NETHERLANDS: TUI Plane To Dominican Republic Grounded After It Was Discovered Leaking

A Boeing Dreamliner's leaking fuel tank grounded a TUI flight from Schiphol to the Dominican Republic and Jamaica early this year.

The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate launched an investigation, as this is not the first Dreamliner to have fuel tank problems, AD reports.

The incident happened on January 19th. Shortly before departure from Schiphol, it was discovered that the Dreamliner was dripping kerosene. The passengers were already on the plane, preparing for takeoff.

The TUI crew immediately turned the engines off and passengers disembarked.

At no time was there any danger for the passengers and crew, Petra Kok of TUI said.

Safety in the air is our greatest priority. In the end it turned out to be a relatively innocent defect, but we did not know that beforehand and safety takes precedence over punctuality.

The fuel tank was emptied and an extensive inspection took place.

According to TUI, the leak was caused by a production error at Boeing.

Despite it being a small defect, it took so long to fix that TUI eventually contracted another aircraft to fly affected passengers to their destination the next morning. They spent the night in a hotel near Schiphol.

The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate launched an investigation into the leaking Dreamliner. The Inspectorate would not tell AD whether other Dreamliners will be inspected for leaks.

Boeing is also investigating the incident. The company would not comment on the incident with the TUI plane, or say whether other Dreamliners experienced similar problems.

This is not the first time a Dreamliner fuel tank leaks, AD reports.

In 2012 the United States aviation authority FAA launched an investigation into production faults in Dreamliner tanks after two previous leaks.

In 2013 a Boeing Dreamliner 787 lost more than 150 liters of fuel just before takeoff in Boston. And in 2014 a Norwegian Air Dreamliner was grounded in Bangkok due to a fuel leak.

In that case the fuel cap turned out to be the problem.



Tourism Observer

Best Caribbean Highlife Destinations To Visit

Cancun, Mexico

Cancun has a well-deserved reputation as a spring break destination, and that’s because it has some of the Caribbean’s most bustling nightlife spots.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

The closest place the Caribbean has to New York City. From Old San Juan to Condado, there are terrific bars and clubs to enjoy.

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

It’s not just the Dominican Republic’s capital — it’s the country’s nightlife capital, too. Bars, clubs, casinos, dancing and what might be the Caribbean’s most diverse live music scene.

Port of Spain, Trinidad

Port of Spain is the most developed city in the English-speaking Caribbean, and it shows. And there aren’t just a host of night spots to check out (especially in St James, the so-called “City That Never Sleeps”). There’s also Port of Spain’s famous, all-night street food.

Willemstad, Curacao

We’re big fans of many of the bars and clubs in historic Willemstad and the surrounding areas. And Willemstad is perhaps the most walkable city in the entire Caribbean.

Montego Bay, Jamaica

Much of the action here after dark is on Gloucester Avenue on what’s known as the “hip strip.” From live theatre to sports bars to jazz, you’ll find it all here.

Philipsburg, St Maarten

St Maarten has a number of seriously good bars, and, of course, a number of casinos, where you can always have a great time, no matter the hour.

Cabarete, Dominican Republic

The Caribbean’s bohemian destination never shuts off — and the best thing is, you can walk to everything, most of which is set right on the beach.

Oranjestad, Aruba

You’ll find much of the island’s nightlife in its many casinos, but bar hopping is very much alive and well here, from intimate dives to large clubs.

St Lawrence Gap, Barbados

Yes, Barbados. It’s not the first thing you think of about the island, but the St Lawrence Gap area in Christ Church has some of the best nightlife in the Caribbean — and bars that are open as much as 24 hours.

MALDIVES: Maldives Has Become An Increasingly Popular Honeymoon Destination

Whether it’s for a honeymoon or an amorous escape, the Maldives with its 26 atolls, almost 1,200 islands, and over 120 luxury escapes to choose from, it comes as no surprise that the Maldives has become an increasingly popular honeymoon destination.

Brides magazine by leading travel company Condé Nast – host to some of the biggest publications such as Vogue and The New Yorker – has published winners of the Brides 2017 Honeymoon Awards. The Maldives was ranked in the fourth spot from an extravagant list that included 20 of the most romantic honeymoon destinations in the world.

“The lush, picture-perfect islands that make up this Indian Ocean archipelago are light-years beyond your average beach destination,” described Brides magazine.

Naming some of the private-island resorts in the Maldives – the likes of Soneva Jani, St. Regis Maldives Vommuli, and Four Seasons Maldives Private Island at Voavah – the magazine described the islands as being “ringed by colorful coral reefs teeming with fish and the occasional shark.”

It suggested travellers, especially those seeking the perfect honeymoon destinations, to visit the Maldives and “spend your days snorkelling, scuba diving, and lounging on the deck of your overwater villa; by night, dine by candlelight on freshly caught fish and organic veggies, then follow that with a stargazing sesh with a NASA-worthy telescope.”

Winners of the 2017 Brides Honeymoon Awards showcase a wide diversity of destinations that have made the list including French Polynesia, Italy, The Hawaiian Islands, Greece, Bali, Mexico, Thailand, Fiji, South Africa, France, St. Lucia, Turks & Caicos, Costa Rica, Seychelles, Australia, New Zealand, St. Barth, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.

In its pursuit of discovering the most romantic hot spots of the world, Brides teamed up with A-list agents at Virtuoso, a global network of more than 15,000 luxury-travel specialists. Given the endless romantic destinations, countless hotel options paired with limited vacation time, Brides magazine explained that “picking the perfect honeymoon is no easy feat.”

Sun Siyam Resorts has unveiled ‘Uncover Asia’ – offering travellers 5% off on all room types when a Sun Siyam Resort in Maldives is booked together with Sun Aqua Pasikudah in Sri Lanka. The Uncover Asia package is valid for guests travelling anytime between May 9 and November 1.

In addition, guests booking with the Sun Siyam Irufushi Maldives from May 9 to September 30 are eligible for another special offer; free dining plan upgrades where guests benefit from a complimentary upgrade to the next dining plan.

According to the resort, guests booking bed and breakfast can indulge themselves in free dinner, while guests booking half-board are upgraded and provided with free lunch. Guests booking full-board get a free upgrade to the all-inclusive package, the resort said.

The Sun Siyam brand currently operates boutique luxury resorts in the Maldives and Sri Lanka; Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives, Olhuveli Beach & Spa Maldives, Sun Aqua Vilu Reef Maldives and Sun Aqua Pasikudah, Sri Lanka.

Lily Beach Resort and Spa has appointed Patrice Aira as the new Resort Manager. A French national from Toulouse, Patrice joined the Lily Beach team in March.

Patrice started his career as a busboy in the dining room of Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle and worked up the ladder in the food and beverages division of several hotels before he was appointed the Resort Manager at Four Seasons Resort in Mauritius.

“The Maldives is the epitome of paradise. In addition to the natural allure, I wanted to experience the Maldives’ hospitality industry first hand,” he said about the Maldives.

“Plus, the proximity of Sri Lanka and India brings about a nice mix of cultures that I was curious to discover.”

Patrice also worked as a Consultant for Richey International Ltd. and an Auditor for MKG QUALITING before his latest appointment at Lily Beach.

“When I arrived at the resort, I was amazed by the shades of blue that were surrounding the island. Also, the friendly faces that you see right upon the arrival… it’s a truly welcoming feeling,” he said.

“Everyone is loyal and focused on providing personalised service from the bottom of their heart. I’ve never seen anything like that before. What also reveals that Lily Beach stands head over shoulders above several other holiday destinations is the fact that so many of our guests feel like at home here and keep returning to the resort year after year, he said, explaining what makes Lily Beach a fascinating island.

“It’s especially inspiring to hear that even those guests who pride themselves in never spending their holiday at the same place twice make an exception with Lily!”

Patrice has an astounding fascination for diving, He said: “I devote the majority of my spare time on the island to diving the astounding coral reefs of South Ari Atoll.” He completed his Master of Business Administration at the Ecole Supérieure Internationale de Savignac in France.

Rewind back a couple of years and for most holiday-makers, the concept of wellness rarely went beyond spas. From carefully curated massages and scrubs offered in luxurious facilities, to the occasional yoga session in the morning, the definition of wellness remained very confined and vague.

But today, the scene has shifted to more travelers looking for a true escape, not just to relax a tired body, but to calm an overly stressed mind. This is where the hospitality industry comes to play.

With lifestyles becoming more hectic day by day, people have been prioritising personal wellbeing and integrating aspects of it into their holidays. The hospitality industry, especially within tropical destinations, has been observing a shift from party-centric holidays, to soothing escapes.

Last year, the wellness industry raked in a whopping US$3.7 trillion (2016, Global Wellness Summit) within the global economy. Beyond the spas, holiday makers have been putting their trust in different ends of the wellness spectrum to embrace healthier habits.

As a word, it might be modern. But as a concept, wellness dates back to the ancient times of the Roman baths. Over the years, “spa” has created an identity for itself while “wellness” is still trying to find its true place. WHO’s definition of health, “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”, is what laid the groundwork for wellness in the mid-20th century.

An estimated breakdown of the wellness industry cluster shows surprising results. While the component of “spa” contributes to the industry, other elements of the cluster have overtaken it. The cluster has separated elements that are wellness-oriented approaches and conventional medical-oriented approaches.

Beauty and anti-ageing tops the wellness cluster, with healthy eating and nutrition contributing the second largest chunk, and the spa industry ranking number 8 out of the 10 sectors.

Several institutes have predicted select wellness trends that travelers are moving towards this year, with the Global Wellness Summit identifying 8 trends for 2017 and beyond. Together with trends identified by other institutes, below are some of the key trends with huge potential for hoteliers to tap into.

The origins of spa saw men being very inclusive in the scene, yet overtime, spa and wellness became an approach that had more of a feminine touch to it. However, recent trends are showing the evolution from the “macho man” to the “modern man”, who is more accepting of escaping to a wellness holiday, with properties branding packages just for men.

A “Gentleman’s retreat” may include a more active itinerary with activities such as boxing, aqua fitness and winding down with a massage or even a skin care routine.

For more and more people, ageing gracefully is becoming a personal target in life. The mass appeal has provided a rise in preventative health care, with holiday makers seeking anti-ageing options to slow down the biological clock. A rising popularity for this is also coupled with travelers seeking stop-smoking retreats to help break bad habits and build the first steps to a healthier lifestyle. It is time for hoteliers to embrace the trend of ageing gracefully.

Long gone are the days when you see every single guest load up daily on sausages and fried eggs at the buffet breakfast! This is the age of detox, proportioning nutritious meals, ridding the body of toxins, keeping away from certain proteins such as gluten not by need, but by choice.

Holiday-makers are starting to explore more holistic resorts where dining and wellness are integrated. Fasting and ridiculously small-sized diet portions are not in the picture anymore, replaced with organic and filling meals that provide an overall satisfying experience.

Many of the predicted trends are already in play, with more resorts and retreats planning to cater to these travelers with different experiences. In September 2017, the Wellness Summit by Hotelier Maldives will bring together all the movers and shakers within the Maldivian hospitality industry, in an attempt to explore the potential to fuel the trends for the wellness industry in the Maldives, and imagine innovative directions to move forward.

The next article in the series will look into the current state of the wellness industry within the hospitality scene in Maldives, exploring the minds of key innovative leaders.

CARIBEAN: Tourism Shoots Up

The Expedia group reported that travel demand to luxury properties throughout the Caribbean increased in 2016. When compared to 2015, overall demand for four and five-star rated properties throughout the Caribbean increased by nearly 20 percent in 2016.

Likewise, the Caribbean’s leading destinations also experienced luxury demand growth including the Dominican Republic (15 percent), Puerto Rico (5 percent), Jamaica (nearly 30 percent), Aruba (nearly 20 percent), the Bahamas (10 percent) and Turks and Caicos (35 percent) in 2016 when compared to the previous year.

Per a recent report by the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Caribbean tourism accounted for nearly 30 million arrivals to the region in 2016 with visitor spending hitting new heights, representing a unique opportunity for Caribbean hoteliers specializing in luxury travel.

In 2016, the Caribbean destination with the highest luxury inventory was Paradise Island, with more than 80 percent of the Bahamian island’s hotels being four and five-star property.

Additional destinations where the majority of hotel inventory was comprised of four to five-star rated resorts included St. Martin (nearly 80 percent), Punta Cana (nearly 80 percent), Turks and Caicos (more than 75 percent) and St. John Virgin Islands (nearly 75 percent).

With four and five star properties representing more than 50 percent of Expedia group’s travel demand throughout the Caribbean, the company proudly offers hotel partners insights on mobile travel searches and booking patterns, how luxury travelers book, and how they shop and choose hotels.

The Expedia market management teams partner with hoteliers to effectively engage the luxury market across devices and throughout the entire travel planning process. This valuable information is readily available to partners to ensure that their strategy targets this niche market.

While the Caribbean’s various destinations attract a diverse range of travelers from around the world, according to Expedia group data the United States represented the largest market for the region’s luxury segment followed by Canada, the United Kingdom, Brazil and France in 2016.

The Caribbean’s luxury segment received a significant influx of Swiss travelers in 2016, who attributed to an increase of nearly 175 percent when compared to 2015. Additional international markets with noteworthy year over year increases in demand in 2016 include the Netherlands with nearly 50 percent growth and Germany with more than 40 percent growth.

“We’ve seen luxury travel continue to thrive throughout the world, including the Caribbean,” said Demetrius Canton, Director of Market Management for the Caribbean, the Expedia group. “Expedia works closely with hotel partners seeking to tap into new and growing markets, including the luxury segment, by utilizing the company’s innovative technology and global marketing strategies.”

Expedia group can also report that in addition to boasting higher average daily rates in 2016, luxury properties represented an opportunity for hoteliers in the Caribbean as four and five-star resorts featured longer booking windows (average of 55 day) and lengths of stays (4.3 days) when compared to one to three-star hotels which saw an average booking window of 37 days out and an average length of stay of 3.2 days.

By working with the Expedia group, luxury hotels throughout the Caribbean gain exposure from the more than 200 travel booking sites in more than 75 countries in 35 languages, in addition to a myriad of mobile sites and apps, from brands such as Expedia®, Hotels.com®, Travelocity®, Orbitz®, Hotwire®, Egencia®, Expedia® Affiliate Network and others.

KENYA: African Travel & Tourism Association Says Kenya Tops World In Tourist Bookings

Kenya has in 2016 recorded the largest growth in tourist bookings globally, says American-based luxury travel network Virtuoso.

The agency boasts 390 members and more than 11,400 elite travel advisors in 40 countries across North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.

Virtuoso said Kenya scored 59 per cent, followed by Iceland (56), Saint Martin (39), China (35), Ecuador (34), Japan (32), South Africa (28), Tanzania (27), Croatia (25) and Jamaica 23 per cent to close the top 10 list.

The firm, which has affiliations with 1,700 hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour companies and premier destinations, said Africa enjoyed a steady rise in tourist arrivals during summer, with a commanding 28 per cent.

In Nairobi, the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) signed a partnership with British Airways that will see clients of the federation enjoy a 13-17 per cent discounted air fare for every online purchase of a ticket between now and end of May 2017.

Acting KTF chief executive Susan Ongalo described the initiative as timely, saying KTF members would now market Kenya abroad and inform their clients of the subsidised rates.

She said tourists would enjoy lower charges as many hotels, tour operators and travel agents had initiated a cost-reduction incentive for repeat clients.

Virtuoso’s findings were announced during the annual Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas last week on Tuesday evening, attended by travel agency members from the United States and Canada.

Virtuoso commands nearly half of the Sh3.55 trillion tourism revenues.

It said Kenya was among the “hottest” upscale holiday destinations in 2016, owing to its exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access.

Virtuoso added that Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa rank high as investment destinations and stand to experience a 17 per cent rise in tourist arrivals.

“Luxury travellers are seeking out more exotic locales worldwide, including a boom for Africa,” it said.

JAMAICA: Brexit, Jamaica Tourism To Secure UK Market

The United Kingdom’s vote to leave the European Union (EU) is significant to Jamaica’s tourism industry, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says, but there’s no need to panic as every effort will be made to secure the UK market.

Last Thursday, in a referendum on Britain’s exit (Brexit) from the EU, the United Kingdom voted to leave the 28-member bloc.

Bartlett told the media over the weekend that the decision “is of significance to us in tourism for a number of reasons, perhaps, foremost of which is the fact that, based on the economic and political implications, it will have an impact on the travel and tourism community across the region.”

He noted that the Caribbean was most dependent on British visitors on this side of the globe and “it is important for us to consider what implications that will have on the flow of visitors into our destinations.”

“For us in Jamaica, the British market is our third largest and is a growing market and with it comes also important connectivity from other areas of Europe, so that whatever is happening in that economy, in that political space, is of tremendous interest and importance to us,” Bartlett noted.

He gave the assurance that proactive steps were being taken to secure the UK market, but said it was recognized that the immediate short-term impact was the devaluation of the British pound in the wake of the Brexit vote.

This, the minister noetd, had implications for British travellers and their ability to afford visits to the Caribbean and Jamaica, “especially against the background that our prices are predicated on the US dollar.”

On a positive note, he suggested that the immediate impact on arrivals for Jamaica “may not be severe at all.”

“Our immediate market arrangements are covered by a series of packaging which have taken place already; payment for which have either been in the system already or are about to be made,” he explained.

However, Minister Bartlett said Jamaica had to look beyond the next winter season.

“As a result I will be leading a team to the UK in September for the Jamaica Travel Market and thereafter to do a roadshow in the British Isle,” he said, stressing that this is important to shore up partnerships in the area and bolster the country’s market position in relation to the type of products, pricing and general arrangements that will be made “to ensure the competitiveness of destination Jamaica.”

“We are always proactive and, interestingly, our programme for the UK in fact predates the results of the UK’s referendum. So we will continue to monitor the situation and take additional steps as required,” the tourism minister added.

JAMAICA: Jamaica Lures Japanese Tourists

Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett and tourism director Paul Pennicook will meet with several tourism stakeholders in Japan as part of efforts to re-engage the market and grow visitor traffic to Jamaica.

Bartlett left the island on Sunday May 29 and returns on Monday June 6, a release from the ministry reported Monday.

“Two decades ago Jamaica received upwards of 20,000 Japanese visitors per annum but has since declined to roughly 2,000 per annum, due in part to a long economic slowdown in Japan and other factors,” Bartlett said

“However, with the world’s fourth largest economy and a population of over 127 million, still humming along and over 17 million people travelling overseas every year, I believe we have an opportunity to re-engage Japan on a more sustained basis and increase visitor traffic to Jamaica,” he added.


The release said that Bartlett will meet with representatives from various airlines and prospective investors at a reception being hosted in his honour by Jamaican Ambassador to Japan Ricardo Allicock.

Bartlett will also have a meeting with chairman of the Ueshima Coffee Company (UCC) to discuss a proposed coffee festival in Jamaica and related tourism activities.

UCC manages coffee plantations on the Blue Mountains.

JAMAICA: Ethiopian Ambassador On Tourism, Sports Collaboration With Jamaica

Ethiopian Ambassador to Jamaica, North America and Mexico, Girma Birru, arrived in Jamaica on Sunday to explore ways in which Ethiopia can further collaborate with Jamaica in tourism, education, culture, sports, and air transport.

While on the island, the ambassador is slated to meet with Minister of Gender, Culture, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange, Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator Ruel Reid, Minister of Transport and Mining Michael Henry, as well as Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade officials to discuss bilateral matters.

A news release from the Consulate of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia said the ambassador will also be touring the facilities of various private sector enterprises, including Red Stripe and Sutherland Global.

In discussing the visit to Jamaica, the ambassador stated: “Jamaica and Ethiopia have enjoyed a historical and cultural affinity; however, there are many opportunities for Ethiopia and Jamaica to cooperate with each other – particularly in the strategic development of tourism, the trade sector and the sporting industry. This visit will, therefore, shed light on areas for further collaboration.”

Birru is the first ambassador appointed by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to Jamaica, having presented his credentials to Governor General Sir Patrick Allen, on Tuesday May 12, 2015.

His visit comes weeks prior to a visit by Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, to Jamaica.

Birru will remain on the island until Thursday, June 2.

JAMAICA: Regional Tourism Market Big Enough To Accommodate Cuba

TOURISM Minister Edmund Bartlett says that the Jamaican Government believes that the northern Caribbean’s tourism market is big enough to include the newest competitor for United States visitors, Cuba.

Bartlett that, with the northern Caribbean attracting some 80 per cent of the total regional market, there is space for Cuba to join her neighbours, including Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, The Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos islands, and Cancun.

“This region has enormous potential for multi-destination tourism, including multiple destinations in a single package,” he said.

Bartlett’s comments came as US President Barack Obama started a three-day visit to Cuba, which is just 90 miles away from Jamaica, but has been an American pariah since the communist revolution that brought the Castro brothers to power in 1959.

The US broke off diplomatic relations after the revolution and imposed a trade embargo. But two years of secret talks between the Cuban government and the current Obama administration led to an announcement in December 2014 that the two countries would restore diplomatic relations. Obama’s visit, accompanied by his family and a delegation of about 1,200 US government and private sector representatives, is seen as the first major step towards renewed co-operation.

However, it has raised some concerns among citizens of other countries in the region, including Jamaica, who feel that US focus on Cuba could affect their economies.

But Bartlett insisted that, despite a 17 per cent jump in tourist visitors to Cuba last year, Jamaica is well positioned to continue its growth as well, and saw no threat to the local industry.

According to Bartlett, Cuba’s tourists are all stopover visitors, unlike Jamaica which benefits from both stopover and cruise visitors.

Reacting to the news yesterday that cruise line, Carnival, and the Marriott hotel chain would also be investing in Cuba, Bartlett said he saw no threat there, either.

“It will expand Cuba’s appeal, but the US is a large market; there are nearly 100 million American travellers annually. Our share is only three per cent, but even if Cuba gets five per cent of that market we would still have another 92 million visitors to aim at,” he stated.

“Our job is not to moan, but to go out there and ensure that we remain the destination of choice. Cuba will be moving up but in the long run, the benefits will extend to the entire region,” he said.

Bartlett also pointed out that Cuba has a slightly different demographic from Jamaica, in terms of visitors, although this is likely to expand with major investments.

“We have the highest repeat business in the Caribbean, because 42 per cent of our visitors are repeats and that is because we are an iconic destination. Our main attraction is our people. Our people are the most hospitable, and we have a very high quality of service. So we have a lot to build on, while countries like Cuba try to catch up with us,” he added.

He said that the new Jamaica Labour Party Administration will seek to improve how the country does its tourism business, in terms of attracting additional investments, “because investment goes where it is invited and stays where it is appreciated”.

ANTIGUA: Britain Sends £5m Foreign Aid To Caribbean To Improve Fishing, Tourism

British Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a £5.6 million cash injection to help improve fishing, tourism and shipping in the Caribbean and other countries.

The 25 “small island” Commonwealth recipients include Bermuda, Jamaica, the Maldives, the Seychelles, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago/

Cameron who is attending the Commonweath Heads of Government meeting here, said he wants the countries to be able to make the most of their natural maritime resources.

He made the announcement while unveiling a £26million aid package to help tackle global warming ahead of a meeting of world leaders in Paris on Monday.

The cash will be used to manage fisheries, protect coastlines and tackle pollution, as well as extending disaster risk.
“We have a real opportunity to get the small island states that are so vulnerable to climate change on board for an ambitious global climate change deal in Paris,” Cameron said. “Britain is firmly committed to helping these countries deal with the effects of climate change.

“That’s why we’re announcing new supporttoday to help protect them from the risks of climate change and to make the most of their natural maritime advantages, which are so vital to their economies,” Cameron added.

Britain will be spending £16.3billion on its foreign aid program by 2020, more than the amount spent on border controls, immigration, police and prisons.

BAHAMAS: Cruise Ship Makes Maiden Voyage To Freeport Harbour

Grand Bahama saw a new cruise ship for the New Year on Tuesday when the Costa Luminosa made its maiden voyage to Freeport Harbour, with more than 2,000 passengers.

The vessel sailed from its home port in Miami. It is the first of four calls the ship will make to Freeport this year as part of a 10-day Caribbean cruise.

Ministry of Tourism and Freeport Harbour officials marked the occasion with a plaque exchange during a brief welcome reception aboard the vessel.

Captain Nicolo Alba – who also presented a replica of the ship to officials – said the ship brought 2,400 passengers to Freeport.

He said the vessel has a crew of 1,000, and can accommodate 2,680 passengers.

The passengers on board were mostly Europeans travelling from Italy, and some Americans.
Despite the windy and chilly weather conditions, many passengers came off the ship to venture in the stores and the straw market at the port, as well as into Freeport itself.

Capt Alba said they will make two or three more visits to Freeport in the year. He said they will also sail to Nassau on their next cruise.

Costa Cruises operate the Costa Luminosa. The ship features four restaurants and 11 bars.

Its ten-day itinerary includes calls at Nassau or Freeport; Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos or Princess Cays; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Roatan, Honduras, and Cozumel, Mexico.

Orlando Forbes, port director at Freeport Harbour Company, was very pleased to have Costa Luminosa call at the harbour.

“We will continue to talk with them, and hopefully get them to add Freeport to their itinerary which can help our cruise numbers significantly,” he said.

Mr Forbes reported that business at the harbour is “pretty good” due to regular calls by Carnival.

He said Carnival sends in excess of 200 ships annually to Freeport. He noted that Norwegian Cruise Lines also calls at the harbour.

“We are expecting slightly over 300 calls in 2014. Carnival is our main business and accounts for 2/3 of the ships calling here. And so to get vessels from brands like Costa Cruises and MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) helps Freeport, and we continue to reach out to them,” he said.

Brooke Sherman, MOT public relations officer, said they are excited about tourism on Grand Bahama in 2014.

Grand Bahama is rebounding now. We are excited about all the projects that are ongoing in 2014. We can look forward to more airlift and the new hotel is about to open,” she said.

“There is a lot of excitement and attention coming to GB, and this (call by Costa Luminosa) is very welcome.”

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.

JAMAICA: Cuba's Tourism Should Present Opportunities, Says Director of Tourism

Director of Tourism, Paul Pennicook, says the opening up of Cuba as a tourist destination should provide opportunities for the sector in Jamaica.

Addressing a media breakfast as part of the 25th staging of the Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) Tourism Trade Show, at the Hilton Resort in St James today, Pennicook said recent developments in Cuba should be seen as marketing opportunities for Jamaica.

“We will be able to work closely with Cuba and literally sell two wonderful products to the tourism industry worldwide. We happen to be two tourism destinations with a very strong cultural heritage. We have our own strengths in other areas and the fact is when we can market the destinations as one…it’s twice the fun,” Pennicook said.

He pointed out that with Cuba being the largest Spanish-speaking island in the Caribbean and Jamaica the largest English-speaking island in the region, both destinations have a lot to offer.

Dispelling the notion that Cuba poses a direct threat to the viability of Jamaica’s tourist industry, Pennicook said there has always been competition between the countries, but Jamaica plans to work harder to ensure that the source markets are protected.

“We intend to step up our marketing in those markets where we are already competing to ensure that we not only continue to get business, but increase our share from those markets,” he said.

As it relates to air links between Jamaica and Cuba, Pennicook said at present there is none, but discussions are taking place with a number of airlines, with a view to getting more flights between Cuba and Jamaica.

Meanwhile, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Nicola Madden-Greig, said the Association has embraced the opportunities that Cuba brings now as a major player in the industry.

She pointed out that Jamaica plans to explore multi-destination marketing with Cuba, as obtains in other parts of the world.

“The Jamaica-Cuba combination is going to be a really great selling point. We see it as an absolute opportunity to market and put attention on the Western Caribbean in a way it has never been done before,” Madden-Greig said.

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.

JAMAICA: Jamaica Secures 60,000 New Airline Seats

Jamaica’s set for a major airlift boost this tourist season.

The island has secured more than 60,000 new airline seats, according to Tourism Director Paul Pennicook.

The director announced the news during the JAPEX conference in Montego Bay.

Of the new seats, about 50,000 are coming out of the United States.

“Some of those (flights) will be new to Jamaica and we are very excited about them,” Pennicook said. “Come Dec. 18, American Airlines introduces a non-stop service from Los Angeles into Montego Bay on weekends. Come November 1, South West Airlines introduces daily service from Houston into Montego Bay and come Dec. 1, Frontier Airlines comes into Montego Bay for days per week from Philadelphia.”

Some of the flights include increased service out of Minneapolis on Delta and flights from Gothenburg, Sweden, Oslo, Norway and potentially one out of Dublin next summer.

“We are very excited about the future, because we are having new rooms built, we are having rooms refurbished, products are being upgraded, there are attractions…and we have the airline seats to go with it, so we are looking forward to a wonderful 2016,” Pennicook said.

JAMAICA: This Top Caribbean Airport Lounge Just Got Even Better

Club MoBay, the lounge at Montego Bay, Jamaica’s Sangster International Airport, just got even better.

This July, a concourse-level annex was added opposite gate 12, offering a welcome sanctuary exclusively for adults.

Dominated by a Red Stripe-branded bar, the space is light and airy, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer expansive views of the runway beyond.


Comfortable seating is arranged in conversational groups, with a few window-facing chaises perfectly placed for quiet contemplation and plane watching. And snacks (including the island’s much-loved patties and banana chips) are available all day.

Flyers traveling with children in tow may use the facilities on the Club’s three other lounges on the basement level, which include a kids’ playroom, business center, showers, and a small spa.

Access to Club Mobay, which includes fast-track service through outbound Security, costs $30 per person and is complimentary to American Express Platinum and Priority Pass cardholders, as well as first class passengers on select airlines.

JAMAICA: Jamaica Secures 60,000 New Airline Seats

Jamaica’s set for a major airlift boost this tourist season. The island has secured more than 60,000 new airline seats, according to Tourism Director Paul Pennicook.

The director announced the news during the JAPEX conference in Montego Bay. Of the new seats, about 50,000 are coming out of the United States. “Some of those (flights) will be new to Jamaica and we are very excited about them,” Pennicook said.

“Come Dec. 18, American Airlines introduces a non-stop service from Los Angeles into Montego Bay on weekends. Come November 1, South West Airlines introduces daily service from Houston into Montego Bay and come Dec. 1, Frontier Airlines comes into Montego Bay for days per week from Philadelphia.”

Some of the flights include increased service out of Minneapolis on Delta and flights from Gothenburg, Sweden, Oslo, Norway and potentially one out of Dublin next summer. “We are very excited about the future, because we are having new rooms built, we are having rooms refurbished, products are being upgraded, there are attractions…and we have the airline seats to go with it, so we are looking forward to a wonderful 2016,” Pennicook said.

USA: Two Women Arrested After Razor, Pepper Spray Skirmish On JetBlue Flight

A flight arriving at JFK from Jamaica on Wednesday nearly reached the gate without incident. Instead, a fight broke out that involved two women, pepper spray and an eyebrow razor.

A fracas broke out when a 61-year-old female attempted to move from her window seat, which meant climbing over another woman (52).

Unfortunately, that is all we currently have for a set-up. The report doesn’t issue what the ensuing confrontation was about, but it does offer the results of the dramatic event that took place as JetBlue Flight 960 approached the gate.

CBS News spoke with Port Authority spokesman Joe Pentangelo and reports: “The older woman used an eyebrow razor to slash a man who tried to intervene... The younger woman then used pepper spray on the knife-wielding passenger.”

There was no word as to the extent of injuries suffered by the unnamed man who suffered the awful side of an eyebrow razor, which we suddenly learned today can be carried on a plane in certain circumstances.

The report goes on to say that six passengers suffered breathing difficulties—although reports put that number at seven.

We presume that flight felt a lot longer than it really was, ending in an onboard brouhaha between two passengers.

Now as for the respective corners in this bout, the older female was arrested for what the reports states were assault and weapons charges.

The 52-year-old who we presume was riding the middle seat the entire way was also taken into custody for possession of pepper spray.

Some of our more pressing quandaries: “WCBS 880’s Alex Silverman asked the Port Authority if it’s legal to bring eyebrow razors and pepper spray on planes. The agency said if the flight had originated in the United States, and not in Jamaica, those items would not have gotten on board.”

So continue refraining from bringing dangerous objects onto your next flight. What could have been a genteel shoving match featuring colorful language devolved into something far worse.