From 08-09FEB, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) held two virtual destination media briefings as the region welcomes back tourists. Each of the destinations held their own presentations on their respective news, highlights, new offerings, and more.
Jamaica
Presenting for Jamaica was Donovan White, the country’s Director of Tourism, who discussed the country’s recovery in the latest stage of the pandemic, with 40 per cent of Jamaica’s tourism workforce now fully vaccinated.
In 2021, the destination met its goal of 1.5m tourist arrivals, with around 217,000 in DEC alone. In 2022, Jamaica is predicted to welcome around 1.85 million tourists, with around 700,000 of them expected to be cruise passengers. White predicted that the destination would return to 2019 levels of tourism by Q3 2023.
Other highlights include new resort arrivals to Jamaica in the past year, including Ocean Eden Bay by H10 Hotels and Rok Hotel in Kingston, part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton. White added that Jamaica will add 480,000 new rooms by the end of 2023.
This year also marks Jamaica’s 60th year of independence, and Jamaica’s Tourism Board is celebrating the country’s culture with sponsorships to art, music, and entertainment sectors. Jamaica’s Independence Day is celebrated on 06AUG.
St. Maarten
One of two nations sharing the same island, St. Maarten’s representative discussed the Dutch destination’s recovery, as well as new attractions on the island that were completed during the pandemic.
2021 saw 248,800 arrivals to St. Maarten, up by 134 per cent compared to 2020. The destination also saw 232,500 cruise arrivals, a decrease of 47 per cent compared to the previous year. In 2022, St. Maarten is expecting to welcome 116 per cent more flights, as well as 1 million cruise passengers. The destination is predicting a return to pre-COVID levels some time in 2023.
Over the course of the pandemic, St. Maarten has seen a rise of the wellness, nature, and art scenes, with new art murals popping up, a growing hiker movement, and a monthly farmers market for residents and tourists. Other highlights include new upcoming events such as the Afro Soualigan Film Festival and the Moko Jumbie Festival; as well as the return of the Heineken Regatta, the SXM Festival and the St. Maarten Carnival.
St. Martin
Sharing the same island, French St. Martin has also gone under some changes during the pandemic, with promising news for its recovery. Over the past few weeks, the destination representative noted a drop in COVID-19 case counts, with rising vaccination numbers.
New attractions to St. Martin include the Donuts Party Boat, where a maximum of 8 people can spend a day on the lagoon with a BBQ; La Radeau Blue, a floating raft on Ance Marcel Beach which includes a variety of water craft; a new restaurant with Maison Mere in Orient Bay; and the opening of a new hotel, Les Galets SXM, among others. New events for 2022 also include musical events SXM Festival and Love Days.
Belize
Deborah from the Belize Tourism Board highlighted the destination’s natural diversity, including its very own barrier reef, the Blue Hole, a host of natural parks, and more. Other discoveries for travellers include ancient Mayan sites, cave explorations, hiking trails, waterfall viewing, and various water sports, among others.
In terms of travel updates, all inbound travellers to Belize will be required to apply for the destination’s travel insurance as of 15FEB, which costs USD $18 and can be found online. Belize also notes that travellers must also book a stay at a “Gold Standard” hotel or resort, provide proof of vaccination or a negative PCR or antigen COVID-19 test result, and follow local guidelines.
Turks and Caicos
Turks and Caicos also shared its recovery throughout the first three quarters of 2021. From JAN to SEP 2021, the destination saw over 280,000 stop over arrivals. Cruising to Turks and Caicos also resumed on 16DEC and since then, the nation’s capital of Grand Turk has welcomed 42 ships and over 113,000 cruise arrivals.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Boards also adds that it expects 2023 to be a “banner year” for the destination. The destination also welcomes Air Canada four times weekly from YYZ and WestJet three times weekly from YUL.
For new hotel offerings, Turks and Caicos is welcoming multiple new openings in the near future. The Ritz Carlton, Turks & Caicos opened its doors on JUN 2021 along Grace Bay, featuring 147 rooms and 23 suites. 2022 will see the openings of Rock House in MAY, The Bight Hotel in JUN, and South Bank Turks & Caicos in DEC.
