Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Commends Third Annual Caribbean Travel Forum for Outstanding Success

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The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) recently celebrated the great success of its third Caribbean Travel Forum. The event showcased enlightening talks and in-depth discussions on the state of Caribbean tourism, identifying new trends and forecasting future growth.

Under the leadership of Nicola Madden-Greig, CHTA’s President, the conference unveiled the collaborative ForwardKeys and CHTA Caribbean Trends Report. This detailed analysis presented an overview of regional tourism dynamics and pinpointed pivotal trends that are likely to shape the future of the industry.

The analysis revealed a noteworthy achievement in Caribbean tourism, with international visits in the first half of 2024 exceeding those of 2019 by 13%. However, with the re-opening of global destinations, particularly in Asia, the Caribbean is now facing tougher competition for tourists.

Puerto Rico was noted as the top performer, followed by the Dominican Republic and Cancun. Other regions like Belize and Curaçao also exhibited significant growth, thanks to enhanced connectivity and increased interest from key markets.

The CHTA also took the opportunity to present the Destination Resilience Awards during the forum, recognizing those destinations that have made significant strides in sustainability and resilience, aligning with the World Tourism Organization’s goals. These awards honor initiatives that focus on tackling climate change and enhancing overall sustainability.

The Bahamas were awarded the Category A prize, recognizing destinations with over 500,000 stopover visits. Post-Hurricane Dorian, The Abacos in The Bahamas have shown outstanding resilience and dedication to sustainable tourism. The creation of the Abaco Stewardship Council is a notable achievement, promoting cooperation among local stakeholders to sustain tourism and community initiatives.

St. Lucia was the recipient of the Category B award for destinations receiving fewer than 500,000 visitors. The island has been proactive with various strategies and policies under the Tourism Development Act of 2023, which include efforts in marine conservation and women’s empowerment, significantly contributing to St. Lucia’s social and economic progress.

Additionally, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) was honored with the President’s Award for Caribbean Tourism Excellence, acknowledging its critical role in maintaining health security across the Caribbean, especially post-COVID-19. CARPHA’s comprehensive approach to health includes continuous monitoring, quick response to outbreaks, and extensive educational campaigns.

The efforts of The Bahamas, St. Lucia, and CARPHA were recognized for enhancing a resilient, sustainable tourism industry that not only supports local economies but also conserves the natural and cultural assets of the Caribbean.

To complement the forum’s activities, CHTA introduced resources like the AI Guidebook, Caribbean Performance and Outlook, and the Caribbean Tourism Construction and Investment Survey Report, all available to members through the online community.

Data from the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association for March indicated strong hotel occupancy across the region, led by Turks & Caicos with an 87% fill rate. St. Lucia and Aruba were close behind with occupancy rates of 85.5% and 84.3%, respectively. A comparison between March 2023 and March 2024 showed notable increases in key financial metrics: Average Daily Rate (ADR) rose from US$399.09 to $455.23, and Revenue Per Available Room (RevPar) increased from $284.12 to $347.86. Furthermore, the number of cruise visitors in 2023 surpassed those in 2019, signaling a robust rebound for the Caribbean tourism sector.