Caribbean Travel Leaders Remain Upbeat about 2019

Caribbean tourism officials are upbeat about 2019 and confidently expect another year of positive growth bolstered by increased airlift, improved sales, ongoing investments in hotel upgrades and refurbishments, and new properties coming on stream.

Frank Comito, director general and CEO of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), spoke with regional reporters at the association’s 37th annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace, which ended January 31 in Montego Bay.

He shared the optimistic tourism forecast, including a second consecutive year of significant increases in new hires and capital improvements resulting from the stronger performance trend.

In a subsequent press release to regional media, Comito announced the results of the fourth annual CHTA Industry Performance and Outlook Study, expressing high expectations about the immediate future.

He indicated that 85 percent of the hotels surveyed expressed optimism about the year, with many citing a continuation of the positive performance they experienced in 2018.

Increased capital investments are paying dividends for 61 percent of hotels, while strong revenues are generating new hires by 47 percent of respondents.

Another 44 percent are maintaining existing employment levels. Seventy-six percent of hoteliers have reported increased revenue with 29 percent registering significant growth.

The tourism veteran said the CHTA survey will help the organization gain a better understanding of the state of the tourism economy, its outlook and factors which could influence the sustained expansion of the region’s visitor industry.

The survey polled a representative sampling of hotels throughout the Caribbean looking at their 2018 performance and 2019 expectations.

It examined areas such as employment levels, revenue, profits, capital spending, room occupancy and rates as a basis for assessing the state of the tourism economy.

The residual impacts of the 2017 hurricanes were still affecting several destinations, and Comito urged tourism officials to address any lingering unfavourable marketplace perceptions by making greater marketing investments.

Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2019 was produced by CHTA in collaboration with co-hosts the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, the Jamaica Tourist Board and the Jamaica Ministry of Tourism.

It is the leading event in the Caribbean tourism industry where delegates from Caribbean countries meet with buyers from more than 20 markets.

Source: Turks & Caicos Weekly News