The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has expressed concern over the loss of cruise business from the southern Caribbean, following the announcement by Royal Caribbean International that it will reposition its ship, Serenade of the Seas, from the Caribbean to Europe in the summer of 2012.

The Caribbean’s tourism planners, policymakers, and stakeholders are being encouraged to rise above the numbers in order to develop a sustainable tourism product in the region. This will be main focus of this year’s leading Caribbean gathering on sustainable tourism, the 12th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism (STC-12) to be held from April 3-6 at the Fairmont Southampton in Bermuda.

Seven small properties in the Bahamas have enhanced their reputation for high standards of service quality. And they have the Hospitality Assured certificate to prove it. They now have the Hospitality Assured framework in place, which helps them to continuously raise their service quality standards within their individual business, focus on their customers’ needs in all aspects of their business.

Fifteen members of the Caribbean Tourism Organization will arrive on St. Thomas today for their annual board meeting. The 15 chapter presidents of the organization will spend four days in the territory for meetings, seminars, hotel inspections and sightseeing.

It is with one voice that we honor today, all that binds us together as one Caribbean, and everything that makes our region the world’s most desirable tourism destination. It is as one Caribbean tourism family that we recognize our diversity, and savor the near perfect blend of vibrant cultures that make for a unique vacation experience. It is as One Sea, One Voice, One Caribbean that we observe Caribbean Tourism Day today, focusing on the strength of the Caribbean brand.

The key elements that bind the more than 30 countries that make up the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) will be celebrated when the region observes Caribbean Tourism Day this week. The CTO focuses on the strength of the Caribbean brand by choosing the theme, “One Sea, One Voice, One Caribbean,” in observance of the day on Tuesday 2nd November.