Sharing a commitment to Caribbean tourism
Caribbean Travel Marketplace unites stakeholders
virginvoices.com staff
Delegates from around the globe gathered at Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas January 22 to 24 to meet greet and do business.The 30th edition of the Caribbean Marketplace, now known as Caribbean Travel Marketplace, is the requisite marketing event in the region for buyers and suppliers to do business.
But it is much more than that.
Marketplace provides an annual opportunity for tourism stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to all things related to travel in the Caribbean.Hoteliers, tour operators, ministers and directors of tourism- other business entities and the media -demonstrate their commitment to the region and each other.
Susan Crea Tighe, a buyer and Caribbean product manager for MLT Vacations told virgin voices that Marketplace gives her the forum to connect and strengthen her ties with her hotel partners and explore new venues.
Sponsored by the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) the region's premiere marketing event, which is hosted by a different island each year, experienced a 17percent increase in buyer companies in 2012. Buyers included representatives from Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, Germany, Italy, Japan, Martinique, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, and Russia companies, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States.
Ministers of tourism from Antigua & Barbuda, Anguilla, The Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Grenada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Martin, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Turks & Caicos Islands, Trinidad & Tobago and the United States Virgin Islands participated in the opening night festivities that demonstrated beyond a doubt why the Caribbean region is unlike any other locale in the world.
Stirring music from the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band and a rousing performance by Junkanoo dancers set the stage for business meetings - over 12,000 scheduled appointments in two days.
During opening remarks. CHTA president Josef Forstmayr stressed there has to be a strong consensus among the region’s leaders and the public for travel and tourism to receive the full support it needs as the Caribbean's most vital export industry. Forstmayr pointed out that the region’s tourism is the fastest way to create jobs, grow the economy and generate income. He said every citizen needs to understand that “every tourist's dollar brings economic and social benefits to all levels of society."
Photos: 1. U.S. Virgin Island tourist board's marketing coordinator Chantel Hoheb and Deputy Commissioner of Tourism Chantal Figueroa, at the U.S. Virgin Island booth. 2. View of Atlantis Resort 3. Susan Crea Tighe, Caribbean Product Manager MLT Vacations with May-Ling Chung, Director of Tourism, St. Maarten Tourist Bureau and Richard Kahn, President KTCpr. 4 and 5 Junkanoo performers. Photos by Maura Curley
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