CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St. Thomas -- People who market and sell
Caribbean destinations sounded upbeat for the first time in three
years.
That was the mood at the Caribbean Tourism Organization's 26th
annual conference here as tourism directors and ministers presented
visitor figures, plans for hotel developments and
public/private-sector partnerships, and outlined ad campaigns for
the coming season.
The conference, which has recovery and growth as its chief
theme, was attended by 600-plus delegates, including a large
contingent of U.S. travel agents.
In a series media briefings, the following developments were
announced:
• In the British Virgin Islands, a new marine center is planned for
Tortola; a golf course and five-star, 200-room resort is envisioned
for Beef Island; improved customs facilities are in the works; and
there will be promotions for sports fishing off Anegada, according
to Dr. Orlando Smith, minister of tourism.
• On St. Kitts, construction of the 225-suite SuperClubs Grand Lido
gets under way in the next nine months; a maritime museum is
planned for Port Zante, the cruise ship pier facility; the first
nine holes of the Marriott resort's golf course opens next month
and a second course (27 holes) is planned near Brimstone Hall
fortress as is an upscale villa development.
Dwyer Astaphan, minister of tourism, said the island plans to
set up a film commission to promote the destination as a
film/record and production center.
And, the Jack Tar property, which has been closed for more than
a year, will reopen this winter.
• The Jamaica Tourist Board is "alive, well and kicking. We have
reorganized and we are a mean, lean marketing board now," said
Donnie Dawson, deputy director U.S. for JTB.
The board closed its offices in Los Angeles, Chicago and New
York, but kept its sales and marketing personnel, who now work from
their homes. The JTB consolidated operations in Miami, and
appointed Tony King as regional director in charge of tour
operators and wholesalers in the U.S.
Dawson said a new program for retail agents -- "who supply 80%
of our business" -- will be unveiled early next year as will a
Jamaica Destination Specialist program that will be tied into the
new Web site at www.visitjamaica.com.
Carrolle A. M. Gundy, director general of the Ministry of
Industry and Tourism, said Jamaica was "up 7% in stopover visitors
this year, up 35% in cruise arrivals year to date."
• American Eagle will add a second daily flight at 6 p.m. Dec. 2 to
April 15 from San Juan to Nevis to allow west coast visitors to
connect in San Juan without an overnight stopover, according to
Malcolm Guishard, minister of tourism.
The Bath Hotel and Bath Springs near Charlestown, will be
renovated for $2 million. It dates 100 years as a therapeutic spa.
Work will begin early next year.
Guishard said a 50-villa development is planned on a 24-acre
beach near the Four Seasons. "The villas will be upscale and in the
hotel rental pool; construction will start in the first half of
2004."
• The Bahamas will launch a new ad and promotional campaign, a new
theme and a new destination symbol next month, according to Vincent
Vanderpool-Wallace, deputy general of the Ministry of Tourism.
"Improving the visitor experience is our goal; the new computerized
database of visitor comments and profiles has proven extremely
helpful in showing us where we need to improve our efforts," he
said.
The Four Seasons Exuma opens next month on the Out Island of
Exuma; Altantis/Paradise Island is adding 1,200 rooms.
• Curacao's visitor figures are up 8% year to date, according to
James Hepple, executive director of the Curacao Tourist Board. New
programs are planned with GWV in Boston this winter as well as with
Apple Vacations West from Chicago to Curacao, effective Nov. 2.
Kura Hulandu historic hotel is adding 17 rooms and reopening its
casino; the Curacao Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel in Willemstadt is
adding 25 rooms; the World Trade Center is undergoing a $20 million
renovation and will add a 200-room hotel with the first 100 rooms
in December.
• The U.S. Virgin Islands will introduce its Icebreaker value-added
package for booking Dec. 16 to March 15 for travel Jan. 11 to April
18.
The $32 million Crown Bay Marina project, which will expand the
pier 900 feet to accommodate "the largest cruise ships out there,"
according to Pamela Richards, commissioner of tourism, will be
finished early next year although the pier is in use this
winter.
• Aruba's visitor figures, although down 1% compared with last
year, "are finally showing positive signs," said Edison Briesen,
minister of tourism. New Royal Aruban Airways flights will begin
Nov. 14 from Fort Lauderdale to Aruba; they will later expand to
other Caribbean points and Newark.
To contact reporter Gay Nagle Myers, send e-mail to [email protected].