra Ann Baptiste, who was the first head of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO INVEST).
It will be distributed at the 2015 Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference and Operations Summit (CHICOS) which takes place in Puerto Rico November 12 and 13, and at CTO’s Caribbean Week in Canada business events next week.
The guide is one of the deliverables of the New York-based CTO USA Inc. office headed by Sylma Brown.
The publication showcases a wide range of investment opportunities in the tourism and hospitality sector in CTO member states and lists incentives that Caribbean Governments are offering to attract new business.
The Investment Guide focuses on the performance of the region’s tourism and hospitality sector and Caribbean economies. It also highlights increased airlift to the region and new investments in the industry – a reflection of investor confidence in the region.
“Ours is an attractive and desirable destination with a strong, competitive advantage due to our natural resources and authentic experiences,” CTO Chairman Richard Sealy, Barbados Minister of Tourism and International Transport, said. “Investing in the Caribbean makes good business sense. We know it and we are proud to produce a guide that illustrates it.”
CHTA President Emil Lee urged investors to use the document to learn about the “incredible opportunities” which can be realized from investing in the Caribbean and noted that despite its growing pains, the Caribbean tourism industry continues to expand and diversify. “Public-private initiatives at the regional and destination levels are actively addressing those issues which are important to the industry globally . . . lowering utility costs, improving the visitor experience, holding the line on taxes, incentivizing investments, and maximizing productivity through investments in our people.” he commented.
The publication was produced by marketing, communications and investment promotion specialist, Sandra Ann Baptiste, who was the first head of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO INVEST).
It will be distributed at the 2015 Caribbean Hotel Investment Conference and Operations Summit (CHICOS) which takes place in Puerto Rico November 12 and 13, and at CTO’s Caribbean Week in Canada business events next week.
The guide is one of the deliverables of the New York-based CTO USA Inc. office headed by Sylma Brown.
CTO Official Calls For Action To Facilitate Travel To And Through The Caribbean
Hugh Riley
Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Hugh Riley has urged regional authorities to institute an Open Skies policy and wherever possible to eliminate secondary screening at Caribbean airports.
Mr. Riley argues that while an Open Skies policy would allow regional carriers to take unlimited flights to all Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states and encourage the growth of competition among carriers, while elimination of secondary screening would encourage greater demand for intra-regional travel.
He has also called for improved interline arrangements for a “vastly enhanced” baggage transfer and improved passenger experience.
In an address at the recent airline route development forum, World Routes 2015 in Durban, South Africa, Mr. Riley also made a plea for collaboration in a number of areas, including intelligence sharing with the use of the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), and security processing.
“Cooperation in these areas will encourage and facilitate greater investment by airlines into and across the Caribbean region. Better connectivity means greater economic benefits,” the secretary general said.
Citing the post-September 11 television campaign in the United States, Life Needs the Caribbean, and the 2007 Cricket Work Cup as examples, Mr. Riley said the Caribbean has shown its ability to put effective regional strategies in place and can do the same to grow travel into and throughout the region.
“This type of cooperation and collaboration needs to be the standard practice in serving the region’s various tourism needs,” he said.
The secretary general added that it was important to finalize and implement the amended Multilateral Air Services Agreement; facilitate unlimited third, fourth, and fifth freedom of traffic rights for scheduled passenger services from and between international airports and sub-regions within CARICOM and establish a CARICOM Single Domestic Air Space to help generate additional international traveller demand which, in turn, will encourage airlines to establish routes to the region.
“Unnecessarily lengthy policy development and slow implementation processes hinder progress,” he stressed.
The World Route Development Forum attracts senior representatives from airlines, airports and tourism authorities who meet to plan and discuss new and existing global air services. It is organized by the aviation route development company, Routes.
CTO member countries Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and the Turks and Caicos Islands attended this year’s event, with CTO supporting its members that were there as well as those that were not.
Mr. Riley’s attendance at the event was aimed at elevating the Caribbean brand; exploring opportunities for the Caribbean; presenting the prospects for expansion and improvement of connectivity within the Caribbean; and discussing challenges facing regional and global aviation and offering solutions. He also highlighted the work of the CTO Aviation Task Force as a facilitator within the Caribbean and beyond.
“I was pleased with the extremely high quality of the interactions we made in Durban and the level of interest there is in the Caribbean: interest in exploring the tourism potential between the Caribbean and Africa, as well as expanding into other non-traditional markets. I fully expect that contacts we made here will redound to the benefit of Caribbean tourism in general and CTO’s member-countries in particular,” the secretary general said
Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Hugh Riley has urged regional authorities to institute an Open Skies policy and wherever possible to eliminate secondary screening at Caribbean airports.
Mr. Riley argues that while an Open Skies policy would allow regional carriers to take unlimited flights to all Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states and encourage the growth of competition among carriers, while elimination of secondary screening would encourage greater demand for intra-regional travel.
He has also called for improved interline arrangements for a “vastly enhanced” baggage transfer and improved passenger experience.
In an address at the recent airline route development forum, World Routes 2015 in Durban, South Africa, Mr. Riley also made a plea for collaboration in a number of areas, including intelligence sharing with the use of the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), and security processing.
“Cooperation in these areas will encourage and facilitate greater investment by airlines into and across the Caribbean region. Better connectivity means greater economic benefits,” the secretary general said.
Citing the post-September 11 television campaign in the United States, Life Needs the Caribbean, and the 2007 Cricket Work Cup as examples, Mr. Riley said the Caribbean has shown its ability to put effective regional strategies in place and can do the same to grow travel into and throughout the region.
“This type of cooperation and collaboration needs to be the standard practice in serving the region’s various tourism needs,” he said.
The secretary general added that it was important to finalize and implement the amended Multilateral Air Services Agreement; facilitate unlimited third, fourth, and fifth freedom of traffic rights for scheduled passenger services from and between international airports and sub-regions within CARICOM and establish a CARICOM Single Domestic Air Space to help generate additional international traveller demand which, in turn, will encourage airlines to establish routes to the region.
“Unnecessarily lengthy policy development and slow implementation processes hinder progress,” he stressed.
The World Route Development Forum attracts senior representatives from airlines, airports and tourism authorities who meet to plan and discuss new and existing global air services. It is organized by the aviation route development company, Routes.
CTO member countries Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and the Turks and Caicos Islands attended this year’s event, with CTO supporting its members that were there as well as those that were not.
Mr. Riley’s attendance at the event was aimed at elevating the Caribbean brand; exploring opportunities for the Caribbean; presenting the prospects for expansion and improvement of connectivity within the Caribbean; and discussing challenges facing regional and global aviation and offering solutions. He also highlighted the work of the CTO Aviation Task Force as a facilitator within the Caribbean and beyond.
“I was pleased with the extremely high quality of the interactions we made in Durban and the level of interest there is in the Caribbean: interest in exploring the tourism potential between the Caribbean and Africa, as well as expanding into other non-traditional markets. I fully expect that contacts we made here will redound to the benefit of Caribbean tourism in general and CTO’s member-countries in particular,” the secretary general said
Monday, 26 October 2015
ANTIGUA: CTO Figures Reveal Mixed Tourism Stats For Antigua & Barbuda
Cruise passenger arrivals from January to June 2015 were up 25 per cent (400,253 to 318,842) over the same period in 2014, among the highest rates in the region.
As promising as these numbers are, they come against the backdrop of recent reports that the twin-island state attracts one of the lowest spending rates from cruise passengers in the region — close to US $40 below the Caribbean average.
The country’s stay-over tourist visits have however slipped, falling 2.9 per cent for the first six months of 2015.
This is in stark contrast to the Caribbean average, which shows a 5.8 per cent rise.
Also, a market-by-market analysis of total tourist arrivals shows slight decreases for 2015 visits from the US, and Canada, with European visits remaining stable.
The balancing of the European market is thanks in major part to an increase in UK visitors – the major market-share of European visitors (35, 662 of 44, 268 for the year so far).
Overall tourist visits are down 4.2 per cent compared to the same time last year.
Wednesday, 7 October 2015
JAMAICA: Leveraging One Caribbean Tourism Despite Competition
Despite competition among Caribbean destinations, there has to be collaboration and cooperation to strengthen the Caribbean brand
Tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries globally. It has come to the rescue of many underdeveloped and developing countries, where it has replaced traditional industries such as agriculture and manufacturing. As World Tourism Day is being celebrated, it is imperative to reflect on the emergence and evolution of tourism in the Caribbean and to contemplate the future of this industry in a region that highly depends on tourism economy.
While this contemplation goes on, changes are taking place in the Caribbean tourism landscape. Changes are inevitable, but more so with the phenomenon of tourism. People's desire to travel, preferences and needs change. A destination's target market will also change, so do the physical and natural landscape of any tourism offering due to human and environmental disturbance. Economic indicators will also change. There will be new developments in technology that will force change in operations. There will be change in political systems which will influence policy decisions and operation of the tourism industry. Change will always occur, but it is not the change that should be the worrisome issue; rather, how prepared a tourism destination is , be it a country or region, to mitigate the impacts.
The dynamic nature of tourism leverages changes to the modus operandi in the Caribbean region, hence, the discussion on a Caribbean Tourism Model and the Caribbean Basin Tourism Initiative.
Caribbean Tourism Model
There have been several endorsements for tourism development in the Caribbean. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) continues to encourage tourism development in countries such as those in the Caribbean because of its potential to grow economies.
Perry Christie, prime minister of The Bahamas, in his address to the Caricom Community at the opening of the 36th Caricom heads of government summit in Barbados, emphasised that tourism development should be taken more seriously, and thus should be on the agenda of heads of government and regional meetings. He stressed the importance of tourism development in reducing unemployment and debt burdens and growing the economies of the region.
This message was not left unheard. The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) hosted a four-day workshop in July of this year to conceptualise new ideas and fresh thinking in order to reinvent the Caribbean tourism product under the theme 'Developing Viable and Sustainable Tourism Products'. The Singapore Model was used as the benchmark for the forum.
But, what is the Singapore Model, and can this leverage change to tourism development in the Caribbean? This model focuses on four key areas: tourism experience, tourism planning, tourism product development, and tourism destination and products. This model is based on a "YourSingapore" destination brand and a vision that speaks to "a vibrant and inspiring Destination Singapore". It is built on the premise of "a dynamic tourism landscape for Singapore in partnership with industry and community". The Singapore Model is based on long-term strategic planning and a marketing thrust that pushes the destination as a place for business, leisure, health care, and education. The "YourSingapore" destination brand suggests ownership of tourism by the stakeholders, inclusive of visitors and residents. Increase in visitor numbers is planned carefully through a yield-driven quality growth strategy. There is strong collaboration between the tourism board in Singapore and industry stakeholders to create value for visitors, increase industry performance, competitiveness and business opportunities, and establish long-term partnerships. The outcome of this model is that Singapore, which is only 700 square kilometres, has an average of 15 million visitors per year. Bearing in mind that Jamaica is 15 times larger in land mass than Singapore.
It is the aspiration of CTO to have a Caribbean tourism model. Let us analyse some realities. Singapore is only one country while there are several countries in the Caribbean. Can the Caribbean tourism model benchmark this vision and mission within a framework of divided land mass and varying political, social and economic systems?
What was most profound in Prime Minister Christie's message at the summit was his remark that the next generation will have a "much greater burden to carry if we don't begin to focus on ways to make our natural strengths stronger". This suggests that tourism operations in the region cannot operate the usual way. It has to be rejuvenated with new and complementary product offerings to attract and engage the tourist and create competitive advantage amongst other tourist regions, bearing in mind that this has to be done in a sustainable way. Sustainable tourism development suggests that the needs of visitors, residents and other stakeholders be met, taking into consideration the political, environmental, economic, social, and cultural environment in order to preserve the resources for future generations (UNWTO, 2011). Sustainable tourism development is no longer a buzz concept, but what is required now to ensure that this economic phenomenon continues to exist.
Can tourism development in the Caribbean be sustainable? Caribbean tourism is based predominantly on physiography and tropical climate. With the onset of climate change and its effects on these resources, there is the need for in-depth focus and analysis as to what to do now so that tourism can continue to exist. Being small island states and developing economies, it can be difficult to introduce and implement some of the measures to ensure sustainability. Greater economic benefit is gained from the mass tourism model. Tourism considered to be sustainable is not profitable, and the power law distribution theory explains that mass tourism provides more revenue than niche markets.
Whilst Caribbean countries depend on foreign direct investment via tourism, there are associated economic costs, mainly economic leakage, occurring from the importation of goods and services outside of the region. Is it that Caribbean countries will be providing more goods and services within the region to supply each other and reduce economic leakage? This would be a very good opportunity for the growth of supporting industries such as information technology, banking and finance, agriculture and manufacturing. This would be welcoming to residents; providing them with the needed employment opportunities. Scholars have found that residents will favour and support tourism development if they will derive economic benefit. There will be demand for education and training in the various areas, and so these institutions are poised to benefit from industry linkages. Competent human capacity is one of the pillars of economic and social empowerment.
Caribbean Basin Tourism Basin Initiative
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourist Association (CHTA) is suggesting a Caribbean Basin Tourism Initiative with the United States of America (US) for regional tourism development where all Caribbean countries will benefit. This stems from the anticipated disruption of the US tourism market in the region due to the restoration of diplomatic relations between them and Cuba, which should lead to the removal of US-imposed embargo. This renewed USA-Cuba relationship is perceived to be a threat to tourism in many Caribbean countries. The prediction is that more Americans will be visiting Cuba, and so countries such as Jamaica and The Bahamas, which are popular destinations in the region for American visitors, will face a decline in that market, thus disrupting their tourism economy.
Tourism in Cuba is not new, and therefore is not new competition. Like many other countries in the region, tourism has been used to counter the effect of the declining sugar industry and to diversify the economy. In 2014, Cuba had a visitor count of over three million with the majority coming from Canada, seconded by Europe. Certainly, US travellers will want to visit Cuba because of the newness of the product to them. The unknown destination and the curiosity surrounding the Pearl of the Caribbean; Cuba's political history, cultural practices, norms, history, and heritage; and even nostalgia for Cubans who migrated, among other features that the "new tourist is seeking", will drive this market. Hence, there will be new competition in the region for US visitors.
The anticipated increase in visitor interest to Cuba, especially from the US, should not be a deterrent to tourism in other Caribbean destinations. It should be a change where leverage can be applied to maximise regional competition through 'collaborative tourism'. There are numerous possibilities surrounding regional tourism partnership and collaboration to include the building of human expertise for the industry, expansion in manufacturing and trading of goods and services to supply the region, thus increasing sufficiency and retaining economic gain for further growth and development, and benchmarking best practices to strengthen tourism operations.
Countries such as the Dominican Republic and Jamaica already have long-standing relationships with Cuba, and this would further facilitate partnership in tourism. One of Jamaica's local hotel chains, Sandals Resorts International, currently operates in the wider Caribbean, their model could be used to bridge some of the divides, such as cultural differences and trade relations. There are possibilities of island hopping for countries in close proximity to Cuba and increase airlift to the region from across the world, making the Caribbean more accessible. Common among Caribbean people is the taste for spicy and sweet foods. Food, condiments and confectionaries made in the region can be traded among country destinations.
According to CHTA , American visitors who seek vacation packages on impulse may now prefer to travel to Cuba because of the proximity. It means that the rest of the Caribbean can benefit from long-haul visitors through strategic marketing. All of this requires leverage of change and co-operation. Despite competition among Caribbean destinations, there has to be collaboration and co-operation to strengthen the Caribbean brand. However, the questions are: Is the need for change recognised by all Caribbean destinations? Are these changes desirable? Can these changes occur? The challenge is how to bypass the political, socio-cultural and economic differences among Caribbean destinations and collectively benefit from the 'One billion tourist, one billion opportunities' (World Tourism Day 2015 theme).
Caricom, CTO and CHTA all have very important roles in charting this pathway.
Despite competition among Caribbean destinations, there has to be collaboration and co-operation to strengthen the Caribbean brand.
Tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries globally. It has come to the rescue of many underdeveloped and developing countries, where it has replaced traditional industries such as agriculture and manufacturing. As World Tourism Day is being celebrated, it is imperative to reflect on the emergence and evolution of tourism in the Caribbean and to contemplate the future of this industry in a region that highly depends on tourism economy.
While this contemplation goes on, changes are taking place in the Caribbean tourism landscape. Changes are inevitable, but more so with the phenomenon of tourism. People's desire to travel, preferences and needs change. A destination's target market will also change, so do the physical and natural landscape of any tourism offering due to human and environmental disturbance. Economic indicators will also change. There will be new developments in technology that will force change in operations. There will be change in political systems which will influence policy decisions and operation of the tourism industry. Change will always occur, but it is not the change that should be the worrisome issue; rather, how prepared a tourism destination is , be it a country or region, to mitigate the impacts.
The dynamic nature of tourism leverages changes to the modus operandi in the Caribbean region, hence, the discussion on a Caribbean Tourism Model and the Caribbean Basin Tourism Initiative.
Caribbean Tourism Model
There have been several endorsements for tourism development in the Caribbean. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) continues to encourage tourism development in countries such as those in the Caribbean because of its potential to grow economies.
Perry Christie, prime minister of The Bahamas, in his address to the Caricom Community at the opening of the 36th Caricom heads of government summit in Barbados, emphasised that tourism development should be taken more seriously, and thus should be on the agenda of heads of government and regional meetings. He stressed the importance of tourism development in reducing unemployment and debt burdens and growing the economies of the region.
This message was not left unheard. The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) hosted a four-day workshop in July of this year to conceptualise new ideas and fresh thinking in order to reinvent the Caribbean tourism product under the theme 'Developing Viable and Sustainable Tourism Products'. The Singapore Model was used as the benchmark for the forum.
But, what is the Singapore Model, and can this leverage change to tourism development in the Caribbean? This model focuses on four key areas: tourism experience, tourism planning, tourism product development, and tourism destination and products. This model is based on a "YourSingapore" destination brand and a vision that speaks to "a vibrant and inspiring Destination Singapore". It is built on the premise of "a dynamic tourism landscape for Singapore in partnership with industry and community". The Singapore Model is based on long-term strategic planning and a marketing thrust that pushes the destination as a place for business, leisure, health care, and education. The "YourSingapore" destination brand suggests ownership of tourism by the stakeholders, inclusive of visitors and residents. Increase in visitor numbers is planned carefully through a yield-driven quality growth strategy. There is strong collaboration between the tourism board in Singapore and industry stakeholders to create value for visitors, increase industry performance, competitiveness and business opportunities, and establish long-term partnerships. The outcome of this model is that Singapore, which is only 700 square kilometres, has an average of 15 million visitors per year. Bearing in mind that Jamaica is 15 times larger in land mass than Singapore.
It is the aspiration of CTO to have a Caribbean tourism model. Let us analyse some realities. Singapore is only one country while there are several countries in the Caribbean. Can the Caribbean tourism model benchmark this vision and mission within a framework of divided land mass and varying political, social and economic systems?
What was most profound in Prime Minister Christie's message at the summit was his remark that the next generation will have a "much greater burden to carry if we don't begin to focus on ways to make our natural strengths stronger". This suggests that tourism operations in the region cannot operate the usual way. It has to be rejuvenated with new and complementary product offerings to attract and engage the tourist and create competitive advantage amongst other tourist regions, bearing in mind that this has to be done in a sustainable way. Sustainable tourism development suggests that the needs of visitors, residents and other stakeholders be met, taking into consideration the political, environmental, economic, social, and cultural environment in order to preserve the resources for future generations (UNWTO, 2011). Sustainable tourism development is no longer a buzz concept, but what is required now to ensure that this economic phenomenon continues to exist.
Can tourism development in the Caribbean be sustainable? Caribbean tourism is based predominantly on physiography and tropical climate. With the onset of climate change and its effects on these resources, there is the need for in-depth focus and analysis as to what to do now so that tourism can continue to exist. Being small island states and developing economies, it can be difficult to introduce and implement some of the measures to ensure sustainability. Greater economic benefit is gained from the mass tourism model. Tourism considered to be sustainable is not profitable, and the power law distribution theory explains that mass tourism provides more revenue than niche markets.
Whilst Caribbean countries depend on foreign direct investment via tourism, there are associated economic costs, mainly economic leakage, occurring from the importation of goods and services outside of the region. Is it that Caribbean countries will be providing more goods and services within the region to supply each other and reduce economic leakage? This would be a very good opportunity for the growth of supporting industries such as information technology, banking and finance, agriculture and manufacturing. This would be welcoming to residents; providing them with the needed employment opportunities. Scholars have found that residents will favour and support tourism development if they will derive economic benefit. There will be demand for education and training in the various areas, and so these institutions are poised to benefit from industry linkages. Competent human capacity is one of the pillars of economic and social empowerment.
Caribbean Basin Tourism Basin Initiative
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourist Association (CHTA) is suggesting a Caribbean Basin Tourism Initiative with the United States of America (US) for regional tourism development where all Caribbean countries will benefit. This stems from the anticipated disruption of the US tourism market in the region due to the restoration of diplomatic relations between them and Cuba, which should lead to the removal of US-imposed embargo. This renewed USA-Cuba relationship is perceived to be a threat to tourism in many Caribbean countries. The prediction is that more Americans will be visiting Cuba, and so countries such as Jamaica and The Bahamas, which are popular destinations in the region for American visitors, will face a decline in that market, thus disrupting their tourism economy.
Tourism in Cuba is not new, and therefore is not new competition. Like many other countries in the region, tourism has been used to counter the effect of the declining sugar industry and to diversify the economy. In 2014, Cuba had a visitor count of over three million with the majority coming from Canada, seconded by Europe. Certainly, US travellers will want to visit Cuba because of the newness of the product to them. The unknown destination and the curiosity surrounding the Pearl of the Caribbean; Cuba's political history, cultural practices, norms, history, and heritage; and even nostalgia for Cubans who migrated, among other features that the "new tourist is seeking", will drive this market. Hence, there will be new competition in the region for US visitors.
The anticipated increase in visitor interest to Cuba, especially from the US, should not be a deterrent to tourism in other Caribbean destinations. It should be a change where leverage can be applied to maximise regional competition through 'collaborative tourism'. There are numerous possibilities surrounding regional tourism partnership and collaboration to include the building of human expertise for the industry, expansion in manufacturing and trading of goods and services to supply the region, thus increasing sufficiency and retaining economic gain for further growth and development, and benchmarking best practices to strengthen tourism operations.
Countries such as the Dominican Republic and Jamaica already have long-standing relationships with Cuba, and this would further facilitate partnership in tourism. One of Jamaica's local hotel chains, Sandals Resorts International, currently operates in the wider Caribbean, their model could be used to bridge some of the divides, such as cultural differences and trade relations. There are possibilities of island hopping for countries in close proximity to Cuba and increase airlift to the region from across the world, making the Caribbean more accessible. Common among Caribbean people is the taste for spicy and sweet foods. Food, condiments and confectionaries made in the region can be traded among country destinations.
According to CHTA , American visitors who seek vacation packages on impulse may now prefer to travel to Cuba because of the proximity. It means that the rest of the Caribbean can benefit from long-haul visitors through strategic marketing. All of this requires leverage of change and co-operation. Despite competition among Caribbean destinations, there has to be collaboration and co-operation to strengthen the Caribbean brand. However, the questions are: Is the need for change recognised by all Caribbean destinations? Are these changes desirable? Can these changes occur? The challenge is how to bypass the political, socio-cultural and economic differences among Caribbean destinations and collectively benefit from the 'One billion tourist, one billion opportunities' (World Tourism Day 2015 theme).
Caricom, CTO and CHTA all have very important roles in charting this pathway.
Despite competition among Caribbean destinations, there has to be collaboration and co-operation to strengthen the Caribbean brand.
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