Caribbean Travel Marketplace set to return in-person in 2022

Flattened by hurricanes & pandemic, region seeks tourism revival
2021-11-23
/
/ New Delhi
Caribbean Travel Marketplace set to return in-person in 2022

Tourism is one of the key sectors of the Caribbean economy. However, for the past few years, it has been severely affected by a series of severe cyclones, mainly due to climate change. The lockdown on global travel since early 2020 has crippled the region entirely. Now, a recovery seems to be on its way.
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At the World Travel Mart in London in November 2017, at a press conference organised by Caricom, or Caribbean community, the intergovernmental organisation of the region, outlined how most of its member countries had been severely impacted by a series of hurricanes that had hit just a month ago and that it was worst year in decades for tourism in the region.

The losses were immense in absolute as well as relative terms. Hurricane Irma had led to nearly 3100 deaths and caused billions of dollars in losses. It also caused long-term disruption to tourism as hotels as well as transport connections were destroyed in the hurricane.

Even as the region was finding its feet back again sometime in late 2019, it got hit by another crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic that froze tourism not just in the region, but the entire world. And for a much longer period than the shutdown due to Irma.

Thus, the news that the key tourism fair of the region, the Caribbean Travel Marketplace will stage a full come back for its next edition in spring 2022, surely comes as a big relief to the region, where tourism accounts for a hefty 14 pc of the Gross Domestic Product, and is one of the biggest employers, if not the single biggest.

The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), the umbrella body of the industry in the Caribbean, has confirmed that Caribbean Travel Marketplace (CTM) will return in person in the spring for its 40th edition. The location or the precise dates have not yet been disclosed by the organisers.

CHTA is the biggest tourism fair in the region and the 2019 edition attracted 350 suppliers from 28 nations and dependencies in the region as well as about 170 buyers from 19 key markets and a total of 1125 delegates attended the show. Speaking at the CHTA recent annual general meeting, CTM chairperson, Karen Whitt, stated that a spring date (late April or early May) date is being considered for the event, which will be hosted by an as-yet-unnamed destination in the Caribbean.

The success of the digital 2021 event enabled CHTA to “expand and reach well beyond our traditional North American and Canadian buyers” and allowed the association to “reach out into Europe and other areas where we haven’t really been successful in the past … so we will be building on that momentum,” said Whitt.

Due to Covid-19-related travel and meeting concerns, more than 6,000 meetings were held virtually over three days during CTM earlier this year, giving buyers from 20 countries the chance to connect with suppliers representing more than 150 Caribbean hotels and tourism-related businesses.

Dealing with the pandemic and its many effects on hospitality and tourism is high on the focus group agenda to ensure CHTA members are equipped with the best guidance going forward.

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