TOURIST ARRIVALS by air in 2002 to Caribbean
destinations dropped 2.5% from 2001 figures while cruise arrivals
rose 10%, according to recent stats from the Caribbean Tourism
Organization. Cruise growth was highest in the Bahamas, Belize, the
Cayman Islands, Curacao and St. Maarten. Destinations that fared
the best among air arrivals were Barbados, Curacao, the Dominican
Republic, Grenada and St. Lucia. Visitor count also increased in
Jamaica, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saba and St. Vincent & The
Grenadines, but some destinations' figures are incomplete for the
12-month period. Although initial expectations for air and cruise
arrivals in the first quarter of 2003 were high, the expected
recovery "has been "derailed" due to the war in Iraq, erosion of
consumer confidence and lackluster economic activity, according to
CTO research.
ANA, the first tropical storm of the year
formed on April 22, more than a month before the official June 1
start of the six-month-long Atlantic hurricane season and its
earliest start since 1992, according to James Franklin of the
National Hurricane Center in Miami. Experts have predicted a
busier-than-normal hurricane season with 12 named storms, eight of
which will become hurricanes -- of which three will carry wind
speeds of 111 mph or more. Last season's storm activity -- with
only four hurricanes -- was below average.
EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL to Cuba under existing
people-to-people programs will be eliminated if a recent Treasury
Department proposal takes effect. The Dept. of Treasury's Office of
Foreign Assets Control, which enforces a long-standing U.S. embargo
of Cuba, said it will no longer issue licenses for programs offered
by licensed travel service providers, such as Washington's
Transeair Travel. The firm carries more than 600 travelers a year
under the People to People Educational Scientific License,
according to the firm's president, Benita Lubic. If the ruling
holds, only certain categories of travelers legally will be allowed
to go to Cuba, such as journalists, government officials,
researchers and people visiting family members. OFAC will accept
public comment through May 23 on the proposed changes. The comments
can be sent via the Web site at www.treas.gov/ofac or by mail to the Chief of
Records, Attn: Request for Comments, Office of Foreign Assets
Control, Dept. of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
Washington, D.C. 20220.
SANDALS AND BEACHES Resorts' Ultra Selling
Conventions, which showcases the resorts for U.S. and Canadian
agents and features presentations from general managers and
department heads from Sandals Resorts International, begin in
Boston June 17 and wind up in Chicago on Aug. 20. The road-show
tour includes Atlantic City June 19, Toronto June 25, Orlando July
31 and Las Vegas Aug. 15.
RATES AND DATES
• SuperClubs launched its Freedom Rates summer sale at eight
resorts in the Bahamas, Curacao and Jamaica offering savings up to
45% on hotel bookings made by May 15 for travel from July 1 to
Sept. 30.
• Air Jamaica Vacations extended its Caribbean sale for travel
through June 25 on bookings made by April 29. Packages are
available from Air Jamaica's 10 U.S. gateways and represent savings
up to 35% on air and hotel packages to nine Caribbean islands.
PENCIL IT IN
• Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism, May 15 to 19.
The new venue is the Half Moon Golf, Tennis & Beach Club,
Montego Bay, Jamaica, which was switched from Punta Cana Resort
& Club, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic due to difficulties in
securing air seats and other conference logistics.
• Curacao Jazz Festival, May 30 to June 1, Willemstad. For details,
visit www.curacaojazz.com.
• 5th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism
Development, Sept. 9 to 12, at the St. Kitts Marriott Royal Beach
Resort, St. Kitts.