by Jose Carlos de Santiago Bahia Principe has traditionally betted on the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. Yet, its upcoming grand opening –scheduled for later this year- will take place in Jamaica. By doing so, the company joins an increasing number of Spanish hotel chains that are moving off the beaten track in the Caribbean. About this new approach and other issues, Caribbean News Digital talked exclusively with Antonio Gonzalez during the latest ITB Fair in Berlin.

by Jose Carlos de Santiago The Dominican Republic had a hands-on involvement in this year´s ITB Fair in Berlin. The Caribbean nation flaunted its roots with an array of new offers for the top outbound markets and a new development strategy to target a number of emerging niches. For the former, the Dominican Republic wants to show it has so much to offer other than fancy resorts and snugness, new alternatives that meet the needs of those who go there looking for spas, culture, honeymoons and golf. As to the emerging markets, the all-inclusive concept with an excellent quality-and-price ratio continues to be the name of the game. “For both of them, the message is that this country is the Caribbean´s best travel destination,” says Mrs. Cruz in this exclusive interview with Caribbean News Digital.

by Jose Carlos de Santiago Last year, Aruba started out a hardworking promotional process in emerging markets, putting the main focus on a number of Latin American nations. The Caribbean island is also making great progress in the all-inclusive segment and in nature-oriented offers. Caribbean News Digital talked exclusively with Myrna Jansen about these and other topics during the latest ITB Fair in Berlin.

The Caribbean wrapped up the year 2005 as a far more attractive travel destination. Figures speak volumes of the region´s achievements: 42 million tourists –up a solid 3.5 percent from 2004. Yet the Caribbean has a long way to go to max out this winning streak. It must seek and lure new markets, encourage investors from around the world, open up new spaces in world tradeshows and fairs, and make the best of what the World Wide Web has to offer as far as promotional opportunities are concerned. The Caribbean Tourism Organization will focus aggressively on all these directions and will do it with the help of the Caribbean Hotel Association –both entities signed recently a mutual collaboration agreement. The CTO is willing to put its heart and soul into these efforts. This is what CTO´s secretary-general Vincent Vanderpool said about all of the above in an exclusive interview with Caribbean News Digital.

by Jose Carlos de Santiago Guatemala has set out to conquer new heights this year. The Central American nation wants to reach the 1.4-million-tourist milestone and rake in as many as $900 million worth of revenues. To pull those new deeds off, the country is relying on an amazing array of incredible and vast natural beauties that capture the hearts of each and every visitor. In the same breath, Guatemala is also working harder to improve its tourism-oriented infrastructure and has taken to heart the idea of getting media hype in international markets, either on its own or helped by CATA. About this and other issues, Caribbean News Digital talked exclusively with Guatemala´s Tourism Minister at the latest ITB Fair in Berlin.

by Jose Carlos de Santiago Germany is by far one of Europe´s top outbound markets for Cuba, and the island nation´s strategy for coming years will focus on further strengthening of all trade ties with major tour operators from that country. In the same breath, Cuba will continue supporting all small and large operators willing to make the largest Caribbean island a part of their travel packages. This is what the head of Cuba´s Tourism Office in Germany had to say about these topics in this exclusive interview with Caribbean News Digital.