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Ticket prices suffocating regional tourism Sustainable tourism conference to focus on natural resources Caribbean Society of Hotel Association Executives elects leadership

FILE - Passengers at the Sangster International Airport.

Ticket prices suffocating regional tourism

Janet Silvera, Hospitality Jamaica Coordinator

Outrageous ticket prices, absence of a regional carrier and a cumbersome and ill-conceived network are being blamed for suffocating regional tourism.

Noting there were are no 'drive-ins' in the Caribbean - as most of guests arrive by air - president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Josef Fortsmayr, revealed that Caribbean governments had paid an average of US$45 million in 2010 to secure air transport - yet airlift is still inadequate and way too expensive for the region's visitors.

Forstmayr was addressing delegates at the opening ceremony of the 30th annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace conference at the Atlantis in Paradise Island, The Bahamas, last week.

"Intra-Caribbean tourism, which once represented 13 per cent of the region's tourism, has been suffocated by outrageous ticket prices and a cumbersome and ill-conceived network," he told the gathering.

CALL FOR ACTION

The bureaucrats did not escape his criticisms, as he lamented the travel procedures in the region. "Caribbean nationals," he said, "cannot travel freely between their countries without being subjected to visas, long immigration lines and other bureaucratic indulgences that stifle any sense of hospitality."

Calling the governments of the region to action, which is not the first time he has done this in the last two years, Forstmayr, who has been touting his four pillars of the 'Tourism is Key' campaign, said it is imperative that emphasis be placed on establishing the best welcome and farewell to all returning residents within the Caribbean.

"Too often, we hear that long lines, antiquated bureaucracy and surly attitudes are commonplace in our islands. This is not acceptable," he argued, adding that there had to be a strong consensus of the region's leaders and the public so that travel and tourism will receive the full support it needs as the Caribbean's most vital export industry.

"It is the fastest way to create jobs, grow the economy and generate income for all. Every citizen needs to understand that, whether or not he or she works directly in the tourism areas, every tourist's dollar brings economic and social benefits to every level of our society," he stated.

His comments come at a time when statistics show that 23.1 million stopover visitors travelled to the Caribbean in 2010, and the forecast for 2011 shows a four per cent increase for another record 24 million arrivals.

The Caribbean remains the most tourism-dependent region in the world.

Under the 'Tourism is Key' campaign, which has been run in 11 countries, Forstmayr is promoting advocacy with governments and citizens; linkages of tourism into local industry, agriculture and services; regional integration (improved airlift, less bureaucracy for regional travel), and regional marketing.

The CHTA president announced that the region's marketing and business development unit, CTDC, has taken an important step towards relaunching its vacation website, CaribbeanTravel.com, and has made a significant financial commitment to redesign and rebuild the site which will be relaunched in August this year.

In addition, the CHTA president is commending the linkages between the tourism sector and local industries, "agriculture and services is very strong", he said, noting that a CHTA-commissioned study on hotel spend, reports that over half the vegetables, dairy products, meat products and alcohol are locally sourced.

"Not to mention 100 per cent of our utilities and information technology."

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com