WTO Reports that Tourists Are Showing Interest in the Caribbean

Despite the current economic challenges facing the travel agencies and the tourism industry, statistics from the UN World Tourism Organization (WTO) show a persistent and rising level of interest in the Caribbean, particularly among tourists from the United States and Canada.

The arrival of tourists to the Caribbean increased constantly in 2008 as compared to the previous year.

The arrival of tourists to the Caribbean increased constantly in 2008 as compared to the previous year. With a total of nearly 2.5 million visitors from Canada, the Canadian market represents 14% of the total growth.

“Canadians have been a great support for the Caribbean and have nearly doubled their number of tourists in the region since 2005,” said Hugh Riley Secretary General (Interim) of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). Riley is also co-executive director of the Company for Tourism Development in the Caribbean (CTDC).

Canada is demonstrating a strong support for the Caribbean region through its tour operators as well as additional investments from the airline companies. Air travel from cities, especially from the West, have been added, including the new service by Westjet from Calgary to Nassau and Transat direct flights to Jamaica.

Barbados, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Saint Lucia, all became shuttle services points this past winter when Air Canada and even SunWing began new flights to destinations all over the Caribbean region.